Preserves

Home-made preserved fruit and vegetables are far superior to anything you will buy in the shops

Confit of Cranberries

This is my favourite accompaniment to duck or game. It's also fabulous with pork and venison sausages.

1 hour

to cook

Confit of Redcurrants

Whether it’s leg, shoulder, chops or braised neck of lamb (even kidney or liver) the following is a brillia...

Whether it’s leg, shoulder, chops or braised neck of lamb (even kidney or liver) the following is a brilliant accompaniment. And that’s redcurrants done and dusted ...

1 hour 10 minutes

to cook

Christmas Chutney

This is so-named because it is made with dried fruits, which I always associate with Christmas: prunes, dat...

This is so-named because it is made with dried fruits, which I always associate with Christmas: prunes, dates and apricots It's dark, spicy and delicious with cold ...

1 hour 30 minutes

to cook

Cranberry and Onion Confit

A confit, as the name suggests, is a kind of sauce reduced to a concentrated, jam-like consistency. This...

A confit, as the name suggests, is a kind of sauce reduced to a concentrated, jam-like consistency. This one is a good accompaniment for all kinds of things at Chri...

1 hour 15 minutes - 1 hour 20 minutes

to cook

Vegetarian

Cranberry and Orange Relish

In our family there are those who like bread sauce as the accompaniment to turkey, and there are those who ...

In our family there are those who like bread sauce as the accompaniment to turkey, and there are those who prefer cranberries. For the latter I always make the foll...

Dark Apricot and Almond Conserve

Most fruit conserves are made in summer, so it's good to be able to make this one in the depths of winter w...

Most fruit conserves are made in summer, so it's good to be able to make this one in the depths of winter when it's too cold to go out. Serve it on some warm scones...

Dark Chunky Marmalade

The problem with 20th-century marmalade-making is that today's hobs don't always oblige when it comes to ge...

The problem with 20th-century marmalade-making is that today's hobs don't always oblige when it comes to getting large amounts of marmalade up to what old-fashioned co...

Red Pepper Relish

This is a jewel of a recipe, which my friend Di wrote down for me after a stay her Provencal home. It wo...

This is a jewel of a recipe, which my friend Di wrote down for me after a stay her Provencal home. It would be terrific served at a barbecue with bangers or kebabs,...

English Mustard Pickle (Piccalilli)

This is as English as pork pie and very difficult to buy commercially - I've never found a good bought vers...

This is as English as pork pie and very difficult to buy commercially - I've never found a good bought version except in small delis and farm shops. It's so good at...

Fresh Apricot Preserve

This is my mother's recipe, and every year she waits patiently for the price of apricots to come down – whi...

This is my mother's recipe, and every year she waits patiently for the price of apricots to come down – which usually happens in August, especially at the end of a war...

Fresh Coriander Chutney

This is the perfect accompaniment for Marinated Chicken Kebabs with Whole Spices or Beef Curry Dopiaza.

Fresh Date and Apple Chutney

This chutney goes particularly well with Camembert Croquettes. However, it would also partner the Christ...

This chutney goes particularly well with Camembert Croquettes. However, it would also partner the Christmas cold cuts and buffet food extremely well, especially ham...

Giardiniere Pickles (Italian Gardener's Pickles)

I had a spell of work in Italy when I was 21, and one of my abiding memories of all those Italian meals was...

I had a spell of work in Italy when I was 21, and one of my abiding memories of all those Italian meals was that Sunday lunch always began with a plate of salamis, pro...

Gooseberry and Elderflower Preserve

Was it a happy accident or nature's clever plan, that while English gooseberries are ripe and ready for pic...

Was it a happy accident or nature's clever plan, that while English gooseberries are ripe and ready for picking, the elderflower trees are in full blossom, and that th...

Christmas Mincemeat

Once again, over the years we have never found a match for this mincemeat recipe, so if I can persuade you ...

Once again, over the years we have never found a match for this mincemeat recipe, so if I can persuade you to make it, you will never want the bought stuff ever again....

3 hours

to cook

Vegetarian

Home-made Christmas Mincemeat with Cranberries

If you've never made mincemeat before, the one thing that will probably surprise you is how dead simple it ...

If you've never made mincemeat before, the one thing that will probably surprise you is how dead simple it is. Here's how to make your own, giving the traditional r...

3 hours

to cook

Vegetarian

Strawberry Preserve

Strawberries are cheap and plentiful in the summer, so why not take advantage of this by storing away some ...

Strawberries are cheap and plentiful in the summer, so why not take advantage of this by storing away some of their sunny, ripe flavour to brighten bleak winter days t...

Lemon Curd

Lots of lovely recipes call for lemon curd and, once again, it’s something that is never the same when shop...

Lots of lovely recipes call for lemon curd and, once again, it’s something that is never the same when shop-bought. Sore wrists? See Delia's recommendation be...

Lemon and Lime Marmalade

This is a very refreshing marmalade, good wake-up food on a dull morning. Its other advantage is that it...

This is a very refreshing marmalade, good wake-up food on a dull morning. Its other advantage is that it can be made at any time of the year. Although this does nee...

Mango Chutney

It gets more and more difficult to find mango chutney which has really visible chunks of mango all through ...

It gets more and more difficult to find mango chutney which has really visible chunks of mango all through it. So, since it is very easy to make, here is a recipe w...

3 hours

to cook

Pickled Beetroot with Shallots

Beetroot is vastly underestimated, in my opinion. Perhaps that's because the strong malt vinegar of the ...

Beetroot is vastly underestimated, in my opinion. Perhaps that's because the strong malt vinegar of the commercial pickling masks the true flavour of the beetroot, ...

Vegetarian

Pickled Limes

This is a very sharp, concentrated preserve which goes wonderfully with fish, especially Rösti Crab Cakes. ...

This is a very sharp, concentrated preserve which goes wonderfully with fish, especially Rösti Crab Cakes. It is also good with Baked Thai Red Curry Chicken – but b...

Pickled Okra

This is one of my most favourite pickles. The recipe was given to me by a very talented artist, Deborah ...

This is one of my most favourite pickles. The recipe was given to me by a very talented artist, Deborah MacMillan, whose paintings (I have three) I am very attracte...

Pickled Peppers and Courgettes

This is adapted from an old Cordon Bleu recipe for pickled cucumber. It's one of the best, in my opinion...

This is adapted from an old Cordon Bleu recipe for pickled cucumber. It's one of the best, in my opinion, for serving with patés, as it provides a bit of crunch and...