the best of the summer harvest #cookblogshare with carrot and zucchini sandwich and blackberry jam and salad,

The Best of the Summer Harvest Fruits and Vegetables

Thank you for sharing!

Enjoy summer harvest fruits and vegetables with these delicious recipes. Having just been to a farmers’ market this morning, I found loads of varieties of tomatoes, plus eggplant, cabbage, carrots, okra, potatoes, blueberries, pears, peaches, lots of fresh herbs, and flowers too. Whether you’re finding fresh produce at local markets or growing yourself, here are some recipes to help you enjoy them or save them to have later too.

Fruits

Have you ever made homemade jam? I have not yet, but these recipes explain step-by-step how to do it, and preserve the goodness of fresh berries from a summer harvest.

Low Sugar Blackberry and Apple Jam – from Janice at Farmers’ Girl Kitchen. Try this easy and healthier version of homemade jam. A great way to use up blackberries and enjoy them longer – and it can be frozen, too! We enjoy picking blackberries at a lovely farm in our county in the summer. This jam is perfect for whole-grain toast or crackers.

jar of blackberry apple jam with green leaves and spoon

Something I just learned is that we are currently under the blackberry moon for Native American Indians from the Pacific Northwest. This was from Valerie Segrest BSN, MS, a native nutrition educator and author who was a guest on Mary Purdy RD’s Nutrition Show podcast. (Here’s a brand new cookbook Ms. Seacrest has contributed to that may be of interest: Indigenous Home Cooking.) And here is more information about the names given to different moons by Indigenous American people.

2 jars of gooseberry jam

Easy Gooseberry Jam from Jacqui at Recipes Made Easy is another great way to use freshly harvested berries. Having never had a gooseberry, I was surprised to see what they look like in Jacqui’s post: they made me think of tiny watermelons! Like grapes, there are several colors. They can grow in the northeast and the north-central U.S.

Growing gooseberries and currants was actually banned in the U.S. as of 1911, according to the Agricultural Marketing Resource Center, due to their part in a white pine tree fungal disease. While the federal ban was discontinued in 1966, they are still not permitted in some states. They are in season from late June to early July here in Pennsylvania (although not allowed in some areas, according to Penn State Cooperative Extension). As per the USDA FoodData Central, a 100 gram portion of gooseberries contains 4.3 grams of fiber (quite a good source!) and 198 milligrams of potassium.

Summer Harvest Vegetables

Fresh local vegetables are wonderful for salads bursting with flavor, homemade soup, roasting, and more. Here are some recipes for a creative sandwich and salad idea:

side view of zucchini and carrot sandwich

Try a Carrot and Zucchini Sandwich with cashew butter (instead of cream cheese for a vegan option) and mashed avocado for a cool lunch – easily packable for lunches too! This recipe is from Renu at Cook with Renu. The whole-grain seeded bread looks just right with it. The fresh scallions will add a lot of flavor, and you can use fresh oregano and parsley too!

jar of salad being shaken into a bowl

Picnic Salad in a Jar is a fun concept from Kate at Gluten-Free Alchemist. Her version is gluten-free, of course, with a homemade balsamic-lemon dressing just right to bring out the best of fresh summer harvest vegetable flavors. it includes fresh vegetables and walnuts for healthy fats. This recipe includes pancetta and feta cheese, so they can just be omitted or substituted for other plant-based salad fixings like:

  • Mushrooms
  • Edamame
  • Artichokes
  • Broccoli
  • Chickpeas
  • Chopped apples
  • Berries
  • Quinoa

I definitely want to try this. I have been searching for a few mason jars anyway to make a sourdough starter and to try a plant-based version of a favorite dessert…hopefully, I will have more to share about that soon!

More Summer Recipes You May Enjoy

Here are some of my favorite recipes with berries:

Healthy Blueberry Smoothie with Almond Butter
Light and refreshing snack with fresh fruit, cocoa, and creamy almond butter: a cool plant-based protein boost!
Healthy Blueberry Smoothie with Almond Butter
Blueberry Almond smoothie with blueberries
Fresh Cantaloupe Berry Nice Cream
Light and delicious dairy-free, no added sugar recipe without needing an ice cream maker! Perfect for a hot summer day.
Fresh Cantaloupe Berry Nice Cream
2 bowls or cantaloupe berry nice cream with half of a cantaloupe

And here are some of my favorite recipes with summer vegetables:

Crispy Baked Eggplant (Vegan)
Looking for a delicious and healthy vegan appetizer or side dish that will impress your family and friends? Inspired by classic eggplantnparmesan but with a wholesome, plant-based twist. This recipe is perfect if you crave savory, crunchy satisfaction of traditional eggplant parmesan and itโ€™s oven-baked.
Crispy Baked Eggplant (Vegan)
crispy baked eggplant on a plate with fresh basil leaves.
Mediterranean Eggplant Pasta – an Instant Pot Recipe
Quick and delicious vegetable-filled meal: perfect for busy weeknights. Heart-healthy meal rich with vegetables for vitamins and fiber with little fat.
Mediterranean Eggplant Pasta
eggplant pasta on white plate with crushed red peppers
Baby Bok Choy with Tofu Stir-fry
Try this light and flavorful Asian inspired stir-fry for a quick and delicious vegan main dish. This makes an excellent lunch to pack for work or dinner for your family or guests!
Baby Bok Choy with Tofu Stir-fry
baby bok choy stir fry on white plate with chopsticks and green napkin

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What are some of your favorite fruits and vegetables from the summer harvest? Have you tried picking your own at a farm or garden? Are you looking for good recipes for any of these foods? Let me know in the comments below:

6 thoughts on “The Best of the Summer Harvest Fruits and Vegetables”

  1. Awesome post with so many easy and summer-friendly recipes. I am too canning my fresh produce and this post has all I can do with my blueberries and berries. Thanks for including my Zucchini Carrot sandwich.

  2. A lovely round-up. Thanks for including my Low Sugar Blackberry and Apple Jam. I really enjoyed reading about the Blackberry Moon as I hadn’t heard of that before.

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