Seasonal summer vegetables, what you should eat for summer

In our modern world, we’re getting more and more concerned with the environment. A great way to support the environment with your diet is to buy fruit and veg that are in season at that moment. So, what are your choices for summer vegetables?

Broccoli

This dinner-table classic is in season throughout the summer, and it’s a personal favourite. It has a uniquely pungent and bitter flavour which makes it a great side dish.

My favourite way to serve it, personally, is sauteed with a little garlic. The trick is to par-boil it and then saute it for just long enough that it’s soft and the outside begins to gently char.

When your broccoli is slightly dark, it’s ripe for serving. In our house, we’re a little addicted to garlic, so I’ll typically mince three or four cloves of garlic for a broccoli side dish.

Mince your garlic very finely with a little sea salt in order to get your garlic distributed well throughout the meal – a trick I learned courtesy of a Gordan Ramsay YouTube video.

Aubergine

This crowd-pleaser is used in so many different meals. It offers a rich, thickening quality to any stew or curry that it’s used in, and it can be incredibly succulent if cooked well. It isn’t often something I think of when I look for summer vegetables but it is perfectly in season in summer.

My favourite way to cook this veg is to simmer it for a long time in a deep, thick pot. Typically, I’ll make a simple base of onions and garlic and then add the aubergine in with a few tins of chopped tomatoes and whatever spices I feel like that day.

Usually, I’ll go for a more eastern palate that’s a little spicy, and then serve it in a deep dish with a side of sour cream and a little pomegranate – truly a decadent, low-effort meal.

My favourite aubergine recipe is Lentil Moussaka.

Spring Onions

Yet another great vegetable that’s in season all summer long, these kitchen staples can flavour up a number of dishes. They go particularly well in creamier sauces, for example, a cheesy pasta bake. In the USA and some other countries, they can be known as green onions.

A great way to eat these in a meal is to add them right at the end after slicing them thinly. They don’t require much time to cook at all, and they’ll be little flavour bombs throughout the meal.

These little delights will also go well in a healthier recipe, such as a simple stir fry. Simple add in these, sliced, along with some chicken, a diced bell pepper, and some noodles. You’ve got yourself a simple yet satisfying meal which only needs a little sauce to liven it up.

These ingredients barely scratch the surface of the number of fruits and veg that are in season over the summer. The spring is a great season for growth, and the summer’s great for an early harvest.

Use these seasonal summer vegetables along with any others you can find to make a big meal for the whole family to sit together and enjoy. What better time is there than time spent in your summertime garden with good food and your family?