Our allotment is churning out veg at the moment and it?s gathering pace by the week. The beetroots have been the highlight so far ? big fat ruby beauties that we?ve really savoured.
We?ve used them for healthy juices mixed with carrot, apple, celery and ginger, but also for the more indulgent brownies. But I was on the lookout for another idea when I found a recipe for Beetroot Tzatziki in Everyday and Sunday recipes from Riverford Farm, a book I had on my review pile.
It?s the kind of book I?d previously not have really looked at, but with the glut of peas, beans, potatoes and courgettes coming our way, it now seems like an essential part of my collection.
The resulting beetroot tzatziki was vivid, punchy and fresh ? different to anything I?d ever tasted before. I really love it and thought it went well as a side with freshly baked quiche, but also as a chunky dip.
My vegetarian lot weren?t convinced, but my fellow meat-lover Arlo rated it highly also. As did my friend Jenny who was over for the weekend from Brussels for my birthday ? and I don?t think she was just being kind!
So before I review the book, here?s the recipe?
Beetroot Tzatziki (Jane Baxter for Everyday and Sunday recipes from Riverford Farm)
400g cooked and peeled beetroot (I roasted mine whole, skin-on, in the oven for about an hour until soft)
250ml Greek yoghurt
1/2 red onion, very finely chopped
1 garlic clove, crushed
finely grated zest of 1 orange
1 tbsp chopped dill
1 tbsp chopped chives
sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
Grate the beetroot coarsely and mix with the rest of the ingredients. Season well.
I?ve put mine in a big jar in the fridge and it?s kept beautifully for well over a week now!
Book review: Everyday and Sunday recipes from Riverford Farm by Guy Watson and Jane Baxter
In case you?ve not heard of them, Riverford Organics was set up in Devon by farmer Guy Watson originally delivering veg boxes to 30 of his local friends. They now deliver an astonishing 47,000 boxes a week to customers around the UK through their network of sister farms. Impressive.
This latest book is the follow-up to the successful Riverford Farm Cook Book, written jointly by Guy Watson, and Jane Baxter who?s head chef at the Field Kitchen there.
The aim of the book is to tell you what vegetables are in season from month to month, and how to make the best of them in your cooking.
Who is it for?
Adventurous cooks not scared of using veggies like celeriac or kale. I?m thinking the type to have a veg box or their own allotment.
The mix of Everyday recipes with Sunday recipes reflects the authors? wishes to provide a spread of food fit for every occasion ? but I?m guessing they?re serious foodies if something like Coconut Pancakes with Mango and Prawns is an everyday meal in their house. But as they point out in the introduction they hope that some of their unusual sounding recipes might become as everyday as the seasonless spag bol.
If you?re wracking your brains with what to do with the more unusual contents of your veg box then this book will be brilliant for you. And after my delight at the unusual beetroot tzatziki, I feel much braver about trying everything else!
Easy to follow?
It?s a very well laid out book. Each month is given its own chapter with an at-a-glance list of recipes for quick reference. There is then a chatty intro detailing what?s in season, along with some informative and ethical bits on the side. There?s a brilliant section in each chapter called Quick and Easy Ideas?featuring one stand-out vegetable/fruit from that season as a basis for a few recipes.
Then follows the Everyday recipes, finishing up with the Sunday recipes. The instructions are clear and ingredients not too long. My only quibble is trying to keep the wretched book open and flat while cooking!
Family friendly?
On first inspection it might seem totally un-family friendly because the recipes are unusual and the flavours unfamiliar ? Duck with turnips and marmalade anyone?!
But on a closer leaf through the pages there are some delicious sounding crowd pleasers like Spiced Lamb Meatballs with Root Vegetables, and some ingenious ways of getting veg into kids like the Cabbage, Bacon and Potatoes along with some very non-frightening jacket potato filling suggestions like leek and mustard ? yum!
Most likely to cook
Next on my list to make is Risotto Cake, then once the courgettes start invading it?ll be courgette fritters and stuffed courgette flowers.
Least likely to cook
Anything involving turnips
Would you buy it for a friend?
Friends with veg boxes and allotments would thank me for this! I know I?m going to find it so useful?
Rating out of 10
7
Call me picky, but it would have got an 8 had the book been easier to hold open ? paperbacks are really awkward as practical cookery books!
Everyday & Sunday recipes from Riverford Farm is published by Fourth Estate
Thanks for my review copy!?
WIN WIN WIN!
I have TWO copies of Everyday & Sunday to give away to my readers?
1. For a?chance to win?please comment on this post telling me about your?favourite vegetable and how you like to cook it
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Closing date:?10pm?Sunday 31st July, 2011
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