Boiled Samphire

Wash the samphire leaving the roots intact, tie in bundles and boil in shallow, unsalted water for 8–10 minutes. Cut the string and serve hot with melted butter and pepper. Each stem contains a woody stalk and the way to eat them is to pick them up by the root and bite lightly on them, pulling the fleshy part from the woody centre. Samphire is a real delicacy and should be tried at the first opportunity.