August is the height month for summer time vegatables and fruits, so now’s the right time to hit up your native farmer’s market! And, you probably have a backyard at dwelling, likelihood is it’s near its peak proper now. This month’s information will look similar to July’s information, with just a few early fall objects sneaking in, like apples. The theme this month is abundance in terms of all of your favourite fruits and veggies!
Welcome to my August Produce Information! I apologize for not getting this out till nearly the tip of August. The previous couple of weeks of summer time flew by and the boys have now been again in class for a few weeks. I’m lastly feeling extra energized and able to dive again into work, in addition to benefit from the summer time produce earlier than it’s all gone!
I’m a bit of biased towards the month of August as a result of it’s my delivery month, nevertheless it’s a reasonably nice month! It’s a month the place a few of the juiciest, tastiest and sweetest fruits and veggies are in season so I hope you might be all getting an opportunity to take pleasure in them 🙂
P.S, remember that completely different areas of the nation have completely different rising seasons, so what’s in season right here is probably not what’s in season the place you reside.
Under I’ve highlighted just a few of my favourite summer time produce and I’ve linked to a couple recipes that provides you with concepts of methods to take pleasure in them!
AUGUST PRODUCE GUIDE
Arugula, or Rocket, belongs within the mustard household and is often used as a salad inexperienced. It has a pleasant, recent peppery style and a bit of can go alongside means in some recipes.
I want to make use of arugula uncooked, in salads or wraps, however it may be wilted down and served heat, equally to spinach or kale. I didn’t actually take pleasure in arugula for a very long time, on account of it’s barely bitter, peppery style, however lately I’ve grown to actually take pleasure in it. It’s a salad inexperienced, however with extra taste than some others.
Arugula Tortellini Salad with Garlic Herb Dressing
Basil and Roasted Garlic Flatbread with Arugula
Tahini Balsamic Pasta Salad with Arugula
Balsamic Candy Pepper and Boursin Sandwiches
Roasted Carrot and Chickpea Salad with Arugula
Beets are root greens that are available a few completely different colours. Most individuals are acquainted with pink beets which have a really vibrant coloration, however there are additionally golden beets which might be a bit of extra gentle in taste. You’ll be able to eat the beet greens as properly!
Beets are excessive in phytonutrients, that are vitamins present in sure meals that may assist maintain your physique wholesome and forestall illness. They’re additionally excessive in antioxidants, which have anti-inflammatory properties. Extra irritation contained in the physique can result in auto-immune points and different illnesses.
Beets may be loved each uncooked and cooked. I like so as to add them uncooked to salads, just like the one beneath. Beets may also be pickled, steamed or roasted. They’ve an earthy taste that’s barely candy.
Beet and Carrot Salad with Chickpeas
Goat Cheese Beet and Balsamic Puff Pastry Bites
Vegan Beet Burgers with Brown Rice
Roasted Beet Chickpea and Black Rice Bowls
More healthy Chocolate Cupcakes with Raspberry and Beets
Peppers are within the nightshade household and all sorts of peppers are in season now. Bell peppers are in all probability the sort that I prepare dinner with most frequently although. Inexperienced and pink bell peppers are generally utilized in recipes like pizza and fajitas, however in addition they are available yellow, orange and purple colours. Inexperienced bell peppers may be barely bitter in taste, however the remainder of the colours are a bit of sweeter.
I take advantage of bell peppers in so lots of my recipes! I chop them up and throw them into soups, salads, scrambled eggs, wraps and a lot extra. They’re nice uncooked with creamy ranch dip or hummus, or they may also be sautéed, roasted or cooked in soup.
Vegetarian Stuffed Peppers with Cauliflower Rice
Fajita Gnocchi Skillet with Avocado Salsa
Loaded Breakfast Stuffed Peppers
Vegetarian Fajita Rice Casserole
Vegetarian Tacky Tortellini Casserole
Broccoli is a cruciferous vegetable that’s within the mustard household, together with cabbage, Brussels sprouts and kale. There are just a few completely different sorts of broccoli, however Calabrese is the most typical one in america and possibly the one that the majority of us use.
