on a chopping board and allow to rest for 5 minutes before carving.
To make the watercress salad, whisk the vinegar, rapeseed or olive oil and mustard together in a bowl and season to taste with salt and pepper. Place the watercress in another bowl and drizzle over the dressing, tossing the leaves to coat evenly. Place in a serving bowl and set aside.
To serve, cut the beef into fairly thick slices and serve the mustard and the watercress on the side.
Makes 425g (15oz)
Vegetarian
25g (1oz) white mustard seeds
110g (4oz) black mustard seeds
75g (3oz) light soft brown sugar
1 tsp allspice berries
1 tsp paprika
½ tsp turmeric
2 tsp sea salt
1 tsp crushed black peppercorns
175ml (6fl oz) red wine vinegar
40ml (1½fl oz) balsamic vinegar
3 tbsp runny honey
110ml (4fl oz) bottled Black Sheep Ale or other traditionally-made British beer
Mustard is very easy to make and handy to keep in your store cupboard. It goes well with many types of meat – try it with the Yorkshire ham on page 39.
Put all the dry ingredients into a food processor or blender and blend until the seeds are roughly crushed. Transfer to a bowl and stir in the two vinegars, honey and ale.
Cover the mustard with cling film and place in the fridge for 2 hours. If you want to keep the mustard longer, put into sterilised jars (see page 166) and store in a cool, dark place. The mustard should then keep for 3–6 months.
Makes 400g (14oz)
Vegetarian
250ml (9fl oz) pickling malt vinegar
1 tsp juniper berries
125g (4½oz) caster sugar
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp mustard seeds
2 large cucumbers, deseeded and cut into 2cm (¾in) cubes
Salt and black pepper
This will keep for 3–4 days in the fridge if stored in sealed, sterilised jars (see page 166). The pickle can be seen in the picture on page 47.
Place the vinegar, juniper berries and sugar in a small saucepan and bring to the boil. Remove from the heat. Pour the olive oil into a frying pan set over a medium–high heat, add the mustard seeds and cook until the seeds start to pop.
Add the cucumber and fry for 2–3 minutes. Season, to taste, with salt and pepper. Place in a bowl, pour over the vinegar mixture and stir well. Allow to cool completely, then place in the fridge.
Sliced Yorkshire ham with poached leeks and spring onions
Serves 4
6 black peppercorns
Pinch of salt
1 bay leaf
1 medium leek, trimmed and outer leaves removed
8 spring onions
400g (14oz) York or any other roast ham, ready-sliced if you prefer
Chervil leaves, to garnish
For the glaze
4 tbsp English mustard
2 tbsp runny honey
150ml (6fl oz) rapeseed or extra-virgin olive oil
Zest of 2 oranges
4 tbsp white wine vinegar
Salt and black pepper
Until recently, one of the few places you could buy a real ‘York ham’ was Scott’s butchers in York, but sadly, after 150 years of trading, it is now closed. Despite this, the UK still produces the best pork in the world and we should make the most of it. This recipe is best served warm; however, if you choose to serve it cold, make just half the quantity of the glaze to drizzle over the ham in the final step.
Half fill a large saucepan with water, add the peppercorns, salt and bay leaf and bring to the boil. Once the water is boiling, add the leek whole (if it doesn’t fit, cut in half widthways). Reduce the heat and cook for 6–8 minutes on a gentle simmer. Add the spring onions and cook for a further 3 minutes, then drain the vegetables and allow to cool.
To make the glaze, place the mustard and honey in a bowl, slowly whisk in the rapeseed or olive oil, then add the orange zest and vinegar, season with salt and pepper and set aside.
If you wish to warm the meat, place the
