Fall: Recipes in Season

Fall farmers market
Image © iStockphoto

Fall is a time of transition from the best of summertime produce to a harbinger of winter selections. Strongly seasonal fruits like pomegranates and persimmons again become available after a long absence. Winter squashes show their widest variety. And the apples of Washington and New York make for fresh cider drinking all over the chilling countryside.

By the time fall rolls around in late September, the summer harvest has largely exhausted itself. Never fear! Fall produce is here! Shortening days and cooler nights bring with them a riot of food flavors. Root vegetables and winter squash dazzle us with their variety and sweet flavors. Broccoli, cauliflower and leafy greens benefit from a hard frost. Chanterelle and porcini mushrooms poke up from a carpet of fallen leaves. And apples, pears, melons, persimmons and pomegranates form the perfect finish to an autumn meal.

Here is a list of items that are abundant, fresh and seasonal when autumn rolls around.

September Ingredients

Vegetables

Beets | Beet Greens | Cauliflower | Corn | Eggplant | Porcini Mushrooms | Summer Squash | Tomatoes | Winter Squash

Fruits

Figs | Grapes | Melons | Peaches | Pears | Plums

September Fish and Seafood

Oysters

October Ingredients

Vegetables

Beets | Beet Greens | Cauliflower | Collard Greens | Chanterelle Mushrooms | Lettuces | Parsnips | Summer Squash | Winter Squash

Fruits

Apples | Coconuts | Grapes | Melons | Peaches | Pears | Persimmons | Pomegranates | Tangerines

Fish and Seafood

Oysters

November Ingredients

Vegetables

Artichokes | Beets | Cabbage | Cauliflower | Celery | Celery Root | Collard Greens | Chanterelle Mushrooms | Parsnips | Rutabagas | Winter Squash | Turnips

Fruits

Apples | Coconuts | Dates | Grapefruit | Grapes | Persimmons | Pomegranates | Tangerines

Fish and Seafood

Clams (U.S. West Coast) | Dungeness Crab | Oysters

International Recipes for Fall

Try these autumn recipes.

Apfelmus 
(German applesauce)
A spoonful of chunky applesauce from a bowl.

Apfelmus 
(German applesauce)

Torta di Noci 
(Italian walnut cake)
A shelled walnut

Torta di Noci 
(Italian walnut cake)

Semmelknödel 
(German bread dumplings)
Semmelknödel German bread dumplings on a platter

Semmelknödel 
(German bread dumplings)

Ghapama 
(Armenian rice-stuffed and baked whole pumpkin)
Two ghapama pumpkins on a table

Ghapama 
(Armenian rice-stuffed and baked whole pumpkin)

Shepherd’s Pie 
(English-Irish meat pie with mashed potato topping)
Shepherd's pit in casserole dish with portion removed

Shepherd’s Pie 
(English-Irish meat pie with mashed potato topping)

Apple Pie 
(American apple tart)
Apple pie with apples, baseball bat and American flag.

Apple Pie 
(American apple tart)

Cranberry Sauce 
(American cranberry compote)
Glass bowl with cranberry sauce

Cranberry Sauce 
(American cranberry compote)

Blitzkuchen mit Obst 
(German quick and easy coffeecake with fruit)
Fork cutting into a piece of Blitzkuchen

Blitzkuchen mit Obst 
(German quick and easy coffeecake with fruit)

Gratin de Potiron 
(French winter squash casserole)
Casserole dish of gratin de potiron

Gratin de Potiron 
(French winter squash casserole)

Pomodori Verdi sott’Aceto 
(Italian green tomato pickle)
Green tomatoes on the vine

Pomodori Verdi sott’Aceto 
(Italian green tomato pickle)

Schweinebraten 
(German roast pork)
Slices of schweinebraten roast pork

Schweinebraten 
(German roast pork)

Hausgemachtes Sauerkraut 
(German, Austrian, Swiss homemade fermented cabbage)
Jar of homemade fresh sauerkraut

Hausgemachtes Sauerkraut 
(German, Austrian, Swiss homemade fermented cabbage)

Brussels Sprouts Gratin 
(English roasted Brussels sprouts with cheese sauce)
Fresh Brussels sprouts on a countertop

Brussels Sprouts Gratin 
(English roasted Brussels sprouts with cheese sauce)

Gajar ka Halwa 
(Indian, Pakistani sweet carrot pudding)
Bowl of colorful gajar ka halwa

Gajar ka Halwa 
(Indian, Pakistani sweet carrot pudding)

Sweet Potato Pie 
(American, Southern-Soul sweet potato open-faced tart)
Freshly baked sweet potato pie

Sweet Potato Pie 
(American, Southern-Soul sweet potato open-faced tart)

Besan Laddu 
(Indian sweet chickpea flour balls)
Balls of besan laddu

Besan Laddu 
(Indian sweet chickpea flour balls)