Broccoli is a powerhouse vegetable that gives tons of well being advantages. Broccoli is full of tons of antioxidants, which assist cut back undesirable irritation contained in the physique. Broccoli additionally comprises a considerable amount of each fiber and vitamin C. One cup of broccoli has about as a lot vitamin C as an orange.
Broccoli may be loved each uncooked and cooked. I like chopping uncooked broccoli into chunk sized items and including it to salads. When you want your broccoli cooked, you possibly can steam it, roast it or stir fry it.
Chili Garlic Broccoli with Chickpeas
Crunchy Broccoli Salad with Maple Mustard Dressing
Veggie Packed Broccoli Cheddar Soup
Crunchy Baked Broccoli with Spicy Soy Sauce
Tacky Broccoli Rice Casserole Bites
Carrots are springtime root greens which might be fairly simple to develop. Orange carrots are most comply seen and offered on the grocery retailer, however you too can develop rainbow coloured carrots. Carrots come in several sizes, some are quick and fats, whereas others are lengthy and skinny. Child carrots, nevertheless, are usually not an precise carrot selection, as an alternative they’re made with a machine utilizing common sized carrots.
I like to snack on uncooked carrots or add them to salads and wrap. Carrots may also be roasted, sautéed, cooked into soup or baked into muffins or muffins. They’re a really versatile vegetable that can be utilized in each candy and savory recipes. Carrots are in all probability most eaten uncooked, with ranch or hummus, within the US although!
Carrot and Chickpea Salad with Orange Maple Dressing
Roasted Carrot and Dill Hummus
Noodles with Cabbage and Carrots
Curried Candy Potato Carrot and Crimson Lentil Soup
Corn is within the grass household and is technically thought of to be a fruit. Corn on the cob is tremendous well-liked within the summertime and is such an effective way to take pleasure in recent corn! There are 17 various kinds of corn, however the most typical sort in america is named Dent, or area, corn. Candy corn can be fairly widespread, particularly should you’re shopping for canned corn.
I in all probability prepare dinner with canned corn extra typically than recent corn, as a result of it’s extra handy to retailer in the home. Corn is tremendous versatile and may be added to so many alternative recipes, from corn salsa to cornbread. Corn may be served heat or chilly and is nice added to salads, soups, tacos and extra!
Contemporary herbs is usually a mixture of annuals and perennials. Herbs like Basil and cilantro must be replanted every year, however sage, thyme, lavender and mint will all develop again, 12 months after 12 months. Contemporary herbs are much less potent than their dried counterparts and I take advantage of them on a regular basis so as to add taste and coloration to my recipes.
Contemporary herbs are at all times nice to have available to make use of as a colourful garnish for pastas, salads and soups or they can be utilized as extra of a fundamental ingredient. Pesto is certainly one of my favourite issues to make when I’ve further recent herbs available and may even be made with herbs in addition to basil, like mint or cilantro.
Herby Cucumber Salad with Feta and Chickpeas
Cilantro Lime Cucumber Salad with Avocado
Inexperienced beans belong to the pea household, Fabaceae, and develop in over 500 completely different varieties. Because the identify states, inexperienced beans are mostly inexperienced in coloration, nevertheless yow will discover some which might be yellow or purple! Inexperienced beans are nice mid-late summer time crops which might be often both bushy or vine-like crops that prefer to develop up poles.
I really like the style of uncooked inexperienced beans, however I often eat them cooked. Final 12 months I grew them within the backyard and loved them recent, however I additionally like to purchase them frozen so I’ve them available all 12 months lengthy. Canned inexperienced beans are additionally generally offered in grocery shops, however I don’t discover them to be as nice of high quality because the frozen ones.
