How to stop hay fever: 13 remedies that actually work (and the ones that don't)

I grew up playing in the woods, sleeping with my dog and dead-heading flowers for my dad. This rampant early exposure should have turned me into a hay fever immunity machine, but here I am, all itchy eyes and streaming nose as summer hoves into view. Not that I can see it very well.
The Guardian's journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more.
'You cannot cure hay fever,' is the rather dispiriting verdict of the NHS website, which recommends staying inside with your doors and windows shut. I sought a second opinion from Dr Unnati Desai, national lead for GP Services at Nuffield Health. 'Trying to avoid any type of pollen from about February to September in the UK is near impossible,' she says. 'Instead, find the right way to control your symptoms.'
Or stop the pollen getting up my schnozz in the first place, says Dr Megha Pancholi, clinical lead at Boots Online Doctor. 'Simple things can reduce your exposure, like wearing wraparound sunglasses and applying petroleum jelly around your nose.' Well, that's a look.
The more experts I spoke to, the more hay fever cures were touted. To find out which ones actually worked, I set about squirting them up my nose, swallowing them, wearing them and, in a few welcome cases, sleeping with them. Here, I reveal the remedies that won by a dribble-free nose.
I've spent three decades testing consumer products, from heated clothes airers to computer software, so I'm professionally sceptical of manufacturers' claims to magically improve our lives by buying their stuff. As a long-term freelancer, I also have a solid background in running away from work to hang out with trees, which feed my soul and torture my sinuses with pollen.
People's hay fever triggers and symptoms vary widely, so my own experience wasn't enough for this test. I shared products with my similarly sneeze-ravaged husband, Alan, and also consulted doctors, pharmacists and allergy experts to find out what remedies we should be using and why they might work.
Testing hay fever cures is by necessity a long-winded process, and not just because I kept stopping to blow my nose, or whichever part of my face the snot was coming from. Many remedies can be safely 'layered', or combined with each other, but I wanted to find out how well each one worked on its own. So I used them separately for a few days each, beginning in March, when 2025's balmy spring began.
I wasn't exactly comparing like with like. Unlike, say, the best mattresses, which all have similar benefits in similar ways, hay fever cures take a wild array of different approaches. Some soothe symptoms while others block allergens; some are drug-based and others adamantly not; some provide immediate relief while others take weeks to make a lasting difference. Then there was a rollercoaster of other variables that changed by the day, such as pollen count, time spent outdoors and degree of cat cuddling.
This meant I couldn't get too hung up on details such as the precise number of minutes each product took to stop me sneezing, or the exact daily weight of soggy tissues. But I wanted meaningful test results, so I got Alan to try all the remedies as well, if only to stop him and his nose from costing us an extra loo roll a day. We then compared notes on each product's efficacy, convenience and value for money.
I don't sleep in the woods, but my hay fever symptoms are worse at night. I regularly wake up at 3am with a scratchy throat, and Alan and I both greet the morning alarm with sneezing fits. What's going on?
Indoor air is relatively static, so dust and pollen build up unless you clear them. 'Humidifiers can help by moistening the air, meaning dust and pollen find it harder to float around,' says Hannah Shore, head of sleep science at Mattress Online. 'Air purifiers can take a lot of the floating particles out of the air. Look for one with a 'quiet' setting so you can use it overnight.'
I tried a couple of air purifier models: a large wifi-connected MeacoClean, whose Hepa (high efficiency particulate air) filter powerfully rid our bedroom of allergens within a few hours, and a compact Vitesy Eteria. The MeacoClean's night mode was unobtrusive while I fell asleep, and neither of us woke up sneezing. The desktop Vitesy helped keep my nose relatively clear while I worked.
