Eat Seasonal – March: Apple Crumble

Eat seasonal March is a list of all the food that is in season in Britain in March. You will also find recipes that you can make using March’s seasonal food like Apple Crumble.

Eating seasonal food makes for tastier meals and saves money as well. Read on to find out what’s in season in March.

I can’t believe it is March already. The mornings are much lighter and the Spring flowers are starting to appear. Soon the verges will be a mass of yellow as daffodils flower. Crocuses and snowdrops are providing splashes of colour in gardens.

Spring marks the transition from the winter into the Summer. The days are getting longer and blossom starts to appear on the trees. The first signs of Spring bring the promise of new fruits and vegetables to gather for the table. The scarcity of winter is coming to an end and soon there will be plenty of fresh food to choose from.

The first fruits and vegetables of Spring bring a splash of pale green, moving us away from the starchy winter food. Lighter dishes grace the table. Whilst there is still the need for warming filling dishes, the first rays of sunshine lift the mood. It really feels like we are marching onwards into the Summer.

What’s in season in March?

March is an interesting month for food. The tail end of winter produce is still available in early March. Later in the month early Spring produce appears just as you are in the mood for lighter dishes.

Make the most of leeks and oranges before they go out of season. Dishes like leek and lamb cobbler or leek and potato bake are perfect for days that are still chilly.

Spinach and spring onions are coming into season. Spring onions are perfect for adding to lighter meals like sesame chicken. They add a little hint of sharpness to the meal which provides interest.

Look out for broccoli and purple sprouting broccoli to add some colour to your plate.  The Bramley apple season ends this month so make the most of these while they are available.

Apples are perfect for lots of dishes and if you have any spare why not make some apple chutney.

The picture below shows a complete list of produce that is in season in March. You can also download this seasonal list as a printable if you want to pin it to your fridge.

Apple Crumble

Apple crumble is a classic and well loved dessert that is easy to make. There is nothing nicer than hot apple crumble straight from the oven with lashings of custard poured over it.

The dessert is perfect for March when the weather hints of warmth but it is still deceptively cold. Apple crumble provides warmth and comfort with a sweet taste that speaks of warm days to come. The crumble topping mixes with the soft mouthfuls of apple to create a plateful of delight.

For many of us a dish of apple crumble will transport us back into the past. For me it takes me back to Sunday lunches at my grandparents house. We used to visit every week and when we walked into the house it would be full of wonderful smells of cooking. We often had to wait a while for the roast to finish.  On sunny days we would play outside, running round on the lawn or playing boules. On rainy days we would get out board games or books.

The books were wonderful old books with hard back covers and pictures that were covered with greaseproof paper to protect them. We would get lost in the stories until lunch was ready. After the roast a dish of apple crumble would often appear with a jug of steaming custard. It was the perfect end to a lovely meal.

Apple Crumble Recipe

Apple Crumble

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Total Time 1 hour hr 10 minutes mins

Servings 4 people

Ingredients

  

• 650 g 1lb Bramley apples
• 2 tbsp caster sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla essence
• 110 g 4oz self-raising flour
• 40 g 1½oz demerera sugar, plus 1 tbsp for sprinkling
• 40 g 1½ oz butter
• 2 tbsp rolled oats
• 1½ tbsp water

Instructions

 

• Preheat the oven to 200C, Fan 180, Gas Mark 6
• Peel, core and chop the apples into small pieces
• Add the apples to a pan with the caster sugar, vanilla essence and water.
• Cook on a low heat for a few minutes until the apples soften. Check the taste and add a little more sugar if required
• Put the apples into an oven proof dish
• Add the flour, demerera sugar and butter into a mixing bowl.
• Run the butter into the flour until it resembles breadcrumbs
• Stir in the oats
• Scatter the crumble topping over the apples in a dish and sprinkle on some sugar.
• Bake for 40-50 minutes until golden.
• Serve with ice cream or custard.

Why not pin the recipe to try later?

Other seasonal recipes for March

Chicken, Leek, Prune and Caerphilly Pie

This pie is perfect for a cold spring day. The chicken and leek work perfectly with the creamy cheese and sweet prunes to make a delicious pie that will have everyone coming back for more.

Lamb and leek cobbler

Although it is March and the start of Spring, these days are often chilly. Leek and lamb cobbler is another delicious warming dish which is perfect for this time of year. The mild onion taste of the leeks goes perfectly with the lamb and the scone topping adds another dimension of flavour.

Cock-a-leekie soup

This traditional Scottish soup is perfect for cold days. What could be nicer than a warming bowl of chicken and leek broth when you come in out of the snow?

Sesame Chicken

If you are looking for a quick to make meal sesame chicken is ideal. It is ready quickly and the tang of spring onions perfectly complements the sesame and soy sauce marinated chicken. Serve with rice or noodles.

Toasted cheese sandwiches

A toasted cheese sandwich is the ultimate in comfort food. These are made with spring onions and cherry tomatoes for a sweet and savoury bite.

Prawn and Chorizo Rice

Prawn and chorizo rice is another speedy and delicious dinner which is full of taste and flavour. The paprika in the chorizo adds a depth of flavour to the rice. The spring onions add a little crunch and bite.

St Stephens Pudding

This delicious apple pudding is a delicious way to warm up on a cold night. Serve with custard and enjoy the sweet tang of apple.

Do you have any recipes that you will be making with the food that is in season this March? Let me know below. I love finding new recipes.