Delicious and nutritious: Brocco Shoots, a mix of broccoli, alfalfa, clover and radish sprouts, are crunchy, slightly spicy-tasting bundles of goodness.
There are lots of ways to use this new product, which is the first in a range of Smart Shoots being developed by the Good4U food and drink company in Cookstown, Co Tyrone. The vitamin-packed shoots can be used in sandwiches, salads, stir-frys, omelettes, juices and as a tasty garnish. Brocco Shoots are now available in larger branches of Tesco countrywide and cost €1.99 for a 90-gram pack. Visit the company's website at www.good4u.co.uk for a selection of recipes featuring the shoots, including this one for a healthy burger, which could persuade picky children to get their vitamins in disguise. Marie-Claire Digby
B GOOD BURGER
450g minced beef
50g Brocco Shoots
½ onion
1 egg yolk
seasoning
mayonnaise
sliced cheese
lettuce
tomato
sesame seed hamburger buns
Peel and finely chop the onion. Slice the tomato and onion rings. Put the minced beef, egg yolk, chopped onion, Brocco Shoots, salt and pepper in a bowl and mix well together. Divide mixture into four and flatten out into round burgers. Heat the grill until hot and then grill the hamburgers on each side for five to 10 minutes, until firm and brown. Place lettuce and burger on bun and top with cheese, tomato, onion and mayonnaise.
VIN-TASTIC
The Alliance Française is organising wine tasting evenings at which Wineathome.com will present a selection of wines new to Ireland, explain where the wines come from and how best to drink them. These will be high-quality bottles from the Languedoc area. Get ready for swirling, slurping and leg admiring. September 15-16th and October 26-27th, €10 per person at the Alliance Française, 1 Kildare Street, Dublin 2, 01-6761732, www.alliance-francaise.ie Nicoline Greer