Relief: our symptoms cleared within hours, albeit indoors only.
MeacoClean CA-Hepa wifi air purifier
£199.99 at Meaco£199.99 at Amazon
Vitesy Eteria compact air purifier
£129 at Amazon
'A thin layer of petroleum jelly inside the nostrils helps trap pollen before it enters the nose,' says GP and author Dr Roger Henderson. Turns out the Vaseline trick actually works, genuinely calming my nose down. Alan found it effective but 'disgusting', noting that it smells of a petrol forecourt, which may be to some people's taste but not ours. It's also slimy and makes your nostrils glisten snottily in the light, which I'm guessing isn't high on our fashion editor's looks of the season.
I found a more palatable alternative in organic barrier balms. The beeswax and seed oil formulation of HayMax gives it a firmer texture than Vaseline, and its frankincense, aloe and lavender varieties all smell delicious. Alan was an instant fan when it stopped his nose from running. I found it more effective for symptom prevention rather than cure – and the lavender version helped me sleep.
Relief: won't stop a full-on sneezing fit, but helped me breathe and soothed symptoms for a couple of hours.
HayMax balm
£8.49 for 5ml at Boots£8.49 for 5ml at Holland and Barrett
Vaseline original petroleum jelly
£1.80 for 50ml at Boots£1.80 for 50ml at Superdrug
'I regularly deal with patients suffering from summer allergies, primarily allergic rhinitis,' says ENT (ear, nose and throat) surgeon Dr Anil Joshi. 'Saline (salt water) sprays moisturise the nasal mucosa, aid in the clearance of allergens and reduce inflammation. This can provide significant relief for patients with chronic rhinosinusitis and nasal allergies, especially when coupled with other therapies.'
My own GP recommended saline spray years ago, and although I hated it at first (feeling much as I imagine it would to be water-boarded in the sea), it soon became a powerful ally in my war on a runny nose and sore throat. I like using straight-up saline, but Alan hated the 'salty aftertaste' and preferred xylitol-sweetened Xlear.
Relief: within half an hour, although you'll need to blow your nose a lot.
Xlear nasal spray
£10.23 for 45ml at iHerb£9.99 for 45ml at Amazon
Boots saline nasal spray
£6.99 for 100ml at Boots
'Beconase and Flixonase contain small amounts of steroid such as beclometasone,' says Dr Naveed Asif, GP at the London General Practice. 'These help to reduce the body's allergic response to triggers such as pollen.' Steroid sprays aren't drug-free like saline spray, but they're safe for medium-term use (up to about three months, says the NHS) and they're brilliant value.
Their main downside is that it takes a couple of weeks to feel the effects. I continued with the other remedies while Alan started on the Beconase. 'It took ages to work,' he said after two sprays a day for three weeks. 'But it's definitely helped, because I've stopped going through an entire kitchen roll to blow my nose.' For that, I am very grateful.
Relief: takes two weeks to have an effect, then provides long-term relief from a range of symptoms.
Beconase hay fever spray
£10.99 for 180 sprays at Superdrug£11 for 180 sprays at Boots
Antihistamines were recommended by most of the experts I spoke to, including those who were advocates of more natural approaches. 'Your symptoms are driven by excess histamine production,' says medical herbalist Siobhán Carroll. 'Antihistamines quell inappropriate histamine production and reduce the snowball effect of increased inflammation in the body.'
The key is finding the antihistamine that works for you. 'They all work in a similar way, but people may respond differently to each one,' says Pancholi of Boots Online Doctor. 'Some antihistamines may be more effective for certain individuals than others, providing longer relief or causing less drowsiness.'
I took cetirizine (Piriteze) and loratadine (Clarityn) for a week each, and they both reduced my symptoms, but not quickly or consistently. Cetirizine also triggered an attack of zits on my chin. Not just once, but within a few days of every single attempt to take it.
