THE weather outside might not be great, but in the Isle of Man the choice of local produce which is in season is as good as at any time of the year, especially when it comes to seafood and meat.
With a fantastic queenie season having ended on January 1st, attention now switches to the glorious king scallops which are in wonderful condition in the cold Manx waters at this time of the year.
Monkfish is also fabulous in January - February, but if you’re looking for fish which won’t break the bank so soon after Christmas then why not try pollack or skate? Rick Stein has some brilliant recipes for both.
The favourite choice for many on the cold winter nights is to knock up a casserole. Shin beef is really cheap and produces a fantastic dinner when cooked slowly. Pork belly - maybe not as cheap as it used to be now that TV chefs have discovered it - is also fantastic. Try boiling the meat gently for up to 45 minutes before placing in a hot oven. It makes a real difference. Again, slow cooking is the answer for great results.
Winter vegetables are also in abundance during the next few months, with a huge range to choose from. Supermarkets still have lots of fruit on the shelves, but none is produced in Britain at this time of the year so it’s all imported. But they’ve got it to such a fine art these days it’s amazing how much choice there is.
JANUARY:
FRUIT & VEG: cabbage, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, carrots, potatoes, chicory, Jerusalem artichokes, leeks, onions, parsnips, shallots, swedes, turnips, beetroot, winter radish, spinach, chard, kale, salad leaves, mushrooms
GAME: pigeon, quail, rabbit, pheasant, duck
SEAFOOD: lobster, crab, whelks, pollack, monkfish, skate, king scallops
MEAT: Winter warmers that won’t break the bank - casseroles, stews and hotpot
FEBRUARY:
FRUIT & VEG: Brussels sprouts, cabbage, celery, potatoes, chicory, turnips, swede, radishes, Jerusalem artichokes, chard, spinach, kale, salad leaves, mushrooms
GAME: pigeon, quail, rabbit
SEAFOOD: lobster, crab, whelks, pollack, monkfish, skate, king scallops
MEAT: Beef and lamb mince for quick and easy dishes eg:- cottage pie, grilled pork chops
See . . .
• Manx king scallops with black pudding and colcannon
