As the nights draw in and the temperature drops, our thoughts turn to hearty, comforting food to warm and nourish us… and during autumn and winter, soups, stews and pasta dishes come into their own. But they need not be boring!

A Mediterranean diet provides the feel-good factor like no other, with plenty of colour and a much-needed wellbeing boost later in the year.  And a diet including fresh fruit and vegetables has numerous health benefits, with produce providing a rich source of vitamins, minerals, fibre, and antioxidants. Choosing seasonal fruit and vegetables from Italy and other EU countries, means choosing the very highest European standards of freshness, food safety, quality, and respect for the environment. 

So, if you’re looking to add a touch of colour to your autumn/winter menu, look no further than I Love Fruit & Veg from Europe’s range of new and inventive and nutritious recipes that showcase the very best seasonal produce (www.ilovefruitandvegfromeurope.co.uk). 

With main dishes perfect for any time of day, try Mexican chilli baked eggs, Creamy Pasta with lots of basil, an Artichoke, tuna  & olive pasta, Spring onion-miso relish on top of tofu or Pickled radish & steak tacos.

Or for a lighter bite, lunchtime snack or breakfast inspiration, choose from Bacon & chilli breakfast scones, Cabbage, bean & pancetta soup, NYC deli “Salad”, Spring Onion Grilled Cheese Sandwich, Cabbage Mu-Shu Wrap and Grilled pear & gorgonzola salad – or perhaps a side of Overnight Japanese sweet-tart pickles?

And who can resist a pudding packed full of scrumptious fruit?  These Individual orange & amaretti trifles or delicious warm Pear & chocolate sponge traybake are sure to be crowd pleasers with friends and family too!

The I Love Fruit & Veg from Europe campaign is led by five organisations based in Italy – A.O.A., Asso Fruit Italia, La Deliziosa, Meridia and Terra Orti. Discover more seasonal recipes from I Love Fruit & Veg from Europe at: www.ilovefruitandvegfromeurope.co.uk

Instagram: @ilovefruitandvegfromeuropecouk #ILoveFruitAndVegFromEurope #EnjoyItsFromEurope #ILoveFruitAndVeg

ENDS

MEXICAN CHILLI BAKED EGGS

Prep: 10 minutes

Cook: 20 minutes

Serves 4

1 tbsp oil

1 onion, sliced (190g)

2 green chillies, 1 finely chopped, 1 sliced

1 tsp mild chilli powder

½ tsp ground cumin

400g can black beans, drained and rinsed

400g can chopped tomatoes

4 medium eggs

Sliced avocado, soured cream and coriander to serve

Preheat oven to 200 C, gas mark 6.

Heat the oil in a large ovenproof frying pan and fry the onion and chopped chillies for 5 minutes.  Stir in the spices and cook for 1 minute.

Stir in the beans and chopped tomatoes with 100ml water and simmer for 5 minutes.  Make 4 hollows and crack an egg into each. Scatter over the sliced chilli and bake for 8-10 minutes until the egg white has just set.

Serve topped with avocado, soured cream and coriander.

Cooks tip

Serve with crusty bread to mop up all the sauce.

TAGLIATELLE WITH BASIL CREAM AND GORGONZOLA

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cooking time: 10 minutes

Serves 4

150g basil, plus a little extra for garnish

1 clove garlic, chopped

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, or as needed

500g fresh tagliatelle

300ml whipping cream

150g Gorgonzola

4 tablespoons pine nuts, toasted

Trim the end of the basil stalks then coarsely chop or tear up the leaves and stems, and place in blender, along with the garlic and olive oil. Whizz it up, until the mixture forms a thick green paste. Add more olive oil as needed. Season to taste and set aside.

Cook the pasta according to the instructions on pack.

While it is heating up, pour the cream into a large frying pan and heat it over medium heat until bubbles form along the edges, and it is hot. Remove from heat.

Crumble the gorgonzola into small chunks and add to the cream; no need to stir, just let it grow soft in the hot cream. Drain the pasta, reserving about a cup of the cooking water.

Add the pasta to the hot cream and toss together over a medium low heat until all the pasta is covered in sauce. Add a little bit of the cooking water if the sauce is too thick.

Add the reserved basil paste into the hot pasta, toss together and mix well, season to taste, then serve right away, scattered generously with pine nuts and extra basil.

Cooks tip: Try using green fettucine, to enhance the green colour and pureed basil.