I found my ideal match in the newer 'second-generation' non-drowsy antihistamine fexofenadine (Allevia), which has proved especially good at soothing my itchy eyes. I find my symptoms return by evening, though, rather than the advertised 24 hours.
Relief: within 30 minutes and lasting several hours, but not the whole day.
Allevia tablets
£11.49 for 30 x 120mg tablets at Superdrug£12.49 for 30 x 120mg tablets at Boots
Vacuuming is a hay fever sufferer's nightmare in the short term because it disturbs dormant dust, but it's also essential for ridding your space of allergens. 'Vacuums with Hepa filters are certified to trap more than 99.97% of airborne particles, including pollen, dust mites and pet dander,' says Dr Daisy Mae, allergy expert for Bed Factory Direct. 'In your bedroom, this can hugely impact sleep.' And don't forget to vacuum your mattress, she adds.
I gave Alan the job of blitzing the bedroom with an Ultenic Hepa vacuum, whose alarming headlight revealed revolting levels of dust under the bed. Sneezing his way through the task, an hour later the room felt more comfortable and we slept soundly, with no runny noses to greet us in the morning.
Relief: aggravates symptoms at first, but relief is powerful and lasting if you keep up the vacuuming.
Ultenic U16 flex cordless vacuum with Hepa filter
£135.97 at Amazon
I love using eye drops that have been stored in the fridge, and pharmacist Rita Ghelani approves. 'Using eye drops daily keeps your eyes hydrated and feeling less sore,' she says. 'You can use special allergy eye drops, or those that lubricate and soothe the eyes.'
My favourite budget choice is Boots hay fever relief eye drops, whose 2% sodium cromoglicate content relieves that niggling summer itch in my lower eyelids. If you wear contact lenses, then your best bet is Pollinosan hay fever eye drops from A Vogel, whose natural hyaluronic acid content soothed my eyes for several days during the great dandelion seed blizzard of April 2025.
Relief: immediate but not long-lasting.
Boots hay fever relief 2% w/v eye drops
£4.85 for 10ml at Boots
Optrex hay fever relief 2% w/v eye drops
£6.25 for 10ml at Superdrug£6.49 for 10ml at Boots
A Vogel Pollinosan hay fever eye drops
£10.49 for 10ml at Holland & Barrett£13.99 for 10ml at Victoria Health
Pharmacist Kiran Jones of Oxford Online Pharmacy recommends wearing sunglasses as part of a layered strategy. 'Start a nasal steroid two weeks before the hay fever season, use a barrier balm around the nostrils, wear wraparound sunglasses and check the Met Office three-hour pollen forecast.'
My cheap, decidedly un-stylish pair of wraparounds proved surprisingly effective at blocking pollen and other airborne intruders (including midges) – and also stopped me from rubbing my eyes.
When I upped the pollen-blocking ante by adding a wide-brimmed hat, the relief was even more noticeable – at least for my eyes. Sadly, my respiratory symptoms marched on. I tested this outfit in a particularly floral bit of park and nearly blew the glasses clean off with my pollen-triggered coughing fit.
Relief: stopped my eyes feeling puffy and itchy within a few minutes when outdoors, but did nothing to relieve coughing and sneezing.
Bollé wraparound sunglasses
Sign up to The Filter
Get the best shopping advice from the Filter team straight to your inbox. The Guardian's journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link.
after newsletter promotion
£10.32 at Staples£22.95 at Allergy Best Buys
Uilyniu wraparound sunglasses
£11.49 for two pairs at Amazon
Forclaz women's anti-UV trekking cap
£12.99 at Decathlon
'Anti-allergy bedding is treated to resist irritants,' says Shore of Mattress Online. 'Look for products approved by Allergy UK.' Alan and I tried a few samples of bedding from Silentnight and Bed Factory Direct for a week in early May, when the pollen count was particularly high. We slept well, and I especially enjoyed the cooling, cushioned feel of the mattress protector. The pillow protector was scratchy against my face, though, so I added an old pillowcase – which possibly defeated the whole point.
