Favourite honey recipes
Honey – the gorgeous, golden, gooey liquid bees make in their hives – has been used in cooking for thousands of years, and the earliest documented use of it by human society hails from the Stone Age. Although honey can be used as an antibiotic, cough aid and minor burns treatment, we like it best in our stomachs. So today, our caterers near Epsom are sharing some favourite honey recipes.
Honey and mustard roast gammon
Who doesn’t love a roast? And everyone knows that ham and honey are a match made in food heaven. To make a honey and mustard glaze, combine 70g clear honey with 2 tablespoons of brown sugar and 2 tablespoons of English (wholegrain) mustard. Then, after scoring the gammon, use a pastry brush to apply the mix.
Cajun chicken and sweet potatoes with a honey and chilli dressing
Roasted vegetables take on a delicious sweet flavour when browned in the oven with a dash of honey. Finely-chopped chilli and a drizzle of honey not only give these potatoes a kick, but they give them a sweet lift. While this mixture is ideal for Cajun and Spanish-inspired dishes, you could try a more French-style flavour by combining garlic, rosemary and lemon zest with olive oil, and seasoning to taste.
Sliced pears with a blue cheese and walnut topping, served with a honey and balsamic glaze
Here’s a dish that’s sure to impress – whether it’s a side or a starter. Peel and chop fresh pears (Conference work well) and cover with a crumble of chopped walnuts and blue cheese. Balancing the honey and balsamic can be tricky – some prefer it sweet and others, zingy – but a good starting point would be 3 tablespoons of each, whisked together with a good glug of olive oil and a grating of garlic. Again, season with salt and pepper to taste, then drizzle over the dish.
Classic honey cake
Some honey recipes are a closely-guarded secret, like our sweet cakes. But you could take a look at BBC Good Food’s Devonshire Honey Cake recipe for inspiration. They beat together 250g clear honey, 225g butter, 100g sugar, 3 eggs and 300g self-raising flour for a light and spongy cake, then drizzle with extra honey to serve.
Top tips for your honey jar
Our caterers cook for events in locations like Epsom, Wimbledon and the surrounding areas. Here are some of their top tips for using honey at home.
- Swap for sugar. Honey can actually be much sweeter than solid sugars, so you might even be making your baking healthier.
- Use for marinades. Honey’s a fabulous base for all kinds of recipes – whether Mediterranean salmon with balsamic and tomato, or teriyaki chicken with rich soy sauce.
- Pep up your brew. Added to herbal teas, honey gives a sweet, vibrant edge. And it can also be swirled into cocktails
- Sweeten your roasties. Whip up with fresh herbs like rosemary and thyme, and spread over carrots, potatoes, or squash before roasting.
Variations between locations
Not all honey looks – or even tastes – the same. That’s because it’s influenced by the different plants that the bees drink nectar from. This means that between locations, and even between seasons, honey can change quite drastically.
There’s actually a scale that’s used to measure the colour of honey, called the Pfund Scale (after renowned beekeeper and scientist, Dr Herman Pfund). Honey experts say that lighter colours are milder in taste, so great for sweet recipes, while darker shades have an intense richness that’s a little like rum.
Get in touch with our team of cooks
We hope you’ve loved our honey recipes and would love to hear if you have any of your own. And if you’re planning a event in Epsom, Wimbledon and other locations in the area, just talk to our Wimbledon caterers to see how we could help.
