Summertime Recipes with Seasonal Vegetables and Fruit
Much of the produce at your market may be there all year long but in reality, vegetables and fruits have certain seasons when they are naturally at their best. With summer, comes some of the most delicious treats, like juicy tomatoes and sweet, plump watermelons. On your next visit to the grocery store, take advantage of the produce in season while they're at their peak.Â
These sweet, juicy gems are perfectly ripe in late summer and pack in vitamin C and fiber. They're known for being an excellent source of antioxidants, which help fight against heart disease and cancers. Look for powder-blue berries that are firm for the freshest pick, and make sure not to wash these until you're ready to use them because you will get rid of the matte coating that protects them.
Make: Blueberry Crumb Bars
May through September is the optimal window for fresh corn so you can enjoy these naturally sweet and buttery cobs all throughout summer. Look for ears that have snug husks, plump kernels, golden brown silk and are bright green.
Make: Summer Corn Chowder
The ultimate summer vegetable to use when you're looking to cool down, cucumbers are a versatile ingredient and can be used in soups, salads, drinks and even sherbet. Choose firm (preferably unwaxed) cucumbers without soft, slimy spots or wrinkles.Â
This low-carb veggie is a one-way stop for nutrients. Broccoli is a good source of fiber, iron, and has as much calcium as a glass of milk and more vitamin C than an orange. What's not to like? Make this broccoli slaw for the perfect crunchy, tangy (it uses buttermilk dressing) side dish.
These plump melons are the epitome of refreshment in the summer heat. Look for a dark green melon that's heavy for its size and free of any soft spots or scars. Roll the watermelon over and check its bottom, which should have a clearly identifiable creamy yellow spot (it's where the watermelon sat while growing). If this spot is white or greenish, the melon was probably picked too soon.
Make: Watermelon and Cucumber Tonic
Available for a short-lived period of time, the beautiful yellow zucchini flower is something to look forward to in the summer. Battered and fried, these crispy flowers are delicate and really quite lovely.
Make: Ricotta and Garlic Stuffed Fried Zucchini Blossoms
Tomatoes could not be more delicious and flavorful when in season. Search for tomatoes that seem heavy for their size, are soft when pressed (not mushy) and give off a garden-fresh aroma (if it's ripe, you'll smell it). Sliced tomatoes on mayo-slathered toast sprinkled with salt and pepper is the definition of simple and delicious. Or try this open-faced tomato feta sandwich for a saltier bite.
Make: Open-Faced Tomato Feta Sandwich
Peaches are particularly great because they can just as easily be part of your dinner as your dessert. A ripe peach should give off a sweet "peachy" scent and give a little when lightly pressed.
Make: Grilled Peach and Habanero Salsa
With their mellow but distinct honey-like sweetness, figs are available for a quick season in the summer and for a second season in the late summer that runs into the fall. Raw or cooked, plain or garnished, figs are like wonderful bites of fruit candy. Choosing a ripe fig isn't about its color, which varies among different types. Look for figs that are heavy for their size and soft. Avoid those that are very firm, very squishy or have any signs of milky sap at the stem.
Make:Â Fig, Prosciutto and Gorgonzola Salad
This aromatic herb makes appearance's in everyone's kitchen at least once, but summer is the time it truly shines. Look for whole, smooth, aromatic leaves that don't have signs of bruising and are bright green.
Zucchini or Summer Squash
Zucchinis are bountiful in every market in the summer and should be the same in your kitchen too. Also called summer squash, this versatile vegetable is wonderful when roasted, baked, pan-fried or eaten raw in salads. Buy zucchinis that are small to medium-sized, firm and free of nicks and cuts.
Make:Â Zucchini Goat Cheese Pizza
