This month has seen a flurry of limited edition and collaboration products…
Champion Queen Chickpeas
Well, after the opening of the fabulous Ottolenghi deli in Richmond (which I will be reviewing soon) he’s collaborated with Bold Beans to launch a delicious new product: Queen Black Chickpeas.
Black chickpeas boast a beautifully rich and nutty flavour profile and creamy texture. Their skins aren’t tough or chewy, but have a firm bite, and an exciting, contrasting mouthfeel. They hold their shape, ideal for roasting, slow-cooking or confited in olive oil until buttery and soft.
These Queen Black Chickpeas differ from their cream-coloured counterparts in that they’re smaller and slightly firmer, with a deep, roasted undertone that makes them perfect to scatter over salads, toss with spices or even spoon straight from the jar. Queen Black Chickpeas are also a resilient crop, thriving in poor soil while fixing nitrogen back into the earth. It’s important to both Bold Bean Co. and Ottolenghi to celebrate the lesser-known crops that have great potential and with the next harvest taking place in late summer, they’re a step towards a more sustainable food future.
Available in Waitrose at £3.60 for a 570g jar and at Ottolenghi delis across London. If you’re wondering what to do with them, the Ottolenghi Test Kitchen and Bold Bean Co. have developed a series of brand-new recipes, ready to spark some serious kitchen inspiration. And for those who prefer to try before they buy, Ottolenghi’s delis will feature the all-new Black & White Hummus on the menu starring the Queen Black Chickpeas, so you can have a taste before picking up a jar to take home.
Beanz Meanz More than Just Heinz
Another collaboration with beans of a different variety, but still delicious, is this tasty new product from Ginsters and Heinz: Beanz & Cheese Slice. Heinz Beanz and melted cheese are wrapped in Ginsters’ golden pastry.
The slice is designed to deliver the perfect balance of pastry, beanz and cheese. All I know is that it pops into the air fryer and you have a really tasty lunch in minutes!
The Ginsters Limited Edition Heinz Beanz & Cheese Slice is available from Morrisons and Tesco, Asda and Sainsbury’s with an RRSP of £1.95.
And it’s Great British Beef Week from 23-30 April, so here’s a timely reminder from Ginsters that it only uses British Beef in its pasties, as provenance is a principle: Whether it’s locally sourced vegetables or British meat. As our British farmers continue to face rising costs and changing conditions, Great British Beef Week is a timely reminder of the value of supporting UK agriculture.
Another Winner from Tracklements
Another limited edition product is an ultra tasty Special Edition Pineapple & Chilli Relish from Tracklements.
It’s a beautiful combo of sweet and tangy, with a tropical kick. Reminiscent of a mango chutney, but with more sweetness and spice, the natural sugars of the pineapple balance the spice of the chilli, ginger and mustard seed, while a touch of cider vinegar elevates the flavour.
As well as the usual uses for a relish, it also makes a terrific fruity (and a bit fiery) marinade, as the pineapple contains an enzyme called bromelain, which tenderizes meat such as chicken and pork, so it absorbs the flavours of the marinade better.
£3.95 / 190g, is available from fine food delis and farm shops nationwide and online at www.tracklements.co.uk
Blood Orange Kombucha – Bloody Good!
Regular readers will know that I’m such a fan of the South London based husband and wife team, MOMO Kombucha (www.momo-kombucha.com), who create Great Taste Award winning kombucha using natural methods.
This month saw this New Covent Garden Market based brewery launch a new seasonal kombucha, the limited-edition Blood Orange Kombucha (RRP from £4.50 per 330ml glass bottle) in collaboration with Natoora (www.natoora.com),
Available from MOMO, Natoora, Selfridges, Gail’s Bakeries, Planet Organic, Zapp and Whole Foods Market; it’s limited edition, but it’s set to be in stock until July, so you’ve got plenty of time to try it…it’s fabulous!
A Spanish Take from unearthedⓇ
Not a limited edition this time, and looking to warmer weather (🤞) this summer, unearthedⓇ is reimagining pintxos – Spain’s beloved skewered snacks.
These new, easy-to-enjoy products, let you savour the flavours of Spain at home. Pintxos – meaning “spike” in Basque – are a Northern Spanish tradition.
Instead of ready-assembled pintxos, these unearthedⓇ products come deconstructed in a resealable bucket, allowing you to build your own, as well as snacking straight from the pack.
Around £5.00 (330G), at Sainsbury’s. Also available is unearthedⓇ Green Olive & Gouda Cheese (330g) with the Hojiblanca olive—one of Spain’s most popular varieties, known for its buttery, slightly nutty flavour.
International Sauvignon Blanc Day
Next Friday 2 May is International Sauvignon Blanc Day, so I’m giving you plenty of time to stock up with one of my favourite white wines. The Sauvignon Blanc grape is known for producing crisp, dry, and aromatic wines with high acidity. These wines often feature flavours of citrus, grass, and green fruit. The grape can be grown in many types of soil and climates and takes on different personalities depending on where it is grown.
Here are some recommendations from Calvet, one of the foremost names in wine for over a century:
For a full bodied and deliciously herbal wine, this Calvet Réserve Sauvignon Blanc at £9.99 from Waitrose will give you concentrated white fruit notes as well. It pairs wonderfully with shellfish, smoked salmon and grilled fish.
If you like a softly oaked, the Calvet Prestige Bordeaux White Sauvignon Fumé at £8 a bottle from Ocado is one to note. This is perfectly balanced with hints of citrus and vanilla. It’s great on its own but also pairs well with chicken and seafood.
And the rather special Calvet Pouilly Fumé at £23.50 from Ocado has a yellow green hue, a powerful nose with floral and fruity aromas. It’s well balanced, fleshy and fabulous, and a delicious accompaniment to king prawns and any other seafood.
Cheers.
