Celebrate autumn’s crisp mornings, clear skies and bounty of seasonal produce.
After countless barbecues the summer holiday season can take its toll on our healthy eating habits. As we head into autumn, we can focus on getting back on track and start forming some new healthy habits to keep us feeling great and full of energy in the colder months.
Seasonal fruits and veggies are great because they can be locally sourced, which can save you money compared to imported out-of-season produce. Buying local also helps to support the growers around you, keeps those food miles low and reduces environmental footprint.
Seasonal food tends to taste better, as buying closer to the source means food has less travel time and more opportunity to naturally ripen. It’s beginning to sound like there’s few reasons not to eat seasonal!
Now we know why we should eat seasonal, the next question is what fruit and vegetables are in season in autumn?
Here are just a few fruity suggestions to tempt those taste buds!
Quince
These "golden apples" of Greek Mythology are one of the earliest known fruits. When they're at their peak in autumn, why not serve them for dessert as a quince, hazelnut and oat crumble? Or for a main as lamb, quince and saffron tagine? Or a side as quince chutney?
Figs
Fun fact: a fig is not actually a fruit, it's a flower. Fruit or flower, they're in season in autumn and bursting with sweet figgy flesh. This means it's the perfect time to top a pizza with figs, prosciutto and mozzarella; throw together a sweet and salty salad with prosciutto, walnuts, blue cheese; make cute little tartlets topped with cream cheese, thyme and sliced figs.
Apples
In Gardens and allotments delicious British apples will soon be ready for harvest, from the sour Granny Smith to the sweet and tangy Cox's Orange Pippin. For apple-filled fun, start the day with French toast with cinnamon apples. For lunch or a light dinner, whip up a fresh and filling hot-smoked salmon, roasted garlic & apple salad. For something sweet, try spiced Granny Smith, yoghurt and brown sugar cake or caramelised Braeburn and Calvados ice-cream.
Pears
Did you know that one medium-sized pear contains 6 grams of fibre and only 100 calories, so it will keep you full without loading you with sugar and fat. Besides being nutritious, pears are incredibly versatile as an ingredient and this is especially true when it comes to whipping up a wholesome breakfast from oatmeal to smoothies. For a light and health lunch try pear pasta salad. With a flavor-packed combination of just-ripe pears complemented by salty salami, tart pickled peppers, fresh mozzarella, and crunchy cucumbers. Finally for those with a sweet tooth take a classic tarte tatin recipe up a notch or two with a marzipan and chocolate pear combination.
Grapes
If you can resist eating them before you even get home, try pickling your grapes and combining them with spiced roast cauliflower, sauteeing them and adding them to a salad with kale and edamame, creating an autumnal salad with fresh grapes buckwheat, hazelnuts and chicken, studding the top of a focaccia with them, or making farinata (an Italian chickpea pancake) topped with roasted grapes and ricotta.
Plums
Hold onto the last vestiges of summer stonefruit with plums. From magenta to deep purple, their colour is pure autumn. You might want to bake them in red wine with some spices, or poach them in prosecco and serve them with chocolate sponge and plum cream, or even braise a beef cheek and with rosemary, fennel, orange and plums - the sweet and tart plums are a perfect match for the rich, succulent beef.
Blackberries
This is the perfect time of year to make the most out of what the Blackberry has to offer. From your diet, to health or taste buds, the blackberry has been proven to enhance many aspects of our lives. Blackberries are very low in calories. 100g grams works out at just 43 calories. Fresh berries give an excellent source of vitamin C and natural antioxidants into your diet helping to eradicate any unwanted colds or inflammation from your body. Blackberries also contain minerals like potassium, manganese, copper, and magnesium so are great for those playing sport. Just some of our favourite recipes include: blackberry and apple sorbet with a hint of thyme, boozy bramble cake or savoury pork chops with blackberry and sage.