ARTICHOKE, TUNA & OLIVE PASTA

Prep: 10 minutes

Cook: 20-25 minutes

Serves 4

4 globe artichokes (1.3kg)

2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

Zest and juice 1 lemon

250g wholewheat penne pasta

200g can tuna steak in olive oil

50g pitted black olives, sliced

½ x 25g pack parsley, roughly chopped

Remove the tough leaves from the base of the artichokes and cut off the stems.  Cook in a large pan of boiling water for 20-25 minutes, depending on the size. If a leaf from the centre comes away easily, they are cooked. Remove from the water and drain upside down.

Remove the leaves and scrap off the flesh from the leaves. Remove and discard the ‘hair’, or choke with a teaspoon to reveal the artichoke heart.  Slice the hearts and marinate in the oil and lemon zest and juice.

Meanwhile, cook the pasta according to pack instructions, drain, reserving a little cooking water.  Toss the tuna with the tuna oil, olives, parsley, artichoke flesh and marinated hearts plus the marinade into the pasta along with a little cooking water.  Season to taste and serve.

Cooks tip

Swop the can of tuna for fresh salmon or tofu.

SPRING ONION-MISO TOPPED SILKEN TOFU

Prep time: 15 minutes

Serves 4

1 1/2 tablespoons white miso

1 tablespoon soy sauce, plus extra for drizzling at end

1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil

2 bunches spring onions

1/2 fresh red chilli, chopped

1/2 red pepper, cut into strips

Juice of 1/2 lime

2 tablespoons sesame seeds, toasted

2 x 300g packs Silken (soft) tofu

Stir the miso to loosen it up, then mix it with the soy sauce and sesame oil. Set aside while you prepare the spring onions.

Trim off the root end and the uneven cut ends of the spring onions, then cut on a diagonal, as thinly as you can. Stir this into the miso mixture, along with the red chilli, red pepper, lime juice and sesame seeds.

Carefully open each box of tofu, using a scissors to keep it from falling apart as it is quite delicate in texture. Cut each rectangle into two halves, each one square shaped. Place each square on a small plate.

Spoon the spring onion miso mixture onto each square of tofu, drizzling a little bit of soy sauce over the top. Leave to stand for an hour in the fridge to allow the flavours to develop before serving with a leafy salad.

Cooks Tip

Instead of tofu, the spring onion/miso mixture is delicious as a dressing mixed in with cold diced cooked chicken and rice noodles.

PICKLED RADISH & STEAK TACOS

Prep: 10 minutes

Cook: 10 minutes

Serves 4

2 tsp caster sugar (10g)

2 tbsp white wine vinegar

200g radishes, sliced

230g asparagus, trimmed

1 tbsp olive oil

3 x 200g sirloin steaks, trimmed of excess fat

326g pack 8 soft flour tortillas

Coriander leaves, sliced avocado and soured cream to serve

Place the sugar and vinegar in a bowl and stir to dissolve, stir in the radishes and set aside.

Meanwhile, rub ½ tbsp oil over the asparagus and griddle for 5-6 minutes until slightly charred, cut in half.  Rub the steaks in the remaining oil, season and add to the griddle for 2 minutes each side for medium. Allow to rest for a few minutes before slicing.

Warm the tortillas according to the pack and serve with some asparagus, sliced steak and pickled radishes topped with sliced avocado, coriander leaves and a spoonful of soured cream.

Cooks tip

Replace the steak with salmon or lamb steaks.

BACON & CHILLI BREAKFAST SCONES

Prep: 15 minutes  

Cook: 20 minutes

Serves 4

6 rashers smoked back bacon (175g)

½ tbsp olive oil

225g self raising flour

1 tsp baking powder

50g butter, diced

2 green chillies, 1 finely chopped, 1 sliced

2 tbsp chopped parsley

100ml milk plus 1 tbsp

4 medium eggs

Preheat the oven to 200^oC, gas mark 6.

Finely chop 2 rashers bacon, heat the oil in a frying pan and fry for 2-3 minutes until golden.

Meanwhile, place the flour, a pinch salt and baking powder in a large bowl, add the butter and rub into the flour with fingertips to give breadcrumbs.  Stir in the chopped chilli, parsley and fried bacon. Gradually add 100ml milk and stir with a round bladed knife to give a soft dough.

On a floured surface, roll out the dough to a 16cm square, cut into 4 squares and place on a baking tray, brush with a little milk and add the sliced chillies on top.  Bake for 20 minutes until golden.

Meanwhile grill the remaining bacon for 5-6 minutes.  Poach the eggs in boiling water for 3-4 minutes.

Half the scones, fill with bacon and poached egg and serve.

