Pick Samphire at This Time of the Year.
Samphire is an edible wild plant found in coastal regions of Great Britain at this time of the year.
There are two types of samphire, marsh samphire & rock samphire:
Marsh samphire ( latin name - Salicornia europaea)
- also known as common glasswort
- found on the tidal marshes in East Anglia and Humberside
- picked at low tide
- bright green samphire has succulent leaves resembling miniature cacti
- salty flavour
- taste rather like asparagus.Samphire is sometimes called “poor man’s asparagus”
Rock samphire (latin name - Crithmum maritimum)
- found on the rocky cliffs of the South Coast
To cook Samphire:
- trim off the hard root
- wash well
- plunge into boiling water for 10 minutes
- drain wet
- serve with melted butter and vinegar
- eat like asparagus or artichokes, with fingers, hold the stem and suck the fleshy part off the hard spines, which are discarded on the plate
- as Samphire does not keep long it is often pickled
Samphire is a great example of ‘food for free’ and it will be at its best in the next few weeks.
We had some of this at a restaurant recently and then managed to buy some in the local veg shop. It’s delicious. can you grow it in a veg garden if you create the right environment?
Sara from farmingfriends
Comment by farmingfriends - August 9, 2007 8:17 am
Sara
Glad you have been enjoying the samphire season. I have not heard of anyone growing samphire - it would be difficult to provide a suitable environment, but nothing is impossible! I heard of someone growing watercress in their greenhouse - I suppose samphire would need a similar set up, but saline.
Thanks for visiting
TopVeg
Comment by TopVeg - August 10, 2007 7:50 am
I bought samphire from our local fish monger on Pocklington after months of trying to locate it. I cooked it following your directions. I found it to be a very tasty veg and was thrilled I had found it. I have put in this weeks order already.
Any ideas where I can buy lava bread? I did find a tin of this once in Willerby waitrose but sadly they don’t stock it anymore or know where I can purchase any.
Teresa.
Comment by Teresa - August 20, 2007 6:04 pm
Hello Teresa
Almost at the end of the samphire season - it is something special, isn’t it! Such a vibrant green, too. It keeps the colour when pickled.
Sorry that we cannot help you with Yorkshire lava bread - only know about the welsh version!
Thanks for visiting.
TopVeg
Comment by TopVeg - August 20, 2007 8:02 pm
Hi, We LOVE Samphire. I have purchased plants this week from the Victoriana Nursery - I will grow them in pots in sandy/gritty well drained compost - they need watering with saline solution as they ae seashore plants. They are perennial if protected from hard frost - their natural habitat of course rarely gets frost, but is windy most of the time and free draining. You should pick a few spears from each plant and leave the root undisturbed if you want it to keep cropping year on year.
Comment by Denise FInch - April 18, 2008 10:08 am
Hi Denise
I had know idea that you could buy samphire plants. Have had a look at http://www.victoriananursery.co.uk and it looks good!
Good luck with the growing and thanks for the info
TopVeg
Comment by TopVeg - April 18, 2008 6:09 pm
Hi, I’ve just moved to newcastle from norolk and i’m missing samphire terribly. Anyone know of anywhere near that i can pick it.
Comment by Ben B - May 16, 2008 10:30 am
Hi Ben
You will be able to find it on the edge of the mudflats around the river estuaries. Also along the North Sea Coastline at Holy Island, Northumberland.
It is too early yet. Wait till August and you should find plenty!
TopVeg
Comment by TopVeg - May 16, 2008 11:12 am
Hi, I’ve just picked 500 grams of it. Not tried it before but I’ve been hearing a lot of good reports. I located it on the banks of the River Wyre near skipool, Poulton-Le-Fylde, where there’s absolute loads of it
Comment by Johnny G - July 28, 2008 11:51 am
Hi Johnny
You will enjoy it - we had some last week, which was delicious. Wash it well, and cook it today - it has a flavour all of its own!
Comment by TopVeg - July 28, 2008 11:55 am
Hi TopVeg
I’ve just finished it, it was superb. I did wash it thoroughly until there was no grit. My salad spinner came in handy for this. Boiled it for 10 mins then tossed it in olive oil and lemon juice. A great accompaniment to the fish and potatoes I cooked. Free food AND organic, also fun to collect.
When does the Samphire season end?
Comment by Johnny G - July 28, 2008 3:27 pm
Hi Johnny
Hi John
Thanks for letting us know! Sounds delicious - would go well with fish.
By chance, we had been given some quail eggs the day we harvested our samphire - an exotic combination which tasted amazing!
salad shaker is a good tip!
The samphire season usually lasts a month
TopVeg
Comment by TopVeg - July 28, 2008 4:58 pm
I think I’m going to experiment with this vegetable. I’ve been on it’s case since seeing the TV program Great British Menu, when Chef Richard Corrigan cooked with it.
I’m 45 years old and it’s amazing that today I cooked a vegetable that grows locally for the first time in my life. What other delights are out there I wonder?
This is a great website BTW and I look forward sharing the delights of great food with you all.
Thanks TopVeg…great work.
Comment by Johnny G - July 28, 2008 6:06 pm
[…] G has been picking samphire: Hi, I’ve just picked 500 grams of it. Not tried it before but I’ve been hearing a lot of good […]
Pingback by Top Veg » Blog Archive » Picking Samphire - July 29, 2008 11:01 am
Does anyone know if samphire can be found growing anywhere in Cornwall? My local fishmonger is fantastic and sells a decent sized bag for £1.50. Amazing given how much some stores will charge. Check out Tonkins in Newlyn (there fish is excellent too)
Comment by Vicky - August 13, 2008 1:30 pm
Hi Vicky
We will ask around!
Comment by TopVeg - August 13, 2008 2:58 pm
I’m currently looking for samphire too. I know of one place where it grows in Cornwall and have harvested a little each year in the past just for myself. I found out today its on an SSSI and within minutes of picking a small bunch this morning, I was swooped upon by police and Natural England officers who confiscated it and reported me for prosecution! I suppose that the trouble starts when people go and take it by the barrowload to sell to restaurants etc.I’ll keep searching!
Comment by Evelyn - August 29, 2008 1:07 pm
Evelyn
Thanks for that - people have been wondering if they are allowed to pick…!
Comment by TopVeg - August 29, 2008 2:42 pm