Lanttulaatikko 
(Finnish mashed rutabaga casserole)
Half-served casserole dish of lanttulaatikko

Lanttulaatikko 
(Finnish mashed rutabaga casserole)

Wild Rice Pilaf 
(Canadian-American wild grain pilaf)
Mix of wild and regular rice

Wild Rice Pilaf 
(Canadian-American wild grain pilaf)

Sauerbraten 
(German marinated beef pot roast)
Slices of sauerbraten with gravy and potato dumplings

Sauerbraten 
(German marinated beef pot roast)

Caramel Apples 
(American caramel-covered apples)
Tray of caramel apples with sprinkles

Caramel Apples 
(American caramel-covered apples)

Töltött Káposzta 
(Hungarian stuffed cabbage rolls over sauerkraut)
Hungarian stuffed cabbage rolls showing filling

Töltött Káposzta 
(Hungarian stuffed cabbage rolls over sauerkraut)

Challah 
(Israeli Jewish braided Sabbath bread)
Loaf of freshly baked challah on a cooling rack

Challah 
(Israeli Jewish braided Sabbath bread)

Apple Fritters 
(Jewish batter-fried apple rings)
Deep-fried apple fritters

Apple Fritters 
(Jewish batter-fried apple rings)

Rob-e Anar 
(Persian pomegranate molasses)
Fresh pomegranate molasses

Rob-e Anar 
(Persian pomegranate molasses)

Atole 
(Mexican warm cornmeal beverage)
An olla filled with atole

Atole 
(Mexican warm cornmeal beverage)

Spaghetti and Meatballs 
(American pasta with meatballs)
Plate of spaghetti and meatballs

Spaghetti and Meatballs 
(American pasta with meatballs)

Ajvar 
(Serbian roasted eggplant and pepper spread)
A jar of ajvar with some spooned onto a plate.

Ajvar 
(Serbian roasted eggplant and pepper spread)

Carrot Tzimmes 
(Israeli, Jewish carrots braised with honey)
Serving dish of carrot tzimmes

Carrot Tzimmes 
(Israeli, Jewish carrots braised with honey)

Poule au Pot 
(French chicken in a pot)
Poule au Pot (French chicken in a pot)

Poule au Pot 
(French chicken in a pot)

Inlagda Rödbetor 
(Swedish pickled beets)
A small plate of pickled beets

Inlagda Rödbetor 
(Swedish pickled beets)

Gigantes Plaki sto Fourno 
(Greek baked white beans in tomato sauce)
Small plate of gigantes plaki

Gigantes Plaki sto Fourno 
(Greek baked white beans in tomato sauce)

Porotos Granados 
(Chilean pumpkin and cranberry bean stew)
Bowl of Chilean porotos granados

Porotos Granados 
(Chilean pumpkin and cranberry bean stew)

Classic Bread Stuffing 
(American seasoned bread side dish)
Casserole dish with bread stuffing

Classic Bread Stuffing 
(American seasoned bread side dish)

Sancocho 
(Latin root vegetable stew)
Bowl of sancocho root vegetables stew

Sancocho 
(Latin root vegetable stew)

Torta di Mele 
(Italian apple torte)
Torta di mele Italian apple tart

Torta di Mele 
(Italian apple torte)

Khoresht-e Aloo 
(Persian lamb stewed with prunes)
Plate of khoresht-e aloo

Khoresht-e Aloo 
(Persian lamb stewed with prunes)

Chicken Pot Pie 
(American savory chicken stew in pastry)
Skillet of chicken pot pie with biscuit crust

Chicken Pot Pie 
(American savory chicken stew in pastry)

Lekach 
(Israeli Jewish honey cake)
Lekach, a Jewish honey cake, in a Bundt pan

Lekach 
(Israeli Jewish honey cake)

Pan de Muerto 
(Mexican anise-scented bread for the Day of the Dead)
Mexican Day of the Dead bread

Pan de Muerto 
(Mexican anise-scented bread for the Day of the Dead)

Barmbrack 
(Irish fruit bread)
Two loaves of barmbrack fruit bread

Barmbrack 
(Irish fruit bread)

Southern Greens 
(American Southern-Soul simmered leafy greens)
Pot of simmering greens

Southern Greens 
(American Southern-Soul simmered leafy greens)

Blaukraut 
(German braised red cabbage)
Blaukraut on a plate with sausages

Blaukraut 
(German braised red cabbage)

Ash-e Jow 
(Persian barley bean soup)
Bowl of Persian barley and lentil stew

Ash-e Jow 
(Persian barley bean soup)

Boston Baked Beans 
(American white beans baked with molasses)
Boston baked beans in a bean pot

Boston Baked Beans 
(American white beans baked with molasses)

Coq au Vin 
(French chicken braised in wine)
Coq au vin on a serving plate

Coq au Vin 
(French chicken braised in wine)

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