Relief: helped us sleep without sneezing, but more of a long-term strategy than instant relief.
Silentnight anti-allergy pillow protector
£12 a pair at Argos£12 a pair at Amazon
Silentnight anti-allergy duvet
From £19 for a double at Silentnight£24 for a double at Argos
Silentnight anti-allergy mattress protector
£17 for a double at Boots£14.30 for a double at Amazon
If high pollen days leave you so ravaged by symptoms that you fear going outside, then a mask with a built-in Hepa filter may be your only option. For those of us who just want to breathe and see more easily in summer, however, these fabric gas masks are a bit too much.
When I wore a Respro Allergy Mask for walks in my local parks and nature reserves, I looked like I was heading for the trenches. My sneezing did stop after a few minutes, but I also felt hot and daft, and my eyes stayed itchy. The main relief it gave was the pleasure of taking it off once I was back indoors.
Relief: didn't relieve my itchy eyes, but powerfully prevents respiratory symptoms while wearing.
Respro allergy mask N95
£39.95 at Allergy Best Buys
Cleaning the pollen off your face before bed was a strategy mentioned by a few of the experts I spoke to. 'Make sure you get rid of any pollen particles on your skin, particularly your hands, face and any long hair,' says sleep expert Shore. Even a quick wipe with cleanser helps, says Cultskin founder Dr Tijion Esho: 'Cleansing around the eye area can help ease itching and prevent allergens from being transferred into your eyes.'
And don't forget to moisturise. 'Moisturiser provides a strong skin barrier,' says dermatologist Dr Benjamin Chun-Man Lee. And that doesn't apply only to adults: 'Studies have shown the value of moisturising in infancy to halt the progression of hay fever and allergic rhinitis.'
An extra cleansing session at night didn't make much difference for me, because I always have a bath and wash my face before bed anyway. But every little counts, and it's worth starting now if you're not in the habit of cleaning muck – including allergens – off your face before bed.
Relief: extra cleansing at night helps fend off symptoms by morning.
Byoma Milky moisture cleanser
£13.99 for 175ml at Cult Beauty£14 for 175ml at Space NK
No7 cleansing balm
£10.75 for 125ml at Boots
'When your body is dehydrated, it can produce more histamine,' says sports nutritionist Jess Hillard. Cutting down on booze can help, says pharmacist Ghelani. 'Some alcoholic drinks contain histamine, the chemical that sets off an allergic reaction in the body. Alcohol also dehydrates you, and that can make your symptoms worse.'
Electrolyte powder in water can help your body retain water even when you're sweating a lot, so I tried that. I wouldn't say the cocktail washed away my symptoms, but a few days of careful dosing made me feel more alert when the weather was hot and the pollen was high.
Relief: not immediate in my experience, but good hydration is a long-term anti-allergy strategy.
Warrior Creatine plus electrolytes
£17.99 for 80 servings at Warrior
'A natural decongestant can make it easier to breathe,' says Henderson. 'Aloe-vera-infused decongestants also help soothe irritation.'
The strong snot-banishing fumes of Vicks VapoRub and Olbas Oil proved a hit with my husband, but I opted for Olbas patches. I evicted Alan to the spare room, slapped a patch on the empty pillow and slept like a dream – although my hay feverish eyes turned a bit pink from the mild vapour.
Relief: quick and moderately effective relief for blocked noses, but may irritate eyes.
Olbas Breathe Easy patches
£6.49 for six at the Independent Pharmacy£5.95 for six at Amazon
Vicks VapoRub
£6.75 for 100g at Boots£6 for 100g at Amazon
Unprocessed local honey is the hay fever cure du jour for Instagram influencers. Duly influenced, Alan and I spent weeks feasting on the handiwork of Hampshire bees in early spring. But my eyes still itched and Alan's nose still required lockdown-stockpile levels of loo roll, so I can't say it worked.
