January, the month of new beginnings, resolutions and (if your Christmas was anything like ours) diets. Most people will have overindulged during the festive period, emerging the other side of it a little worse for wear and swearing off alcohol, fatty foods and sugar for good – or the next couple of weeks, at least! However it’s not all doom and gloom; kale smoothies and protein balls aside there is a wealth of lovely fresh produce to look forward to in January.
While we can rely on British soil for vegetables, meat and fish there are no new homegrown fruits in season at this time of year, with the majority of this month’s fresh crop coming from neighbouring countries with warmer climates. January sees the start of the vast citrus season from Europe and further afield, with blood oranges, Seville oranges and bergamot all starting to appear. For a simple starter or easy lunch try Franceso Mazzei’s vibrant Burrata and blood orange salad or for a zingy dessert Galton Blackiston serves Blood orange mousse with blood orange sorbet. Look out for more unusual fruit such as bergmot, the fragrant yellow citrus used to make Earl Grey tea which David Everitt-Matthias puts to excellent use in his Bergamot parfait recipe served with orange jelly and liquorice cream, and the striking yellow citrus known as Buddha’s hand. The latter, so named because of its resemblance to a human hand, is perfect for preparing candied fruit and can commonly be found in China and Japan.