3 Gourmet Summer Produce Recipes (That Are Easy!)
Take advantage of the bountiful harvests from local farmers in your area. Local, in-season summer produce isn’t just tasty, but it’s also more nutritious and helps support your community. Earlier this week, we shared three types of summer produce that’s often ignored by everyday shoppers. Today, we’ll show you how to use these ingredients in tasty, immune-boosting, and EASY recipes! Each recipe takes just minutes to make, but your kitchen will smell like you’ve been cooking a gourmet meal for hours.
1. Rhubarb Smoothie
Are you a fan of strawberry rhubarb pies — a quintessential summer treat? If so, you’ll love this morning breakfast shake. It’s extremely high in vitamin C and antioxidants. from acai juice, strawberries, and rhubarb. It’s also a rich source of fiber and protein, so you feel sustained and energized all morning long. Best of all? It satisfies your summer sweet tooth without any added sugar (unlike actual strawberry rhubarb pie).
1 cup frozen strawberries, ideally organic
1 cup frozen rhubarb stalks (ideally buy local, trim the leaves from the stalks, and store in your freezer)
1 tbsp local, organic honey (consider using raw unless you have small children who will be enjoying this)
1/2 cup full-fat Greek yogurt
2 cup acai juice
Add all ingredients to a blender and blend until creamy. Enjoy!
2. Garlic Roasted Radishes
Most people think of only using radishes raw. Spend just a few more extra minutes, and you can have this garlic-infused dish. If the spiciness of raw radishes has turned you off in the past, don’t worry — the roasting process caramelizes the natural sugars in these root vegetables and brings out a delightful sweetness that you wouldn’t normally associate with this variety of summer produce. Enjoy on its own for a hearty, flavorful lunch, or enjoy it as a side!
1 big bunch of fresh radishes, stems removed and cut into halves
1 tbsp butter (or a dairy-free butter alternative)
1 block of smoked, extra-firm tofu (ideally organic)
1 tsp sea salt
1 tsp black pepper
1/2 teaspoon dried parsley, dried chives, or dried dill or mix
3 garlic cloves, peeled then crushed or minced
Preheat your oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.
in a 9×13-inch baking pan, mix all the ingredients together. Bake for half an hour, mixing every 10-15 minutes so the radishes are well-coated in butter and seasoning. Enjoy on its own, or toss with your favorite creamy dressing for a warm “salad.”
3. Caramelized Roasted Fennel
Fennel, like radishes, is often ignored due to its more stereotypical use as a seasoning, a garnish, or a flavoring agent in soups and stews. But its crisp bulb makes a hearty base for a roasted dinner! The roasted fennel in this recipe emerges from your oven as a fragrant, buttery, and soft dish that will make you rethink this variety of summer produce once and for all.
1/2 lb of ground beef, turkey, chicken, or your favorite meat substitute (ideally local and organic)
3 tbsp of avocado oil or olive oil
2 large fresh fennel bulbs, stems and root end trimmed
1 tsp sea salt
1 tsp pepper
1 garlic clove, minced or crushed
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. While your oven is warming up, in a frying pan saute the ground meat with a tablespoon of oil until cooked through. Set aside.
Cut the fennel into quarters in a wedge shape.
On a baking sheet, place a sheet of parchment paper. Toss the fennel with the remaining oil, salt, pepper, and garlic. Sprinkle the ground meat on top, then garnish with the cheese. Bake for 30-40 minutes or until the fennel is golden-brown. Enjoy!