'Some people believe that eating local honey helps build up your body's resistance against local pollen,' says Crystal Wyllie, GP at Asda Online Doctor. 'But there isn't enough scientific evidence to support this. If eating local honey is your only hay fever remedy, you could be wasting money and leaving yourself at risk on high pollen days.'
A cheap, easily available pill that stops you sneezing and sends you to sleep? Sign me up! Actually, don't, because first-generation antihistamines such as chlorpheniramine (Piriton) left me more tired than before. They made me drowsy, but this didn't translate into satisfying sleep – and I woke up during the night with a hay fever-triggered sore throat.
It's not just me. 'One study found that sedating antihistamines cause non-REM sleep, which doesn't involve dreaming but a lot of snoring,' says Chun-Man Lee. 'Participants in the study woke up feeling unrefreshed because of the lack of true rest.'
Sedating antihistamines do work for many users, as sleep aids as well as hay fever treatments. But they didn't do the trick for me.
I was once a xylometazoline addict. The active ingredient in Sudafed Blocked Nose Spray and others, xylometazoline, opens a blocked nose by shrinking your blood vessels, and the relief feels magical if you're bunged up by hay fever or a cold. But it soon creates a physical dependency – so it actually made my symptoms worse.
'Many brands of nasal decongestant sprays contain xylometazoline (or oxymetazoline), which works by causing the blood vessels in the lining of the nose and sinuses to contract and narrow,' says Ghelani. 'Initially, the ingredient appears to help reduce swelling and the general feeling of congestion. However, products containing it should not be used continuously for more than seven days, as they can cause rebound congestion.'
I ignored this advice in my early days of using a blocked nose spray to soothe hay fever symptoms. After weeks of daily use, I eventually struggled to breathe without it, especially at night. I weaned myself off it by only using it in one nostril, then every other night, and eventually – at last – not at all.
Hay fever, also known as seasonal allergic rhinitis, is a set of symptoms triggered by your body's response – or overreaction – to pollen.
If you're one of the unlucky 49% whose immune system sees pollen as a threat, your body 'protects' you from it by producing histamine and other chemicals that make your nose run, your eyes itch, and your head ache. I make light of how my body's own snotty overreaction affects my loo-roll bill, but for many people, the symptoms have a ruinous impact on their ability to work, sleep and simply enjoy summer.
'There isn't a 'one size fits all' in terms of symptoms,' says Desai of Nuffield Health. 'It comes down to the type of pollen you're allergic to and how your body responds to the allergies.' Some of the less common symptoms she mentions are allergic conjunctivitis, tightness in the chest and wheezing when breathing out. 'In some cases, medication may be needed to treat all three areas. If you suffer from severe hay fever, a GP can provide inhalers or oral steroids to help manage your overactive immune system.'
Hay fever season lasts much longer than summer. Tree pollen arrives first, as early as February, when trees start to pollinate. This lasts until about mid-May, at which point grass is the chief offender, especially when the massive council lawnmowers are out. Flower pollen (known by some killjoys as 'weed pollen') comes next, from about June to September.
More bad news: hay fever season is getting longer, and it's down to the climate crisis. The Met Office cites research that 'highlighted how increasingly unusual weather – as a result of climate change – coincided with increasingly erratic pollen seasons'. Other studies forecast that the climate emergency will increase the severity of hay fever season by up to 60%. Perhaps I then won't feel so silly going out in a Hepa mask and wraparounds.
Jane Hoskyn is a journalist and WFH pioneer with three decades of experience in rearranging bookshelves and 'testing' coffee machines while deadlines loom. Her work has made her a low-key expert in all manner of consumables, from sports watches to solar panels. She would always rather be in the woods, ideally with a decent hay fever remedy to hand

