Summertime and the Eating is Easy
In summer local seasonal produce is abundant and tastes so fresh and full of flavour that it needs minimal preparation and cooking. Simply griddle, grill or cook over charcoal veg, fish and meats. Serve with crisp, nourishing salads drizzled with a herby dressing.
Use local oils, dressings and relishes to add wow without effort. For inspiration try Wild Island’s Chilli Cherry Drizzle, which is recommended with grilled courgettes. A spoonful of Nduja Mayonnaise from Cold Pressed Oil is great with cold meats. Chilli Jams from Charlotte Brown’s Handmade Preserves or Pig ‘n’ Pickles are perfect with barbecued burgers. So, too, is Cucumber Pickle from the Real Jam & Chutney Company or Crunchy Cucumber from The Hampshire Jam & Chutney company.
For dessert enjoy a bowl of sweet ripe cherries from Blackmoor Estate. They’ve been selling fruit direct to customers since the 1960s with their juicy cherries available from the kiosk outside the packhouse building.
So what is in season now? Follow our guide below. Another suggestion is to order from a local box scheme (such as Axton & Sons, Bitterne Box Co, Boxxfresh, Harvest Fine Foods, Ooooby Hampshire and Tasty Hampshire) who will provide you with what’s best now. You can also ask your local butcher, fishmonger or farm shop for guidance.
FISH (check with your fishmonger for sustainability) cod, coley, crab, dab, dover sole, flounder, grey gurnard, grey mullet, John Dory, haddock, hake, herring, mackerel, monkfish, plaice, pollack, prawn, red mullet, salmon, scallops, sea bass, sea bream, brown trout, shrimp, whelks.
FRUITS blackberries, blackcurrants, blueberries, cherries, damsons, figs, gooseberries, loganberries, plums, raspberries, redcurrants, strawberries and tayberries.
GAME duck, rabbit and wood pigeon.
HERBS basil, chives, coriander, dill, marjoram, mint, oregano, parsley, rosemary, sage, tarragon and thyme.
VEGETABLES & SALADS aubergine, beetroot, broad beans, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, chillies, courgettes, cucumber, fennel, French beans, garlic, globe artichoke, kohlrabi, lettuce, mangetout, marrow, mushrooms, onion, peas, peppers, potatoes, radish, rocket, runner beans, samphire, sorrel, spinach, spring onions, sweetcorn, tomatoes, turnips, watercress.