Cooks tip

For a substantial brunch add some round lettuce and tomatoes.

CABBAGE, PANCETTA & BEAN SOUP

Prep: 15 minutes  

Cook: 8-10 minutes

Serves 4

½ tbsp extra virgin olive oil, plus extra for drizzling

150g diced pancetta

400g can chopped tomatoes

800ml chicken stock

400g can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed

½ Savoy cabbage, shredded (300g)

½ x 25g pack basil, shredded

Heat ½ tbsp oil in a large saucepan and fry the pancetta for 2-3 minutes.

Add the tomatoes, stock and beans and bring to the boil.  Stir in the cabbage and cook, covered for 5 minutes. Add the basil and season with black pepper.

Drizzle with a little oil and serve with crusty bread.

Cooks tip

Swop the cannellini beans for butter or kidney beans.

NEW YORK CITY “SALAD”

Prep time: Standing time: 10 minutes plus 5 -10 minutes

Serves 4

2 medium large kohlrabi (about 300g each)

1 medium sized carrot, peeled and cut into julienne or thin strips

1 large red Romano pepper or red sweet (bell) pepper, coarsely chopped or cut into thin short strips

1 leek, very thinly sliced

1 small red onion, halved and thinly sliced

1 teaspoon salt

2-3 tablespoons caster sugar

2 tablespoons cider vinegar

3-5 tablespoons white wine vinegar

Trim the kohlrabi: cut off the top and bottom of the kohlrabi (you will need a sharp knife), then peel the rest of the kohlrabi: using either a vegetable peeler, or, sharp vegetable knife. When peeled, cut into halves, then slice, and cut into thin strips.

Combine the kohlrabi strips with the carrot, red pepper, leek and red onion. Add the salt, and mix well. Set aside for about ten minutes.

Add the sugar, cider vinegar and white wine vinegar and mix well.

Chill until ready to serve.

Cooks Tip

You can keep in a sealed container in the fridge for up to a week. The vegetables wilt, and get slightly pickle-y as they sit, which makes them a delicious antipasto, or tapa, or side to a deli sandwich.

SPRING ONION TOASTED CHEESE SANDWICH

Prep time:10 minutes

Cooking time: 6 minutes

Serves 4

180g cream cheese

3-4 medium-large spring onions, thinly sliced

200g Emmenthal cheese, thinly sliced

8 slices brown bread (or 4 small rolls, cut into halves)

25g butter

With a fork or spoon lightly beat the cream cheese then mix in the spring onions and season to taste.

Spread the mixture onto the four slices of bread and top with the sliced Emmental.

Spread the top of the sandwiches with half the butter then place under a preheated grill until the cheese is melted and lightly browned in places. Turn over, spread with remaining butter and toast as before.

Cut the sandwiches into halves, sprinkle with a little more spring onion, and serve.

Cooks Tip: The spring onion cream cheese is super spooned onto a toasted bagel. Eat as is, or top with smoked salmon, or diced cucumber, tomatoes and peppers.

SAVOY CABBAGE STIR FRY, WITH CARROTS AND SHIITAKES, TORTILLA WRAP

Prep time: 20 minutes

Cooking time: 10-15 minutes

Serves 4 – 6

1 Savoy cabbage

100g fresh shiitake mushrooms

2 tablespoons toasted sesame oil

1 medium carrot, trimmed and cut into short strips

1 tablespoon chopped fresh ginger

1 teaspoon sugar

1-2 tbsp soy sauce to taste

1 x 160 pack marinated tofu pieces

4 large flour tortillas

1-2 tbsp Hoisin sauce

3-4 spring onions, trimmed and thinly sliced

Remove the core of the Savoy cabbage, then slice it fairly thinly (about 12-15 mm). Remove stems from shiitakes and slice the caps into strips. Set aside the cabbage and the mushrooms.

In a heavy pan or wok, heat 1 tablespoon of the sesame oil; when pan is hot but not smoking, add the carrot and ginger, stir fry a minute or two then add the shiitakes. Continue to stir fry another minute or two then remove from pan/wok and set aside.

Add the cabbage with the remaining sesame oil to the pan then stir fry for about 5 minutes or until the cabbage begins to wilt. Sprinkle with sugar and soy sauce to taste.

Toss together then add the reserved carrot/shiitake mixture to the cabbage with the tofu and toss it all together, cooking over medium heat for 1 – 2 minutes. Season with soy sauce to taste if needed, and pile onto a platter to serve.

