EVERY WEEK I take £5 to Ridley Road Market in Dalston, Hackney, London E8 2LH, to spend on seasonal food, obviously not including items likely to be already in a kitchen, such as sauces, oil, herbs and spices. On Friday I tell you what I have chosen and publish a seasonal recipe.
Some of the recipes will be frugal. They will all be vegetarian. They will be tasty.
This week’s £5 basket, pictured above
Bowl mangoes (4) £1
2 melons £1
Bowl seedless red grapes £1
Bowl seedless green grapes £1
Pineapple £1
Total £5
HERE IS a quick picnic dessert that makes a spread look extra-special. I have used the fruits from my Ridley Road basket, but any fruit will do. Strawberries, blueberries and raspberries can all be stabbed on to a wooden skewer to look inviting.
This week’s recipe: Fruit sticks, below. Allow 2/3 fruit kebabs a person.
Equipment: kitchen knife, vegetable peeler, wooden kebab sticks. Wash fruit.
Preparation: 20 minutes. No cooking
Ingredients: for 10 sticks, half a melon peeled de-seeded and cut into chunks, 1 mango peeled and cut into chunks, 1/3 pineapple peeled and cut into chunks, several red and green grapes.
Method: Put alternative fruit on a stick until the stick is full. Place the fruit kebab in a half a melon or orange cut side-down.
I said it was quick and easy. You deserve it after last week’s recipe which, though not difficult, was complex.
* Two websites have written about this column. Hackney Post has published an interview with Shooey, as has the Food Bankers. Hackney council journalist Marcel Reinard has made a video about markets, including Ridley Road.
* Emboldened or tinted words may indicate a hyperlink, a special service for Loving Dalston readers who may want to look further into a topic. If a link does not work, it is probably because the site to which the URL refers has not been maintained.
*Previous articles hyperlinked: Asparagus, onion and tomato tartlets 5 July 2013; Sparkling elderflower and fritters 28 June 2013; Beetroot quinoa salad 21 June 2013; Lemon couscous with spicy mushrooms 14 June 2013; Lurgied 7 June 2013; At last, the Alphonso 31 May 2013; Aubergine salad 24 May 2013; Asparagus with hollandaise 17 May 2013; Stuffed beef tomatoes with guacamole 10 May 2013; Hackney snackney 3 May 2013; Bell pepper salad 26 April 2013; Gnocchi and tomato sauce with zucchini salad 19 April 2013 Tomato soup with soda bread 12 April 2013; Broccoli mornay 5 April 2013; Easter redemption song 29 March 2013 Less is enough 22 March 2013; A tart in the mart 15 March 2013; Polenta verde and sauté mushrooms 8 March 2013; Caribeasy 29 February 2013; Feeling fruity 22February 2013; Kashmir delight 15 February 2013; Samphire surprise 8 February 2013; Two dishes from £5 1 February 2013; Ae fond neep 25 January 2013; Cauliflower cheese 18 January 2013; Hackney frittata 11 January 2013; Tasty and easy Christmas snack 21 December 2012; The shops behind the market stalls 9 November 2012; Chutney 2 November 2012; Piccalilli 26 October 2012; Golden soup 19 October 2012; Roasted, stuffed squash 12 October 2012; Vegetable curry 5 October 2012; Carrot and coriander soup 28 September 2012; Ratatouille Gypsy stew 21 September 2012; Bubble and squeak Shooey style, Bakewell pudding 14 September 2012; Coleslaw and radishes 7 September 2012; Turkish spinach pie 31 August 2012; Tomato tart, marinated aubergines, fresh mango chutney 24 August 2012; Roasted butternut squash soup and beetroot salad 17 August 17 2012; The column sets itself a challenge 15 August 2012
