"ideas on the freshest produce this season coupled with gourmet recipes for the freshest produce in town
What's fresh?
Limes
juicy limes are very affordable right now. Marinate chicken thigh fillets in lime juice with chopped coriander and red chilli for 2 hours. Barbecue and serve with a cucumber salad
There is a delightful range of sweet eating table grapes in season. Choose from white, red grapes and black grapes . will start at $6 a kilo. Newer or larger grape varieties can be more expensive.
Blueberries, blackberries and strawberries are the standout berries this week at $3-$6 a punnet. Berries may be small, but they punch well above their weight nutritionally, they are rich in antioxidants, support heart health, great for digestion, boost brain health and have anti-inflammatory benefits.
It’s been a bumper mango season and quality fruit continues to arrive in good supply. Choose from Calypso, Honey Gold, Kensington Pride and R2E2 varieties, all delivering rich tropical flavour.
Plums are plentiful. Choose from blood plums or golden-fleshed varieties, with around a dozen different types currently available. They vary in shape, skin and flesh colour, and flavour profiles ranging from honey-sweet too sweet with a tangy edge
Create salads that have a delicious balance of freshness and crunch with good value Lebanese cucumbers. Slice, dice or ribbon peel the flesh to add a refreshing texture. Cucumbers team deliciously with flavours like mint, dill, lemon, yoghurt, feta, chilli, garlic, sesame, soy and a splash of rice vinegar
Summer tomatoes are richly flavoured, with a wide range of varieties to enjoy. This week there a good supply of cherry and grape tomatoes at your local greengrocer
natural hybrid of broccoli and Chinese kale, broccolini has a mild, slightly sweet flavour with a gentle bitterness that deepens beautifully when cooked. Pick up a bunch or two this week for $2.50-$3 and try it chargrilled and finished with lemon juice or stir-fried with chilli and soy.
Cauliflower is highly adaptable, delicious roasted, braised, fried, mashed and steamed. It can even be eaten raw in salads and slaws. Low in kilojoules cauliflower is a fantastic low carb rice substitute. Quality cauliflowers from Cowra and Bathurst are available this week.
Eggplants are hitting their stride and offering excellent value right now. From the classic globe eggplant to slender Lebanese, elegant mauve Italian varieties and eye-catching striped types, there’s plenty to choose from.
Leafy and nutritious kale is a popular choice for green juices, stir-frying or adding shredded to frittatas and omelettes. Serve kale as a super nutritious and tasty side dish teamed with garlic, currants & pine nuts.
Zucchini prices have dropped. A breeze to prepare, zucchini need no peeling, simply slice, dice or grate. Their mild flavour makes them a hit with the kids. Add them to pasta dishes, rissoles, cakes and salads.
Capsicum prices are easing. Green capsicums are typically cheaper than red and yellow varieties. A medium sized red capsicum general weights between 200g-250g
