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Summer is the season of abundance. There are so many fresh summer vegetables and fruits that you can add to your menu. It’s by far the season that brings in the most diversity. I love how our meals can look so different from one month to the next. In this article, I’ll share some of our favorite recipes for the summer.
What are the summer vegetables and fruits
The list of summer produce in season is extensive and varies depending on where you live in the world. I live in the mid-west of the United States, in Indiana. If your climate compares to mine, the list below should be comparable. If you live in the USA, you can use this website to research what is in season for your area by month.
Here is a general list of summer vegetables and fruits from June to August. This list is not inclusive of everything.
| Arugula | Celery | Mushrooms |
| Beets | Corn | Nectarines/peaches |
| Berries | Cucumbers | Onions |
| Bokchoy | Eggplants | Peas (all) |
| Broccoli | Green beans | Peppers |
| Brussels sprouts | Green onions | Shallots |
| Cantaloupe | Herbs | Sprouts |
| Cauliflower | Kale | Squash |
| Carrots | Lettuce | Tomato |
How to eat more seasonal produce
Fruits and vegetables grown naturally are denser in nutrients and healthier for you. In fact, there are tons of health benefits associated with eating seasonally. Check out this article for more on the topic.
There are many ways to get your hands on fresh produce.
Grow a garden
You can plant a garden and grow your own summer vegetables and fruits. If you have time and space, this is a fantastic option. You can control what goes in/on your produce and the freshness when you harvest them.
If you do not have space for a full garden, you can still grow some fresh fruits and vegetables. Be creative. For example, I put fresh herbs in flower boxes on our back deck.
Buy from local farmers
This is a great alternative to growing your fruits and veggies. Most towns and villages have farmer’s markets on weekends. You can buy delicious fresh food and also support local businesses.
Our area even has an online farmer’s market now. Each week I can select what I want to buy and even from which farm. It gets delivered right to my house.
Buy from regular grocery store
This is still a valid option. Just be aware of what is in season and try to find produce that are locally grown to maximize freshness.
Favorite summer vegetables and fruits recipes
1. Summer pasta salad
A great way to switch up your pasta dishes during the summer months is to incorporate pasta salad into your rotation. This delicious cilantro lime pasta salad recipe from kaleforniakravings is fabulous.
Suggestion: if you are not a fan of cilantro, you can replace it with fresh parsley. It is just as delicious!
2. Summer quinoa salad
If you’ve been here before, you know I am a big fan of quinoa. This fabulous summer quinoa and vegetable salad from the blog Vanilla and Bean will turn the skeptic into believers.
For more delicious quinoa ideas, check out this blog post.
3. Fresh summer salads
There is no limit to the number of fresh salad ideas you can come up with in the summer. The variety is such that you could eat a different salad each day for a month. Here are a few of my favorites.
- Summer peach and blueberry kale salad, from the blog Kalefornia kravings.
- Tomato cucumber avocado salad with basil pesto from the blog Julia’s album.
- Peach arugula salad from the blog Ahead of thyme.
- Cauliflower, corn, and cucumber salad from the blog Valentina’s corner.
4. One pot pasta primavera
This 30-minute recipe from the girl on Bloor is delicious. It packs about 5 cups of fresh veggies and a quarter of a cup of fresh herbs.
It’s a family favorite that I recommend you add to your list this summer.
Pro tip: For a dairy free option, replace the butter with olive oil and use 2 Tbsp of nutritional yeast instead of parmesan cheese. It is just as delicious, I promise!
5. Grilled summer vegetables
Keep it simple but diverse. Use your favorite marinade on your veggies and grill them on the barbecue. It’s a fast and clever way to season your summer vegetables.
We love this marinade from the Schmidty wife’s blog. If you are short on time, you can even use a store-bought marinade.
Our favorite veggies to grill include carrots, zucchini, asparagus, yellow squash, and onions.
In conclusion
Enjoy more than the sun and warm weather this summer. Treat yourself to flavor and freshness with these amazingly delicious summer vegetables and fruits recipes.
Thanks for reading and let me know what is your favorite summer recipe.
Bon apetit!
Cat xx