Remember Remember

Traditionally associated with the 5th of November it might seem a little late for sharing a Parkin cake recipe but this is far too good not to share. This is my Hogweed spiced Parkin cake with a sticky toffee date twist. Sounds good right? Warning: If you struggle to eat cake in moderation approach with caution.

Out there lurking in the hedgerows from about August onwards are the mature seeds of Heracleum sphondylium AKA Common Hogweed. The best time of year to harvest these seeds is August/September but you might still find some as late as December! The flavour profile of the mature seeds is orange peal/cardamon/coriander making the perfect match for ginger and molasses.

The last foraging walk I did this year two people in the group scrunched up their faces in disgust when trying hogweed seeds. I skipped the question ‘does anyone really not like coriander?’ Interestingly the plants seeds share some of the same chemistry as the herb coriander which to some unfortunate souls tastes like soap. This is in fact pretty common. There is even a website dedicated to hating the stuff. If this is you, don’t panic. My work colleague Joe also hates Coriander but he loves this cake.

This recipe will make about 16 portions.

Tip: Harvest the seeds on a dry sunny day. If they are damp when they are picked you can fry them over a gentle heat to help them dry out before grinding. They will need to be dry if you plan to store them too.