37 February recipes

What's in season in February?

In February, seasonal produce includes vibrant blood oranges, hearty swede, earthy celeriac, nutrient-rich kale and sweet pears, making it an excellent time for comforting winter dishes.

Swede

Developed in Sweden in the 17th century, a swede is a cross between a cabbage and a turnip. Store them in a brown paper bag in the fridge to keep them fresh for at least a week.

Curried swede soup

This curried swede and coconut soup is the perfect winter warmer to enjoy with freshly baked crusty bread.

Find more swede recipes.

Venison steaks with caraway crushed swede

Pair venison steaks with buttery crushed swede in this winter warmer – it will be ready and on the table in less than an hour.

Gochujang swede noodles

Roast cubes of swede in a sweet and salty gochujang dressing for a moreish, simple midweek noodle dish.

Forced rhubarb

Forced rhubarb has a short shelf life. Store in the fridge with the leaves attached to keep it fresher for longer.

Rhubarb and custard crumble bars

Use up seasonal rhubarb in these fruity custard bars, best served with an afternoon brew. The crumble topping adds great crunch, too.

Pork and aromatic rhubarb traybake

Let the oven do most of the work with this aromatic pork and rhubarb traybake, bursting with heat and umami flavour.

Rhubarb, white chocolate and elderflower tart

Filled with white chocolate, elderflower-infused cream and rhubarb roasted in orange juice, this tart not only looks impressive but knocks it out of the park in terms of flavour, too.

Cod

Curried fish pie

Switch up your traditional fish pie with a crispy potato topping and curried filling. Serve with braised kale or cavolo nero.

Take a browse through more cod recipes.

Spiced cod one pot

The trick with cod is to not overcook the flaky flesh. Don’t be afraid to ramp up the flavour, either – its mild taste can take it. When buying, opt for farmed fish or line-caught Pacific cod which is certified by the Marine Stewardship Council.

Poached cod with spiced coconut broth and udon noodles

Make these quick, nourishing noodle bowls packed with aromatics to warm up on cold winter nights.

Kale

Kale has risen in popularity due to its robust texture and high nutritional content. Shred it into a salad, roast into crisps or simmer into soups. Remove any tough middle ribs or stalks as they can be quite chewy if not given enough time to soften.

Sausage gnocchi

Celebrate the winter season with this comforting gnocchi dish, where kale takes centre stage alongside rich, spicy sausage.

Almond-crusted chicken with marinated kale and sumac salad

Make this salad to reset at the start of the new year – it’s filling, crunchy, fresh, vibrant and good for you. It packs well for lunchboxes, too.

Feta and kale börek

Make the most of the seasonal superfood kale by combining with salty feta in this filo pastry tart. Serve with leafy salads for an easy veggie dinner.

Pick from more kale recipes, including baked kale crisps with smoky paprika salt and kale and gnocchi parmesan bake.

Cauliflower

From the same brassica family as cabbages and broccoli, cauliflower is among the most versatile vegetables. It can be eaten raw in salads, pickled, steamed, grilled, roasted, fried or barbecued. Its firm texture turns creamy when cooked, and it has a delicate flavour that’s often overlooked as an everyday vegetable but it’s made the star of the show in this creamy cauliflower soup.

Vegetarian cauliflower chowder

Celebrate cauliflower season with a comforting bowl of creamy veggie chowder. A pinch of cayenne pepper and mace give a gentle warmth to this soup.

Pick from more cauliflower recipes, including a classic cauliflower soup and creamy cauliflower mash.

Cauliflower bhajis

A twist on the curry house classic, these crispy bhajis see cauliflower pieces coated in a spiced batter, deep-fried, then served with a lime and coriander yogurt dip.

Cauliflower and broccoli soup

Cosy, nourishing and packed with veg, this warming vegetarian soup recipe comes topped with golden-brown sourdough croutons.

Cauliflower, anchovy and raisin spaghetti

Make the most of cauliflower in this low-calorie pasta with lightly toasted pine nuts and sweet smoked paprika.

Blood oranges

These jewel-like fruits bring a little sunshine to the darker months. The name comes from the ruby red mottling in the flesh of the orange, which is sometimes visible in the skin, too. The oranges develop this colour during the cooler winter nights, and they originated in the southern Mediterranean in the 18th century.

Blood orange tarts

An easy but impressive make-ahead dinner party dessert. With a blood orange and custard filling, zesty homemade pastry and caramelised topping, these tarts are super to wow your guests.

Pick from more blood orange recipes, including blood orange polenta drizzle cake and indulgent blood orange sticky iced buns.

Blood orange curd crêpe cake

Celebrate jewel-like blood oranges to make this impressive layer cake. Use shop-bought crêpes and curd for a speedier dessert.

Blood orange loaf cake

Edd Kimber's show-off bake combines the ruby-red brilliance of blood oranges with crunchy poppy seeds and grated marzipan.

Pears

Any pears will work for these recipes but some of our favourites are Conference, Red Williams, Comice or Concorde. Make sure you use the fruit at the optimum stage of ripeness as they vary on flavour and texture.

