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Fresh at the markets: table grapes

Make the most of the season’s abundant table grapes with this simple dessert recipe from the Willunga Farmers’ Market.

Feb 24, 2016, updated Feb 24, 2016
Table grapes at the Willunga Farmers' Market. Photo: supplied

Table grapes at the Willunga Farmers' Market. Photo: supplied

Like wine grapes, table grapes grow in bunches of round or ovoid berries containing sweet, juicy, almost translucent flesh. However, their thinner skins and lower sugar content make them unsuitable for wine production because their flavours do not survive fermentation.

Table grapes are grown specifically for fresh consumption and can contain seeds or be seedless.

South Australia is an ideal place to grow them as a result of its warm, dry summers and rich soils. There are many varieties grown in Australia, including green or “white”, red and blue/black varieties. The peak period for availability is from late summer into autumn.

Some of the most common varieties – and those most popular for exporting – are Crimson Seedless, Red Globe, Thompson Seedless, Midnight Beauty, Flame Seedless and Menindee Seedless.

You can find table grapes at Adelaide Showground Farmers’ Market stalls McLaren Vale Orchards & Miss Merbein, The Food Forest and Gerry & Helen Bariamis on Sundays from 9am to 1pm at the Adelaide Showground, Leader Street, Wayville.

Gerry & Helen Bariamis and Lina and Sam Kondoprias have table grapes at their stalls at the Willunga Farmers’ Market on Saturday from 8am to 12.30pm.

Also on Saturday mornings, EKO Fruits will have the grapes at the new Gawler Farmers’ Market, from 8am to 12 noon at the Gawler Visitor Information Centre, 2 Lyndoch Road, Gawler.

Willunga Farmers’ Market marketing and communications coordinator Lyndall Vandeberg has shared her recipe for Baked Table Grapes with Orange Blossom and Lemon which makes use of fresh seasonal fruit.

“Table grapes are at their height of perfection now and this simple dessert, to be served at the end of a healthy meal, is a great way to indulge the senses with aromatic bursts of unique flavours,” she says.

Baked Table Grapes with Orange Blossom and Lemon

Table-Grapes---receipe-photo-vertical

Ingredients

1.5kg table grapes (choose a mix of varieties, if possible), detached stalks from berries
Olive oil
1 tsp fennel seeds, lightly toasted
Fresh marjoram sprigs
150g thick natural yoghurt
1 tbsp runny orange-blossom honey
1 tbsp orange-blossom water
1 tbsp lemon juice

Method

Place grapes in a shallow baking tray and drizzle over a little olive oil. Bake in a warm oven for about 10 minutes or until just soft and the grapes are beginning to wrinkle. Remove from oven and allow grapes to cool.

Whisk the yoghurt, honey, orange blossom water and lemon juice together to make a dressing.

To serve, arrange grapes on a platter and drizzle with scented dressing. Sprinkle over the fennel seeds and scatter with the marjoram.

Serves 4-6

 

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