Summer: Recipes in Season

Children on a summer beach
Image by Jeffrey

Sizzling summer heat heralds the most abundant stretch of the annual growing season. Just as late spring produce begins to wane, heat-loving summer crops show up to eagerly take their place.

Tomatoes, peppers, sweet corn, eggplant, summer squash and cucumbers fill supermarket shelves and farmers market stalls to overflowing. Stone fruits — cherries, peaches, plums, apricots — and bright, plump berries are highlight of summer’s sweet fruit bounty.

Here is a list of items that are abundant, fresh and seasonal for Summer.

June Ingredients

Vegetables

Asparagus | Beets | Corn | Fava Beans | Green Beans | Kohlrabi | Peas | Peppers | Spinach

Fruits

Apricots | Bananas | Berries | Cherries | Mangoes | Melons | Peaches | Pineapple | Plums

Fish and Seafood

Tuna

July Ingredients

Vegetables

Avocados | Beets | Corn | Cucumbers | Fava Beans | Green Beans | Kohlrabi | Lima Beans | Peas | Peppers | Summer Squash | Tomatoes | Winter Squash

Fruits

Apricots | Berries | Cherries | Figs | Grapes | Litchis | Mangoes | Melons | Nectarines | Peaches | Plums

Fish and Seafood

Tuna

August Ingredients

Vegetables

Avocados | Beets | Corn | Cucumbers | Fava Beans | Eggplant | Green Beans | Kohlrabi | Lima Beans | Peppers | Summer Squash | Tomatoes | Winter Squash

Fruits

Berries | Cherries | Figs | Grapes | Litchis | Mangoes | Melons | Nectarines | Peaches | Pears | Plums | Prickly Pear (Tuna)

International Recipes for Summer

Try these sizzling summer recipes.

Zucchini con Salvia 
(Italian sautéed zucchini and sage)
Zucchini cut into rounds

Zucchini con Salvia 
(Italian sautéed zucchini and sage)

Southern Fried Chicken 
(American fried chicken with a crispy crust)
A plate of Southern fried chicken

Southern Fried Chicken 
(American fried chicken with a crispy crust)

Ginger Beer 
(Jamaican ginger beverage)
Glass of ginger beer with fresh lemon and gingerroot

Ginger Beer 
(Jamaican ginger beverage)

Panzanella 
(Italian bread and tomato salad)
Panzanella Italian bread and tomato salad

Panzanella 
(Italian bread and tomato salad)

Pesto Genovese 
(Italian basil-pinenut sauce)
A mortar and pestle with handmade pesto

Pesto Genovese 
(Italian basil-pinenut sauce)

Carne Asada 
(Central American grilled steak)
Carne asada taco on paper plate

Carne Asada 
(Central American grilled steak)

Sweet Tea 
(American Southern summer tea drink)
Southern sweet tea in a Ball jar

Sweet Tea 
(American Southern summer tea drink)

Inkokt Lax 
(Swedish cold poached salmon)
Slices of fresh salmon with fresh herbs

Inkokt Lax 
(Swedish cold poached salmon)

Imam Bayildi 
(Turkish stuffed eggplant braised in olive oil)
A serving of imam bayildi on a plate

Imam Bayildi 
(Turkish stuffed eggplant braised in olive oil)

Mint Julep 
(American, Southern bourbon cocktail)
Ingredients for making mint juleps

Mint Julep 
(American, Southern bourbon cocktail)

Macaroni Salad 
(Hawaiian-American pasta salad side dish)
Macaroni salad with forks for eating

Macaroni Salad 
(Hawaiian-American pasta salad side dish)

Linzertorte 
(Austrian jam tart)
Linzertorte on platter with a serving cut out

Linzertorte 
(Austrian jam tart)

Tian de Courgettes et de Tomates 
(French Provencal summer squash and tomato gratin)
Pan of baked tian of tomatoes and summer squash

Tian de Courgettes et de Tomates 
(French Provencal summer squash and tomato gratin)

Cowboy Beans 
(American Tex-Mex beans with ground beef)
Small bowl of cowboy beans

Cowboy Beans 
(American Tex-Mex beans with ground beef)

North Carolina Pulled Pork Recipe 
(American Southern barbecue pork sandwich)
North Carolina pulled pork sandwich with coleslaw

North Carolina Pulled Pork Recipe 
(American Southern barbecue pork sandwich)

Zaru Soba 
(Japanese cold buckwheat noodles with dipping sauce)
Zaru Soba (Japanese cold buckwheat noodles with dipping sauce)

Zaru Soba 
(Japanese cold buckwheat noodles with dipping sauce)

Corn Dogs 
(American hot dog and cornbread on a stick)
Fresh corn dogs on a draining rack

Corn Dogs 
(American hot dog and cornbread on a stick)

Hamburgers 
(American grilled beef patty sandwiches)
Cheeseburger with tomatoes, lettuce and onion wrapped in paper

Hamburgers 
(American grilled beef patty sandwiches)

Ratatouille 
(French braised eggplant, tomatoes and basil)
Ratatouille French braised eggplant, tomatoes and basil

Ratatouille 
(French braised eggplant, tomatoes and basil)

Salsa Romesco 
(Spanish, Catalan roasted pepper and nut sauce)
Bowl of romesco Spanish pepper and nut sauce

Salsa Romesco 
(Spanish, Catalan roasted pepper and nut sauce)

Bruschetta alla Romana 
(Italian grilled bread with tomatoes)
Tray of bruschetta alla romana

Bruschetta alla Romana 
(Italian grilled bread with tomatoes)

Gado Gado 
(Indonesian vegetable salad with peanut sauce)
Plate of gado gado salad

Gado Gado 
(Indonesian vegetable salad with peanut sauce)

Spinaci con Pinoli 
(Italian sautéed spinach with garlic and pinenuts)
Spinach sauteed with pine nuts

Spinaci con Pinoli 
(Italian sautéed spinach with garlic and pinenuts)

Caponata Siciliana 
(Italian sweet and sour eggplant dish)
Bowl of caponata

Caponata Siciliana 
(Italian sweet and sour eggplant dish)

Peach Cobbler 
(American peaches baked with pastry)
Freshly baked peach cobbler

Peach Cobbler 
(American peaches baked with pastry)

Sangría 
(Spanish fruited wine)
Pitcher of sangria

Sangría 
(Spanish fruited wine)

Memphis Barbecue Ribs 
(American Southern-Soul slow-cooked pork ribs)
Memphis barbecue ribs on a sheet pan

Memphis Barbecue Ribs 
(American Southern-Soul slow-cooked pork ribs)

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