Ingredient: Potatoes - New potatoes - Jersey Royal
Category: Vegetables
Season: April to July
Under the Common Agricultural Policy of the European Union , Jersey Royals are covered by a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO).
The Jersey Royal is a seasonal potato, usually eaten as a 'New' potato, from April to July, while its skin can still be rubbed off with ones fingers.
The potatoes are planted from January to April and dug while the plant is still immature, from early April until mid July
The Jersey Royal has a number of odd terms attached to it:
Growers finish 'standing' the potatoes in December, which means they stand them on end (the right way up!) so they grow perfect shoots ready to go as soon as they are planted.
'Chats', are early season and pea sized, wonderful stir-fried.
'Mids', are small potatoes about 2"x 2", or less.
'Ware' are medium sized
'Toppers', are very large and only available at the end of the season.
'Set Skins', which are from mature plants at the end of the season, they have a hard skin, keep for weeks and are excellent on a barbecue with olive oil rosemary and garlic.
Jersey Royals, have outstanding flavour, more so when they’re a little more mature and larger than the tiny marbles that appear in early April.
Choose them unwashed with the earth still clinging to them, they need to be as fresh as possible, when you push a piece of skin with your thumb it slides away from the flesh instantly.
These are the finest new potatoes of all for serving hot or cold in a potato salad.
To cook Jersey Royals :
Wash well, rubbing loose skin off gently (never peel),
Drop into a pan of boiling water,
Add a sprig of mint if you wish and salt to taste.
Simmer for about 15 minutes until tender.
Serve with a knob of butter and your Royals are at their simple best.
Cooked Royals can be sautéed , for a first class breakfast or brunch, with spring onions, cherry tomatoes, bacon and a poached egg.
They are also delightful barbecued .
Wrap loosely in tin foil with a light coating of olive oil, garlic, coarse sea salt and rosemary.
Barbecue them gently for about 45 minutes.
Parboiling first will speed this up or bake in a conventional oven.
The firm texture of Jersey Royals makes them ideal for a cold potato salad
Add some finely chopped onion, cucumber and a hard-boiled egg coated in home made mayonnaise.
Royals compliment any meal beautifully , at any time, and they are good for you!
Most common varieties in the U.K. are:
New potatoes:
For a full list of U.K. potatoes, click here
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