Flavour First meal kits

Leanne and William Donnan showing off their new meal kits

Northern Irish grower Flavour First has launched a range of five new vegetarian meal kits, adding to its vegetable box delivery service.

Featuring ingredients from a family farm near Donaghadee in county Down, recipes include: Rainbow Chilli with Rice, North Indian Vegetable Curry, Vegetable Paella, One Pot Italian Pasta, and Asian Style Cauliflower Rice.

Available for delivery in Greater Belfast and County Down, the kits are retailing at £9.20 each, or two for £15, and are hand assembled on the farm along with the company’s existing vegetable boxes. Each pack includes a recipe card on how best to cook the dish.

Husband and wife team William and Leanne Donnan founded Flavour First in 2007, and now grow a wide range of seasonal vegetables on their 16-acre farm. They also produce seasonal fruits, especially strawberries, and provide free-range eggs from their own hens.

“The new boxes contain the fresh ingredients required to prepare tasty, home-cooked vegetarian meals,” said Leanne Donnan.

“The new range blends fresh vegetables with the sort of global flavours that people have experienced in restaurants here and on their holidays. They are also in tune with the developing trend towards plant-based and flexitarian dishes.”

Created with the help of experienced nutritionist and educator Kim Close, the meals are suitable for vegetarians, but meat can be added if desired.

The company has also focused on sustainability by using packaging that is either biodegradable or can be easily recycled.

“Living and working on a family farm means sustainability is in our DNA,” said Donnan. “We are committed to eliminating waste and preserving the environment now and in the future,”

Other opportunities to grow the business are also being explored.