What is samphire and where can you buy it?

When is samphire in season?

UK samphire season is a short one that starts in July and ends in August.

Where to buy samphire

Fresh samphire from the UK is seasonally available in supermarkets (and sometimes may come from abroad), but jarred samphire is available year round.

Tesco Samphire (fresh), £2.10/115g, Tesco

Sainsbury's Samphire (fresh), £1.60/90g, Sainsbury's

Greek Rock Samphire in Brine (jarred), £7.60/380g, olive shop
This rock samphire has been preserved in a light brine so can be kept in the cupboard and used all year round in salads, frittatas or pasta dishes.

Samphire recipes

Check out plenty more samphire recipe inspiration here.

Samphire with beurre blanc

This vibrant veggie dish oozing with buttery zing makes a satisfyingly crisp side to a spring roast or other meat-heavy meals.

Jersey Royals, spring greens and prawn fritteda

A fritteda is a light Italian stew of spring vegetables. Our version uses Jersey Royals, spring greens and prawns for a quick and easy supper.

Spaghetti alle vongole with samphire

Spaghetti alle vongole makes a classic Italian supper. The clams are cooked in dry white wine, which combined with the natural clam juice and samphire make a lovely rich sauce for the pasta.

Samphire with browned butter

This vibrant veggie dish is zingy and buttery, makes a satisfyingly side to a spring roast or other meaty meals.

Linguine with samphire and prawns

This easy dish is made with linguine and pairs the sea vegetable samphire with king prawns in a super-quick pasta sauce.