Heat the tortillas according to the instructions on pack, then place each on a plate, spooning the cabbage mixture down of the centre, with a dash of hoisin and a sprinkling of spring onions on the side. Working lengthwise, so that the cabbage mixture will be enclosed in the wrap, fold over the end with the hoisin and spring onion, then work your way around the filling wrapping it as tightly as you can.

Serve right away, drizzled or dotted with extra hoisin, and sprinkled with spring onions.

Cooks Tip: The filling is mild, which makes it a great accompaniment to other dishes such as roasted meats and steamed rice, with either a dash of hoisin or spicy red chili oil.

GRIDDLED PEAR & GORGONZOLA SALAD

Prep: 15 minutes

Cook: 15 minutes

Serves 4

150g day old bread, torn into bite sized pieces

3½ tbsp olive oil

3 ripe pears (450g)

100g rocket

100g walnuts, toasted

250g radishes, sliced

2 tbsp white wine vinegar

150g Gorgonzola, diced

Preheat the oven to 200^oC, gas mark 6.

Toss the bread in 1 tbsp oil and place on a baking tray, bake for 10 minutes until golden.

Meanwhile, halve the pears lengthways and remove the core, then slice and toss in ½ tbsp oil and griddle in batches for 2-3 minutes each side until golden bar marks appear, set aside.

Mix together the rocket, walnuts, croutons and radishes.  Whisk the remaining oil with the vinegar, season and toss into the rocket. Divide between 4 large plates and top with the griddled pears and Gorgonzola.

Cooks tip

Use another blue cheese of your choice.

JAPANESE LIGHTLY PICKLED KOHLRABI

Prep time: 10-15 minutes

Preparation time: 1 hour plus overnight marinating

1 kohlrabi (abut 400g)

1/4- 1/2 teaspoon salt or as needed

2 tablespoons caster sugar

2 tablespoons Japanese rice vinegar

1/8 teaspoon turmeric

Optional: thinly sliced red chili

Remove the leaves and stems of the kohlrabi, then peel away its tough skin. Cut the round vegetable into quarters, then each quarter into thin slices.

Place in a bowl, toss with the salt, and leave for at least an hour.

Taste the kohlrabi; if it seems too salty, rinse with water; if it seems just salty enough for a pickle, then leave it as is.

Add the sugar, vinegar, turmeric, and chilli if using and mix well, and leave for several hours or overnight.

Cooks tip:

Delicious as a pickle-accompaniment to steamed rice and grilled meat/fish/tofu, and wonderful with burgers or fried chicken sandwiches.

ORANGE & AMARETTI TRIFLES

Prep: 20 minutes plus setting

Cook: 1-2 minutes

Serves 4

5-6 blood oranges

4 sheets leaf gelatine (7g)

75g caster sugar

400g can custard

50g Amaretti biscuits

100g mascarpone

100ml double cream

Zest 3 oranges and set aside.  Juice all the oranges to give approx. 300ml, top up to 400ml with water. Soak the gelatine in cold water for 5 minutes. Place orange juice in a small saucepan with the sugar and bring to just below boiling, remove the gelatine from the water and add to the pan, stir until dissolved, stir in 2/3 of the zest. Pour into 4 glasses and allow to cool, chill in the fridge until set.

Crumble all but 3 amaretti biscuits into the custard and spoon over the jelly.

Whisk the mascarpone, cream and half the remaining zest until soft peaks and spoon on top of the custard. Garnish with remaining zest and crumbled amaretti biscuits.

Cooks tip

Replace the Amaretti biscuits with crushed ginger nuts.

PEAR & CHOCOLATE SPONGE TRAYBAKE

Prep: 20 minutes

Cook: 35-40 minutes

Serves 6 -8

200g butter, softened

200g caster sugar

3 medium eggs

175g self raising flour

50g cocoa powder

½ tsp baking powder

2 tbsp milk

1 tsp vanilla essence

3 ripe pears, halved lengthways, core removed (450g)

2 tbsp salted caramel sauce, warmed (40g)

Preheat the oven to 180^oC, gas mark 4. Grease and line a 20 x 24cm tin with baking parchment.

Place the butter and sugar in a large bowl and whisk until pale and fluffy.  Add the eggs, 1 at a time. Mix together the flour, cocoa and baking powder and fold into the butter mixture with the milk and vanilla.  Spoon into the prepared tin and smooth the surface.

Slice the pear halves and place gently on top of the cake mixture, still keeping the pear shape but fanning out the slices slightly. Bake for 35-40 minutes until a skewer comes out clean.

Allow to cool then drizzle with caramel sauce.

Cooks tip

Scatter with flaked almonds before cooking.