Fresh chervil/ Dill cucumbers

[truck71]

Need to source the above tomorrow, where should I head? Local thai supermarket? Can't see either at Sainsbury or Waitrose.

I'm making this http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/balticcrabsalad_...

[21TonyK]

Fresh dill shouldn't be a problem but chervil is. Try googling catering suppliers in your area. My local fresh produce supplier has chervil and everything else. They'll be more than happy to sell you a bunch for a couple of quid to help out.

[21TonyK]

Just read the recipe in full. If you can't get chervil use some French parsley and a touch of tarragon instead. Or... just leave it out. Add some more parsley, no one will notice.

[truck71]

Cheers, if I needed to get hold of the chervil where is your supplier based (I'm West London). Agree dill should be ok, is a dill cucumber not a different variety? (Of cucumber).

Edited by truck71 on Tuesday 28th July 20:24

[Chisinau]

Dill cucumber is just pickles, the picked/marinated cucumbers you can buy anywhere, there has to be some available in your local supermarket from the Polish section, if not then from a Polish store nearby.

At Tesco for example http://www.tesco.com/groceries/product/details/?id...

[21TonyK]

If you are in London I'd be amazed if you can't pick up chervil in M&S or Waitrose. I'm in the back of beyond (South Devon) so not much use to you but I can find it down here delivered next morning.

Anyway, as said, don't worry too much. Bit of tarragon and parsley cures all ills.

[truck71]

Chisinau said:

Dill cucumber is just pickles, the picked/marinated cucumbers you can buy anywhere, there has to be some available in your local supermarket from the Polish section, if not then from a Polish store nearby.

At Tesco for example http://www.tesco.com/groceries/product/details/?id...

Many thanks, makes life a bit easier.

[Mobile Chicane]

I wouldn't worry about the unavailability of chervil. Dill on it's own will be fine.

However I wouldn't be tempted to substitute with tarragon as this is far too strong and often bitter.

'Dill cucumbers' means eastern european pickled cucumbers - preferably those in bags from the fridge as occasionally sold at Lidl. They're pickled by a lactic acid reaction rather than vinegar.

If you can't get these, then a jar of Mrs Elswood pickled 'hamaisha' cucumbers will do the job. Just rinse them thoroughly and dry with kitchen towels before using.

[truck71]

Mobile Chicane said:

I wouldn't worry about the unavailability of chervil. Dill on it's own will be fine.

However I wouldn't be tempted to substitute with tarragon as this is far too strong and often bitter.

'Dill cucumbers' means eastern european pickled cucumbers - preferably those in bags from the fridge as occasionally sold at Lidl. They're pickled by a lactic acid reaction rather than vinegar.

If you can't get these, then a jar of Mrs Elswood pickled 'hamaisha' cucumbers will do the job. Just rinse them thoroughly and dry with kitchen towels before using.

Thanks, bought some Mrs Elswood and they've done the trick. Manged to find some chervil at Borough Market, worked well. Having done the trial run now need to pull it off for a dinner party on Saturday as the starter.