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February foods in season

We may still be in the thick of winter but there are plenty of delicious ingredients at their seasonal best to see you through the cold days. From nourishing vegetarian meals to rich meat dishes as well as sweet treats, we’ve got the perfect recipes for February. Find out what produce is great right now with this month’s guide.

Vegetables

Root vegetables like beetroot, swede, sweet potatoes, turnips and parsnips are still at their best, as are sprouts, kale, broccoli, cauliflower and kohlrabi. This month give knobbly Jerusalem artichokes a go or splash out with some black truffles. Purple sprouting broccoli is also in season, offering opportunities to cook lots of tasty side dishes.

Hearty, herby stew recipe

Vegetable toad in the hole recipe

Winter vegetable soup with dumplings recipe

Black bean and chipotle soup recipe

Roasted winter vegetables with baked halloumi

Meat

Game remains firmly on the menu. February is the best month to try guinea fowl, hare, partridge and venison. Cold winter evenings are perfect for one-tray meat dishes with turkey, chicken or pork while different cuts of beef will work magic in slow-cooked stews and casseroles.

Beef stew with dumplings

Rabbit tagliatelle recipe

Mary Berry’s chicken pot pie recipe

Almond chicken curry

Roasted pork belly with pears and thyme recipe

Michel Roux Jr’s Basque-style chicken recipe

Seafood

Shellfish is abundant this time of year – get stuck into clams, cockles, langoustine, lobster, mussels, oysters and scallops. Lemon sole, hake, red mullet, halibut and cod are also among the best catches of the month.

Spicy prawn and tomato stew recipe

Cod with chorizo and white beans recipe

Pan-fried scallops with broccoli recipe

Prawn laksa with rice noodles recipe

Filo fish pie recipe

Fruit

Native apples and pears are still around as is sweet-and-sour rhubarb. From overseas, citrus fruits like lemons, blood oranges, grapefruit and clementines add a vitamin C zing to everything from salads to puddings. Other imported fruit best eaten this time of year include bananas, passion fruit and pomegranate.