All The Seasonal Foods To Cook With This February

We may still be in the depths of winter, but February has plenty to offer when it comes to seasonal produce. It’s the month to make the most of warming stews, curries, soups and pies before spring officially arrives in March. There’s not a whole lot in terms of newness – bar the arrival of purple sprouting broccoli – but February is a great time to cook with hearty root vegetables and brassicas. And while game season is coming to a close, flaky white fish like seabass and haddock are available in abundance around this time of year. Start planning your month in food with our guide to seasonal cooking in the UK in February.

Seasonal Food In February In The UK: A Guide

Which Vegetables Are In Season?

Purple Sprouting Broccoli

Broccoli’s exotic cousin, purple sprouting, is in season in the UK from February to April. The hardy vegetable adds colour and crunch to your plate, but it’s also packed with good stuff including vitamins C, K and A, fibre, and antioxidants. Just like your regular broccoli, it can be boiled, steamed, stir fried or roasted, and works well as a side dish to meat or fish, or cooked in pasta or noodle dishes.

Rhubarb tart by The Social Pantry

Forced Rhubarb

In the UK, the rhubarb season doesn’t begin until late April, but it’s possible to grow the vegetable in a different way to make it available earlier – known as forced rhubarb. With its pretty pink hue and sweet taste, this is often cooked in desserts like tarts and pies, but it can also work well cooked with meat such as pork and duck.

Celeriac

It might not be the sexiest vegetable on the shelves, but celeriac is a versatile vegetable that can be delicious when cooked well. The turnip-like root can be roasted, boiled, mashed or steamed, and pairs well with winter flavours like truffle, brown butter and hazelnut, as well as herbs including parsley and tarragon.

Kale

February is the last month of the year when kale is in season, so make the most of it over the next few weeks. The leafy green vegetable offers a wide range of health benefits: it contains vitamin K and calcium, which are beneficial for bone health, as well as potassium and folate, which reduce the risk of heart disease. While the taste can be bitter, you can jazz up kale by chopping it and removing the stalks, then adding it to a baking tray with olive oil, spices and salt. Toss so the vegetables are properly coated, then roast in the oven until crispy.

(c) Mareefe, Pexels

Nettles

Keen to try your hand at some foraging this month? Keep your eye out for nettle, which begins to pop up around the end of February. Despite their prickly leaves, nettles can be incorporated into soups, pesto sauces and drinks – provided they are thoroughly cleaned and de-stung beforehand.

Leeks

British leeks are at their best from November to April. They’re one of the most versatile vegetables out there, with a slightly sweet, mild flavour that works well in stews, soups, pastas and tarts. Leeks can also be delicious cooked on their own: simply fry or steam them with butter or oil until they become soft and slightly caramelised.

Other vegetables in season:

• Brussel sprouts (end of season)
• Cauliflower
• Swedes (end of season)
• Parsnips (end of season)
• Shallots

Other fruits in season:

• Apples
• Pears

Which Meat And Fish Is In Season In February?

While game season is coming to an end, you may still find some venison, wood pigeon and rabbit on restaurant menus this month. Wild duck season also goes on until 20 February in the UK.

Although the seasonality of fish varies around the UK, generally it’s white meaty fish that’s available around this time of year, such as hake, haddock and pollock. This chart from Direct Seafood shows more specific information on different regions.

Recipes To Try

• Acme Fire Cult’s coal-roasted leeks
• Bettina Campolucci Bordi’s sexy broccoli pasta
• Gordon Ramsay’s pollock kedgeree with kale chips
• Foraged ground elder and nettle soup
• The Social Pantry’s rhubarb tart
• Freekeh and roasted leeks with cashew
• Parsnip and orange spiced cake
• Melissa Hemsley’s no-waste parsnip dahl