It’s show time in May’s kitchen!

I can’t believe it’s show time again so quickly this year! It only seems a minute since we were packing away the ‘Potting Shed’ stage at RHS Malvern Autumn show back in September and we’re getting ready to go to RHS Malvern Spring Festival this week!

It’s all about fresh seasonal produce on the stage and I’m cooking up a couple of quick cook dishes with Spring Greens and Rhubarb this time. Here is one of the recipes that I’ve been cooking on stage with Martin

You’ve only got to look at this dish to know that it’s really nutritious! Spring Greens are high in  fibre and vitamins K and C so they’re good for the immune system, your bones and are anti-inflammatory as well. A real detox to start the Spring of with a swing!

Spring Green tagliatelle with asparagus and crispy bacon

Serves 2 takes about 20 minutes

 1 small bunch of spring green

About 12 spears of asparagus, sliced into 2cm pieces

20g butter plus a generous knob for frying

1 onion, chopped small

1 small pack of lardons, (smoked works well)

1 clove garlic, crushed

20g plain flour

½ litre milk

30g blue cheese

Tablespoon chopped parsley

• Separate the leaves of the spring greens and roll them into a fat cigar then slice through them to make long thin strands – this is your spring green tagliatelle!
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• Melt the knob of butter in a large frying pan and add some salt and pepper then fry the spring green tagliatelle over a gentle heat for about 5 minutes until just tender but with a bit of a bite. Remove from the pan and put to one side.
• Whilst the spring greens are cooking simmer the asparagus in a pan of water for just a couple of minutes then drain and put to one side
• Heat your frying pan again and add the lardons and fry over a fairly high heat until starting to brown and crisp. Add the onion and garlic and cook more gently until the onion is softened. Put to one side with the vegetables but leave any oil in the pan.
• Add the 20g butter to the pan to melt then stir in the flour to make a roux. Cook over a gentle heat for a minute then take the pan off the heat and gradually add the milk stirring well with each addition until all the milk is added. Bring to a gentle simmer stirring constantly and cook for a minute then crumble in the cheese and a good grinding of pepper and melt into the sauce.
• Add the asparagus, bacon and onion to the sauce and stir through then gently add the spring green tagliatelle. Stir to coat and warm through. Add a little more milk is you like a creamier sauce or add a dollop of creme fraiche.
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If you want to serve this with real pasta tagliatelle then you might need to reduce the portion size a bit!

Serve and top with a scattering of chopped parsley and maybe some garlic bread on the side!