Choose key Provence-inspired ingredients
Importing many specialist ingredients from France would quickly increase your shopping spend, but there are a few key ingredients associated with Provence that could give your dishes a feel for the region.
“Olives, almonds and lavender are really standout Provence ingredients, and they are all really versatile,” explains the chef.
You can add ingredients like these to regular supermarket ingredients and create something really special, says Wareing.
As an example, in one episode of Marcus Wareing Simply Provence he takes the budget ingredient cauliflower and adds flavour by pickling it. He serves it with hummus, but to give it the Provence wow factor, he blends almonds into his hummus mix.
Moving onto lavender, Wareing explains “It’s the floral herb I personally adore. It’s got a distinctive flavour and is incredibly versatile. You can use it in both ice cream or in a marinade or just sprinkling it in your salad. It brings so much more to the table more than conventional floral herbs, such as rosemary or thyme.” It’s also grown in the UK so doesn’t require importing.
In the series we see Wareing use the herb in two ways in his tempura battered courgettes with goats’ cheese dip recipe. He uses a sprig to top the dish and then drizzles lavender honey over it to finish.
When it comes to olives, Wareing says you don’t need to buy the most expensive options out there, instead be led by your own preference.
“The choice of olives in supermarkets now is phenomenal. So, it’s purely a matter of taste and budget, nothing more. An olive is an olive regardless of what region and tree they’re from, whether they’re in brine, fresh, or in oil. So, I think it’s down to you and your personal favourites.”