The Finest Straightforward Inexperienced Beans
Miso Sesame Inexperienced Beans
Three Bean Salad with Basil French dressing
Vegan Inexperienced Bean Casserole
Egg Free Crispy Baked Inexperienced Bean Fries
Kale is available in just a few completely different varieties together with: curly, lacinato and purple. Kale is a hearty inexperienced that may face up to colder temperatures. Child kale has additionally turn out to be fairly well-liked nowadays and remains to be hearty, however a bit of extra much like child spinach or lettuce.
Kale may be loved each cooked and uncooked. I really like massaging uncooked kale and including it to salads. It’s hearty and has some texture, whereas additionally being refreshing. Kale wilts rapidly, so it might probably simply be thrown into soups, stir fry and pastas.
Chopped Kale Energy Salad with Lemon Tahini Dressing
Kale and White Bean Pasta with Parmesan
Garlicky Kale with White Beans and Lemon
There are three sorts of spring peas; snow peas, sugar snap peas and backyard peas. Snow peas are the flat trying peas which might be used typically in stir frys. Sugar snap peas are extra rounded in form and often have bigger, plump peas inside. Backyard peas are what you might be often consuming if you purchase a bag of frozen candy peas.
I really like rising sugar snap peas within the backyard to munch on uncooked, all through the summer time, and they’re additionally nice for including recent to salads. I at all times have a bag of frozen candy peas round and luxuriate in throwing them into pastas or utilizing them as a veggie facet dish.
Lemony Broccoli and Candy Pea Salad
Watercress Pesto Pasta with Peas
Roasted Vegetable Gnocchi Sausage Bake
Radishes are within the mustard household and are available just a few completely different varieties. Most individuals are in all probability used to seeing Crimson Radishes, that are generally offered in grocery shops. These radishes are often eaten uncooked and have a spicy, crisp style.
I often simply thinly slice radishes and throw them into salads, however you too can pickle them, grill them and even roast them within the oven. Roasting them mellows the sharp taste a bit and provides some sweetness.
Roasted Radishes with Garlic and Herbs
Veggie Sushi Bowls with Fast Pickled Radishes
Crunchy Ranch Salad with Crispy Quinoa
Roasted Candy Potato Black Bean Salad with Kale
Tomatoes are within the nightshade household and are available many alternative varieties. They’re thought of a fruit, however they’re typically loved like a vegetable. In case you are on a food regimen that requires avoiding nightshades, sadly all tomatoes must be averted. Most sorts of tomatoes are candy and juicy. Tomatoes are available many sizes, starting from small cherry tomatoes to further giant beefsteak tomatoes.
Tomatoes are certainly one of my favourite substances they usually can be utilized in so many alternative methods. I really like consuming tomatoes uncooked, straight from the backyard, or with salt and pepper. Raw tomatoes may be added to salads, sandwiches and appetizer trays. They may also be cooked and made into salsas, pasta sauces and ketchup. The probabilities are actually limitless, and don’t overlook about sun-dried tomatoes!
Solar-Dried Tomato Pesto Pasta
Herby Parmesan Tomato Pasta Salad
Summer time Squash and Tomato Pizza
Tomato Herb Butter Beans with Pesto Rice
Zucchini is within the squash household and is often a really prolific backyard plant. Most individuals are in all probability acquainted with the common, lengthy inexperienced zucchini that they promote at most grocery shops. That’s the similar zucchini that most individuals grown of their gardens. There are different sorts of zucchini although, together with one that’s yellow. Zucchini has a really gentle taste on it’s personal and simply softens when cooking.
I want to make use of zucchinis which might be on the smaller facet. Further giant zucchini typically have giant seeds and a spongy center inside. Each are nice to make use of although! Zucchini may be loved uncooked, however I most frequently see it sautéed, roasted or combined into baked items like zucchini bread. To me, zucchini tastes greatest when it’s been cooked till it’s beginning to caramelize and brown. This cooking methodology brings out such wonderful flavors and is nice for including to stir fry, pasta, salad, tacos and extra!