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

The Sun

22 minutes ago

• The Sun

The super-lightweight Sainsbury's dress that's great for chucking over a bikini or keeping cool

AS much as we love the glorious sunshine, finding the right clothes that won't make you drown in sweat can be quite the challenge. But luckily, Sainsbury's has come to rescue yet again - this time, with a gorgeous frock that's not just affordable but will also keep you cool. BUY IT NOW The mega supermarket has seriously upped its fashion game in the recent years and their latest Strappy Tiered Midaxi Summer Dress is no exception. The perfect choice for sun-soaked holidays and warm weekends, our blue midaxi summer dress has been designed with tie-straps at the shoulders and a flattering, tiered hem. Crafted from a lightweight, modal blend, the show-stopper of a frock will keep you comfortable throughout the season. Whether you're off to the beach, have booked a sunny holiday abroad or are simply going out for a date, this dress can be easily styled up or down. For a more casual ensemble, you can finish your look with a pair of mule sandals and a tote bag. Heading out for some refreshing Aperol Spritz with your friends or significant other? Team the frock with strappy sandals, a slick-back bun, some jewellery and you're bound to make heads turn. The gorgeous summer wardrobe must-have runs in a huge range of sizes too - from UK 6 to UK 24. Whatever your size, it may be worth going up one - as one customer, who's between 10 and 12, said their brand new size 12 was ''tight'' on them. And did we mention the wallet-friendly price tag? Thrifty fashionistas can snap up this fabulous dress for just £22.50 - and you'll be rewarded with a whopping 22 Nectar Card points too. 'I adore this colour', cries Dunnes Stores fan as she tries on €40 'ultra-feminine' dress What's more, the frock also boasts a timeless design - and it's sure to remain a firm staple for the summers to come. So if you're looking to get your hands on it, you may need to run to your nearest store before it gets sold out. Shoppers have also been loving the butter yellow Cutwork Midaxi Strappy Dress they say "fits like a dream" thanks to its elasticated back, and suits all body shapes. Hottest fashion trends of 2025 Fabulous' Fashion Editor Clemmie Fieldsend shares the biggest trends from the high street. The East/West Bag Baguette bags have had a good run, after returning from the 1990s' shoulders of Sarah Jessica Parker to modern-day fashion icons, like Hailey Bieber. In 2025, the East/West bag is a similar but elongated shape and has long, thin straps that are easy to throw over your shoulder. They've been on runway models' arms at nearly ever designer show - think Burberry, Givenchy and Bottega Veneta - and are hitting the high street now, too. Powder pink Bright fuchsia pink had its day after the release of Barbie in 2023 and now the more polished and expensive-looking pale shade is taking over for 2025. Pantone may say that it's the year of Mocha Mousse, but the catwalks say otherwise! From Prada to Erdem, the subtle look was all over the spring/summer catwalks, worn head-to-toe or on its own. If the sugary shade is too girly for you, then look to sharp suiting for a androgynous take on the colour. The shell jacket The '80s classic is back, but with a sleek and minimal new twist for 2025. We all know we're likely to see rain for most of spring, so your practical coat of choice should be a cagoule jacket. Depop revealed one of its big trend predictions for this year is retro sportswear, with surges already seen in '80s windbreakers'. Seen everywhere from the stylish streets of Copenhagen to the Miu Miu catwalk, now mums who have an emergency raincoat crumpled underneath their pushchair are very much in fashion! The turn-up jeans While the shape of jeans remains the same for this year and barrel-legs will still be everywhere, the way we're styling them is different. This season, transform your wide-leg, baggy denims into turn-ups. For this look, size doesn't matter, so while deep turn-ups are a hit from jean trend-leaders Citizens of Humanity, a slight fold is still just as good - but only as it's just one single fold. Peep-toe shoe Get your pedicures booked in sharpish, as this season your toes are the main event. After a long hiatus, the peep-toe has been welcomed back into the fashion fold, with brands like Hermes, Miu Miu and Tory Burch showing plain and embellished footwear in this style. From mules to pumps and clogs (yes, clogs will be around too!), there are lots of different styles that are set to sweep the high street. Sheer blouses See-through looks have always lived on the catwalk, but have rarely filtered into everyday life - until now. Designers Ralph Lauren and Tom Ford loved sheer looks on their S/S '25 catwalks and M&S even had sellout success with its black sheer pencil skirt last season. Expect to see more sheer looks lining supermarket aisles and high street shops in the form of skirts, tops and frocks. It's also in the colour of the season, which instantly ticks the box for on-trend fashion. The stunning summer wardrobe staple is currently priced at £32 and comes in sizes six to 24. Describing it online, the Sainsbury's team say: "An elegant choice for summer outings and sun-soaked holidays, this yellow midaxi dress comes in a strappy style. "Designed with cutwork embroidery, a v-neckline, adjustable straps, finished with shirred detailing at the back. Finish your look with mesh ballerina pumps." Unsurprisingly, it has already scored countless five-star reviews, with one fan writing: "Love colour, style and fit of this dress. Comfortable and lovely material.'' A second wrote: "This is stunning dress which because of the double layer renders it non see through, excellent fit true to size and great length. As you can tell I love this dress."

