Some foods in season during July

What's in season in July 

Summer is in full swing and July brings plenty of seasonal fruit and vegetables to enjoy in the sunshine. Runner beans and peas bring fresh flavour to a variety of summer dishes, while earthy beetroot adds bold colour. For puddings, it's all about berries. Make the most of the short gooseberry season by swirling them into creamy fools or baking into cakes for picnics. Blackberries and cherries are also in abundance throughout July, making it easy to whip up sweet fruity desserts all month.

Beetroot 

Sweet and earthy in flavour and a beautiful, vibrant purple in colour, beetroot is extremely versatile. Wash your hands as soon as you've finished preparing beetroot, as the purple juice can stain your fingers. Add beetroot to a range of dishes ...

You may like to try these recipes:

Cajun chicken with oodles of spice, tahini dressed beetroot, oven crisp carrot fries and hardly any carbs; see details here

Beetroot and orange soup with mustard seeds; see details here

Peas

These bright, luscious pods are at their best from now until October. Peas can be whizzed to make a soup, braised in butter or blanched as a side (add mint to enhance their flavour). Choose pods that are full but not bulging – less mature peas are softer and sweeter.

You may like to try these recipes:

Chicken with mushrooms and peas, a recipe that suits my LCHF lifestyle; see details here

Easy Peasy Cheesy Frittata; see details here

Pea and lettuce soup with poached eggs; see details here

Gooseberries 

Gooseberries are high in vitamin C, vitamin A, Potassium and Magnesium. These tangy berries are only available for a short time, so grab them fast! Green, early season gooseberries have a tart flavour and are usually used for cooking, while later, red-tinged fruits are sweeter and milder.

You may like to try these recipes:

Gooseberry crumble by Phil Vickery, it's lovely but not low carb; see details here

Gooseberry and elderflower custard; see details here

Gooseberry fool, a lovely recipe from Mary Berry (use sugar substitute for a lower carb version of this recipe); see details here

Runner beans 

Runner beans are longer and stronger in flavour than green beans, but can be used in many of the same recipes. For the freshest veg, look for young, crisp beans with firm pods. The beans will need to be top and tailed, and for larger or older beans also remove the string.

You may like to try these recipes:

Trout with a lemon zest served with a warm bean salad, which brings together the flavour of runner beans, fine beans and butterbeans; see details here  

Pork with orange and poppy seed salad, a colourful and tasty plate of food, with the welcome addition of runner beans, cucumber and some crumbled feta cheese; see details here

Cherries 

These sweet summer fruits have been grown since Roman times, and became popular in Britain in the 15th century. In the UK National Cherry Day is on the 16th July. Why not celebrate with a cherry recipe.

You may like to try these recipes:

Black Forest Gateau, a low carb recipe which uses pitted black cherries; see details here

Cherry Bakewell Frangipane Tart, a vegan and gluten free recipe; see details here

Blackberries 

These sharp yet sweet fruits are at their best in late summer. In British folklore, it was believed to be unlucky to pick wild blackberries after Michaelmas, on 29 September – so make the most of them while you can! They’re best stored unwashed, on a layer of kitchen paper in the fridge to prevent them crushing each other.

You may like to try these recipes:

Blackberry Cobbler/Crumble, a lovely low carb recipe; see details here

Grilled Chicken & Blackberry Salad, so delicious; see details here

I wonder what would be your favourite from the above?
Mine is blackberries ...

Dear reader, you will find a variety of articles, studies etc. plus recent news/views and recipe ideas within this blog, we hope something for everyone to read and enjoy ... but please note, not all may be suitable for you. If you may have any food allergies, or underlying health issues these must always be taken into account. If you are a diabetic and not sure how certain foods may affect your blood sugars, test is best, i.e. use your meter.

All the best Jan