The English Garden – September 2019

80 THE ENGLISH GARDEN SEPTEMBER 2019

RECIPE: MUSHROOM AND ONION RAGOÛT

Serves 4

INGREDIENTS

2 tablespoonsoliveoil

1 smallonion,peeledand

veryfinelychopped

1 celerystick,trimmedand

veryfinelychopped

1 mediumcarrot,trimmed

andveryfinelychopped

100gunsmokedbaconor

gammon,chopped

400mlwell-flavouredstock

Abouquetgarnioffresh

parsley,thyme,marjoram

400gshallotspeeled

200gbuttonmushrooms,

trimmed

Saltandpepper

METHOD

1 Heattheoilinasaucepan.

Addtheonion,celeryand

carrotandfrybriskly,stirring

untilthevegetablesbeginto

caramelise.Addthebacon

andfryfor5–10minutes.

Pourinthestock,thenadd

thebouquetgarni.Once

themixturehascometothe

boil,simmeruntilreducedby

abouthalf.

2 Puttheshallotsand

mushroomsinacleanpan.

Strainthestockoverthem.

3 Continuetocookgently,

stirringfromtimetotime.

Whentheonionsaretender

(about 45 minutes),thestock

shouldbereducedtoafew

spoonfulsofthick,slightly

syrupyliquid.Season.

AdaptedfromRoastsby

LauraMason(NationalTrust

Books),£16.99

IMAGES

TARA FISHER; SHUTTERSTOCK; GAP/VISIONS/SARAH CUTTLE; JONATHAN BUCKLEY; NOVA PHOTO GRAPHIK

IN SEASON

OFor easy sowing use sets

rather than seed. Plant in

mid-spring and autumn

depending on variety, for

a steady supply of onions.

OPlant sets in well-drained

soil in a sunny position,

about 5cm apart for

smaller bulbs and 10cm

apart for larger ones.

Harvest when leaves turn

yellow and collapse. Hang

them up to dry so their

sugars can move from the

leaf to the bulb, but don’t

cut the leaves.

ORotate crops and

practice good hygiene to

help prevent white rot and

stem eelworm. Orange

pustules indicate leaf rust.

Growing

advice

‘Long Red Florence’

This is an elongated onion of

Italian origin. Harvest it young

for a spring onion e‰ect, or

allow its bulb to develop to

maturity. It has a mild flavour

and is good in salads.

‘Barletta Silverskin’

These small, white, quick-

cropping, pickling onions

are actually bunching

onions allowed to grow

large. Harvest from June to

September. Marshalls supply.

‘Stuttgarter Giant’

Plant sets of this reliable

brown onion in spring for

semi-flat bulbs that can be

harvested in late summer and

early autumn. If cured well, it

will store for many months.

‘Red Baron’

This mid- to late-maturing

F1 hybrid with an Award of

Garden Merit is one for a

greenhouse trial: start it in

January or February for extra-

large bulbs that store well.

Varieties to grow