The UK is home to a ton of delicious and exciting seasonal spring produce for cooking and baking! Whether you're a home cook, baker or boutique restaurant, incorporating fresh and seasonal ingredients to your dish is always a game-changer.
As the weather starts to warm up, the local produce available in the UK changes, so let’s take a look at some of the nutritional benefits of spring produce, explore some recipe ideas, and dive into a few tips for harvesting and storing your tasty fruit and veg creations.
We will also recommend the right glass jars and bottles to use for storing each recipe, so your creations stay fresh for longer.
Spring is the perfect time to start eating more fruit and vegetables, as many of the delicious varieties available in the UK are coming into season, and even more importantly, they’re packed full of important nutrients. Spring produce for cooking and baking should make even the most novice cook excited to get started.
Some of the key seasonal fruits and veggies to look out for in spring include asparagus, rhubarb, spinach, leeks, radishes. Asparagus is high in vitamin K, which supports bone health, while spinach is a great source of vitamins A and C, and potassium.
Rhubarb, on the other hand, is high in fibre and antioxidants, and can be used in sweet or savoury dishes. Leeks are a member of the onion family and a great source of vitamin K, and radishes are rich in vitamin C and other antioxidants.
Incorporating these fruits and veg into your diet can help boost your immune system, aid digestion, and improve overall health and wellbeing.
Spring produce recipe ideas
Spring produce is incredibly versatile, and there are plenty of creative ways to incorporate them into your cooking and baking. For example, you can use rhubarb to make a delicious tart, or add it to a salad for a sweet and tangy flavour.
Asparagus makes a fantastic addition to stir-fries, omelettes, and pasta dishes, while leeks are perfect for making soups and stews. When it comes to juicing, try combining spinach, cucumber, lemon, and apple for a refreshing spring blend.
Rhubarb:
It's not spring in the UK without some rhubarb! This tart vegetable makes an excellent addition to any crumble, pie or cake, and can be used as a tangy addition to juices or can be made into a compote for breakfast.
Asparagus:
Asparagus is an incredibly popular spring vegetable that can be used in so many ways. From roasting and grilling to soups and salads, asparagus makes an excellent addition to any dish.
Spinach:
Spinach is a versatile leafy vegetable that's perfect for healthy salads, steamed dishes or as an ingredient in smoothies. It's full of vitamins and minerals, making it a healthy yet delicious addition to your meals.
Harvesting and storing tips
To get the best quality and flavour from your spring produce for cooking and baking homemade goods, it's essential to know when and how to harvest them. For example, asparagus should be harvested when the spears are around 20cm tall, using a sharp knife to cut them at the base. Always pick the stems when they are still tender, before the heads have opened up.
Rhubarb stems can be picked when they are around 30cm long. When harvesting rhubarb, make sure to snap off the stems at the bottom, leaving the leaves behind. The leaves themselves are actually quite toxic and should be discarded.
When harvesting spinach, pick the outer leaves first, as these are the oldest and will be the first to go off.
When it comes to storing your spring produce, glass jars and bottles are ideal for preserving freshness and flavour. We recommend using Kiln Clip jars for preserving baked or cooked goods incorporating fruit and vegetables, and airtight glass juice bottles for storing your homemade juice blends.
The right glass jars and bottles to use
When it comes to storing your homemade creations, it's important to use the right glass jars and bottles to keep them fresh for longer.
For example, Kilner jars are perfect for preserving fruit and veg, as the airtight seal keeps out any bacteria or air that may spoil the contents. These jars are also great for preserving jams, jellies, and sauces, making them an essential item in any home cook's pantry. If you're making juice blends, we recommend using glass bottles with airtight lids.
Spring is the perfect time to start incorporating more seasonal fruits and vegetables into your cooking, baking, and juice production. By knowing which fruits and veg are in season, you can get the best flavour and quality from your produce.
We've shared some recipe ideas and provided tips for harvesting and storing spring produce, and recommended the right glass jars and bottles to use for each recipe. Now, it's up to you to get creative in the kitchen and start enjoying the delicious tastes and nutritional benefits of spring produce!