Pear crumble

This is a classic crumble with a thick, crunchy top. Custard or ice cream are non-negotiable! If you’re cooking for adults, a splash of rum, whisky or brandy with the pears works beautifully. Make sure you use ripe pears in this recipe – underripe fruit will result in a less flavourful crumble.

Pick from more pear recipes, including brown butter pear cake and indulgent sherry poached pears with chocolate sauce.

Pear, gorgonzola and pickled walnut pizzettes

Enjoy these moreish mini pizzas as an aperitif or light lunch, topped with sweet and tangy pickled walnuts, pears and drizzled with floral honey.

Chocolate celebration cake

Celebrate with a decadent chocolate olive oil sponge cake, adorned with luscious hazelnut praline buttercream, tender stewed pears, and crowned with delightful edible flowers.

Haddock

When shopping for smoked haddock, try to buy it un-dyed or naturally dyed, as this is often better quality fish. It will also prevent any dye leaching out and ruining the look of the risotto. It should have a natural smoked hue – the artificially dyed variety will be very yellow.

Try more smocked haddock recipes, including smoked haddock fishcakes and haddock curry.

Smoked haddock risotto

These may not seem like obvious bedfellows, but the subtle smokiness of the smoked haddock is uber comforting with the rice, stock and parmesan.

Smoked haddock and spinach rye toasts

One for those early risers with a savoury tooth, this quick and easy breakfast idea is high in protein and full of flavour.

Haddock goujons with parmesan crust and pea pesto

Make your own posh fish fingers for dinner tonight, with a luxury parmesan crust and homemade pea pesto for dipping.

Celeriac

Celeriac is a variety of celery cultivated for its bulbous root. It has a mild celery-like flavour but is much deeper and nuttier, with a pleasing texture once cooked. Try to find it with healthy looking celery and leaves attached at the top – this is a good sign of its freshness.

Check out our favourite celeriac recipes, including celeriac soup and celeriac gratin.

Celeriac carbonara

Tom Cenci, executive chef of Nessa, shares his reinterpretation of the timeless pasta classic, using spiralised celeriac instead of spaghetti.

Celeriac rostis with harissa yogurt

Top these seasonal hash browns with crispy fried eggs for a winning brunch.

Curried celeriac

With its nutty, creamy flesh, celeriac works really well in this curry – the roasted cubes soak up the flavours of the spices. Serve with steamed rice for a warming vegan dinner.

Potatoes

Potatoes' comforting, starchy texture makes them perfect for hearty dishes during the colder months. Whether mashed, roasted, or baked, potatoes can elevate any meal with their earthy flavour. For a twist, try using them as dauphinoise potatoes or as the base for a warming leek and potato soup. When selecting potatoes, opt for firm ones with smooth skin and no sprouts to ensure the best quality for your recipes.

Cheese and potato pie

This indulgent pie highlights tender, creamy potatoes, layered with rich gruyère and cheddar and encased in a buttery shortcrust pastry. Made with just 10 simple ingredients, the hearty potatoes shine through in every bite.

Chīzu imomochi (potato cheese dumpling)

This type of mochi uses mashed potato and starch in place of glutinous rice. Best eaten warm, glazed in sticky soy honey.

Marinated ibérico pork fillet, roast potatoes and red peppers

Pimentón, garlic and oregano overnight-marinated pork fillet is roasted and layered with crispy potatoes and blistered red peppers for a satisfying main.

Venison

This versatile protein is perfect for hearty winter dishes, lending itself beautifully to slow-cooked stews, casseroles, or even as a centrepiece roast. Its deep, gamey taste pairs well with robust ingredients such as juniper berries, red wine and root vegetables, making it an ideal choice for warming meals during the colder months.

Venison stew

Make our warming venison stew with sloe gin and cheesy polenta. This rich winter recipe may take a little time, but it's definitely worth it, a comforting recipe the whole family will love.

Venison curry

Seasonal venison takes centre stage in this bold keema-style curry, where the rich, gamey meat perfectly complements the vibrant, aromatic spices. Serve it with a cooling raita, warm roti, sliced red onion and a squeeze of fresh lemon to balance the richness.

Venison meatballs

Homemade spiced venison meatballs with a fresh chopped salad and plenty of hummus, all ready in less than half an hour.

Lemon

Lemons, with their bright, tangy flavour, are a versatile ingredient that shine during the winter months. Their zesty juice and aromatic rind add a refreshing lift to both sweet and savoury dishes.

Discover more lemon recipes.

Lemon fool

This lemon fool is a simple, light dessert that takes minutes to put together. Serve with a biscuit for dipping – shortbread or ginger ones go well.

Lemon meringue pie

A classic, impressive lemon meringue pie with crisp pastry, tart curd and fluffy meringue that's easy to make. What more could you want?

Baked halibut with fennel, lemon and walnut pangrattato

A mild, sweet-flavoured flat fish with firm flesh, halibut is particularly well suited to roasting, ideal for easy entertaining or an elevated speedy midweek meal.