What’s in season - September?

September is one of our favourite produce months because you have the last of the Great British Summer goodies like tomatoes, strawberries and salad but you’re also starting to get some of the autumn comforts like squash, apples and leeks. Essentially, September has it all, so it’s also a great time of year to start pickling and preserving whilst everything is in abundance.

Cauliflower

Possibly the most versatile vegetable since the potato, which is lucky since it’s almost always around. Fancy something hearty? Cauliflower, leek and cheese gratin. Fancy something healthy? Cauliflower rice or cauliflower pizza base it is. Vegan? Cauliflower buffalo wings. I want to know who’s in charge of the cauliflower’s marketing because they have smashed it.

Globe Artichoke

One for the ‘add-on’ section of the website as they’re not for everyone but if you’ve ever been to Worton Kitchen Garden, you’ll know it’s a staple on their menu. We’re big fans of feasting food and this is a great one for the table. Simply boil it for 15-30 mins & serve with hollandaise. Peel off a leaf, hold by the tip and dunk it in the sauce and pull out the flesh with your teeth. Mega.

Parsnips

September, for us, marks the return of the Sunday roast dinner and with it, all of the Sunday roast veg… of which parsnips are a staple. One joint of meat from David Moore’s Family Butchers, two types of potato (roasties & mash, what else?!) and at least four types of veg. Sometimes if we’re feeling fancy, we’ll make a parsnip purée but they’re on our plate in some form!

Beetroot

Shooting season is underway here in the Cotswolds and so are the perfect accompaniments like beetroot, kale & spuds. Game not your thing? Try it grated into a salad or roasted with courgette, pepper and aubergine to go with literally anything!

Cabbage

Another one that’s great between seasons and so good for you. Perfect sautéed in butter on a roast or quartered and grilled on the BBQ - the autumn version of a salad wedge!

Fig

Fig Jam. That is all.

Also great on a cheese board or in a salad with whipped goats cheese but personally, nothing beats a sunny, autumnal dog walk followed by a slice of Mor sourdough toast with fig jam and a warm, milky coffee in the garden. Ooof, literal stuff of dreams.

Apples

As ex-cider makers (we’re on hiatus if you ask Alex), we couldn’t leave out apples! The true sign of autumn. Plenty to hand out for the 10th snack request of the day to tiny hands! Or to stew into a crumble with blackberries - foraged on a slow, amble to the pub.