BreakingNews.ie

26 minutes ago

• BreakingNews.ie

Three vegetable-centric recipes to make this summer

Los Angeles native and now UK-based chef Jesse Jenkins became a viral sensation when the cinematic-style cooking videos on his social media account ADIP (Another Day in Paradise) took off. His debut cookbook focusses on making vegetables the star of the show, taking influence from the flavours around the world, including Mexico, Korea and Guatemala. Advertisement Here are three of his recipes to make the most of vegetables this summer. Smashed cucumber caesar 'When the process of breaking something creates unformed beauty, it is incredibly satisfying. If it also has a practical function, I'm sold,' says Jenkins. 'The jagged texture of the cucumber here creates more surface area to grab onto sauce and toppings. I learned the technique while making oi muchim, a Korean spicy cucumber salad, and have used it ever since. This version goes full Caesar and it's totally delicious.' Ingredients (Serves 4) 3 cucumbers, washed 3tbsp panko breadcrumbs 1tbsp extra virgin olive oil 2 garlic cloves, bashed (skin on) 4 thyme sprigs Grated zest of 1 lemon Handful of chives, thinly sliced Handful of parsley, finely chopped Salt and pepper Advertisement For the dressing: 4-6 tinned anchovy fillets in oil, crushed to a paste 25g Parmesan cheese, grated with microplane grater 1 egg yolk 15g Dijon mustard Juice of 1 lemon 1tsp Worcestershire sauce 1tsp Tabasco 100ml extra virgin olive oil Method 1. Smash the whole cucumbers using the flat side of a large knife until they start to break down, then roughly chop them into uneven, large bite-sized pieces. Put them in a colander over a bowl with a good pinch of salt, mix well and set aside for 15-20 minutes. 2. Meanwhile, toast the breadcrumbs in the olive oil in a frying pan with the garlic cloves and thyme till golden brown. Remove from the heat and season with salt and the lemon zest while hot, then set aside. 3. You can make the dressing in the same way as you would a mayonnaise, putting all the ingredients other than the oil into a bowl and mixing well, then slowly streaming in all the oil, whisking constantly throughout. Otherwise, blend all the ingredients at once in a blender (I often blend it). Check for seasoning. Advertisement 4. Drain the cucumbers, then add them to the dressing with half the herbs. Mix well, then finish with the toasted breadcrumbs and the rest of the herbs. Miso-glazed courgette 'Nasu dengaku – miso-glazed aubergine – is one of my favourite dishes, and I've adapted the Japanese recipe for courgettes,' says Jenkins. 'Achieving the perfect aubergine dish usually involves deep-frying, resulting in a confit-like texture inside, which is wonderful but too indulgent for me, at least for regular consumption. 'This technique for cooking courgettes yields a similarly tender texture without the need for deep-frying. The miso glaze, traditionally made with mirin, sake and sugar, can be simplified using honey and miso for a delicious outcome. It's a great sharing dish, but we often have it in individual portions with steamed rice and carrot and ginger-dressed salad.' Ingredients (Serves 2 as a main, 4 as a side) 2 courgettes Neutral oil (I use rapeseed), for pan-frying 1tbsp white miso paste (or to taste) 1tbsp honey (or to taste) White sesame seeds Squeeze of lemon juice Salt Spring onions, trimmed and chopped, to serve Advertisement Method 1. Halve the courgettes lengthways and score each half in a crisscross pattern – you want the flavour to be able to get in there, so cut about halfway through. Season them with salt, rubbing it into the cuts thoroughly, then place them cut side down on a paper towel for 30 minutes – this will extract excess water, helping them tenderise without falling apart when cooked. 2. Dry the courgettes thoroughly and heat a few tablespoons of oil in a frying pan over a high heat. Add the courgettes to the pan cut side down and fry for 5-10 minutes, until golden, then flip and baste them with the oil for a few more minutes, so they cook through evenly. Transfer to a wire rack or paper towel to drain, then place the courgettes cut side up on a baking tray. 3. Preheat the oven to 220°C/200°C Fan/Gas 7. 4. Whisk the miso paste, honey and a splash of water in a bowl until smooth and spreadable. Taste for seasoning, adjusting to your preference based on the saltiness of the miso, then spread a thin layer of the miso glaze over the cut side of the courgettes and sprinkle some sesame seeds on top. Bake for 7-10 minutes, ensuring the sesame seeds don't burn, until the glaze has caramelised. Advertisement 5. Mix a little lemon juice into the remaining miso glaze. Spread it on a plate, place the courgettes on top, and garnish with chopped spring onions. Enjoy! Kimchi pasta puttanesca 'I often make this with tinned tuna and anchovies, but it's great without them. Kimchi is another funky, briny flavour that happily sits alongside the capers and olives,' says Jenkins. 'Almost all the intense flavour comes from vegetables (technically fruits, if you want to be annoying) that have been cooked or prepared in a way that homes in on their best qualities and makes them shine.' Ingredients (Serves 4) 4tbsp extra virgin olive oil 500g cherry tomatoes 1 white onion, thinly sliced 4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced 6 tinned anchovy fillets in oil 1tsp dried red chilli flakes 2tbsp pitted olives (Italian black olives or whatever you prefer) 2tbsp capers, drained 300g roughly-cut kimchi, plus 1tbsp brine 1tbsp white wine vinegar Pinch of caster sugar 100g tinned tuna in spring water, drained 300-400g spaghetti To serve (optional) Handful of parsley, roughly chopped Lemon juice, to taste Method 1. Heat the oil in a large saucepan over a medium-high heat, then add the tomatoes and onion and cook for 7-10 minutes, or until you can pop the tomatoes with the back of your spoon. Add the garlic and anchovy and cook for a couple of minutes until fragrant, using the back of your spoon or a fork to break down the anchovy into the sauce. 2. Add the chilli flakes, olives, capers, kimchi and brine, vinegar, sugar and tuna and cook for 2 minutes, then turn off the heat. You just want the last additions to be warmed through but not lose their bright, briny flavour. 3. Cook the spaghetti in a large pot of seasoned boiling water till al dente, then mix it through the sauce with a little of the pasta cooking water. You can add some parsley and fresh lemon juice before serving. Extracted from Cooking With Vegetables by Jesse Jenkins, available now

The Guardian

32 minutes ago

• The Guardian

Wes Streeting questions affordability of setting up NHS assisted dying service

Wes Streeting has voiced doubts over whether the NHS can afford to establish an assisted dying service, after MPs passed a bill to legalise the procedure last week. The health secretary was previously a supporter of assisted dying but switched sides last year, expressing concerns about the ethics of offering such a service before significant improvements could be made to the NHS. 'The truth is that creating those conditions will take time and money,' he wrote in a message to constituents. 'Even with the savings that might come from assisted dying if people take up the service – and it feels uncomfortable talking about savings in this context, to be honest – setting up this service will also take time and money that is in short supply. There isn't a budget for this. Politics is about prioritising. It is a daily series of choices and trade-offs. I fear we've made the wrong one.' The bill will now head to the House of Lords, where there are expected to be continued battles over its progress, with campaigners urging peers to use 'dark arts' to impede it. MPs who backed the legislation have said it would be anti-democratic for peers to block the private member's bill passed by the elected house. Writing on Facebook, the health secretary said he wanted to speak directly to his Ilford North constituents on the issue. 'There is no doubt that this is a major and profound social change for our NHS and our country. I can understand why many people who are facing terminal illness, or fear terminal illness, are seeking the right to die at a time and manner of their choosing and I have enormous respect for their position,' he wrote. 'I also have the utmost respect for Kim Leadbeater and my other friends and colleagues in parliament who have supported this bill. I've seen first-hand how hard Kim has worked to listen to everyone's views and take onboard amendments to her bill with integrity.' But Streeting said he was disturbed by the concerns about the bill that have been voiced by the Royal College of Psychiatrists, the Royal College of Physicians, the Association for Palliative Medicine and disability campaigners. Streeting said the department would work closely on the technical aspects of the bill, even though the government was neutral, and that Stephen Kinnock, the care minister, would work on the bill should the Lords pass it, in order to make sure 'we do a good job with it for the country'. The impact assessment produced by the government on the bill suggested that panels set up to approve procedures would cost about £2,000 a day, adding up to between £900,000 and £3.6m over a 10-year period. The total cost of running the panels – and employing a dedicated commissioner – would be between £10.9m and £13.6m a year. Sign up to First Edition Our morning email breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion However, the assessment estimated that the bill would ultimately cut end-of-life care costs by millions, with a central estimate that 2,183 people would use the service by its 10th year. The bill, which passed with a majority of 23 on Friday, would allow terminally ill adults in England and Wales who have fewer than six months to live to apply for an assisted death. This would be subject to approval by two doctors and a panel including a social worker, senior legal figure and psychiatrist. The Labour peer Charlie Falconer, who is expected to take the lead on the legislation in the House of Lords, said despite the depth of feeling on the issue, peers should not use procedural devices to block it. 'The overwhelming instinct in the Lords will be not to block or delay but to see whether there can be any improvements which do not interfere with the bill's principles,' he wrote in the Sunday Times. 'The last time there were votes of real substance on this issue was on a bill I introduced in 2014 for which the votes in the Lords were in favour. There have been many new peers introduced into the House since then, and many departures. Where the House's views are now is difficult to judge but they will work towards a bill that gives effect to the Commons' view.'