Great Produce That's In Season This Spring
Hit up those local community farmers' markets because spring has sprung. If you are looking for some fresh fare, add these items to your grocery list ASAP. Here are twelve fresh produce items that are in season this spring.
Apricots
Fruits like apples and bananas are easy to grab and go and enjoy on the go, but mix it up during the spring season with a fresh apricot. Apricots past their prime? Do not worry. Repurpose the fruit and make your own batch of apricot jam to enjoy on pancakes, toast, or waffles.
Asparagus
Asparagus is a great addition to any meal. Simply rinse asparagus spears in cool water, remove the white tips from the stalks, then drizzle with avocado oil or extra virgin olive oil and roast at 350 degrees for 20-30 minutes depending on the thickness of the asparagus stalks. Asparagus is also great grilled. If you are looking for a touch of even more spring, purple asparagus, and white asparagus are both readily available during the springtime season.
Broccoli
If you need yet another reason to eat more greens, broccoli is in season during springtime. Enjoy raw or roasted, broccoli makes a great side for any lunch or dinner dish and makes a great addition to fresh springtime salads. When preparing broccoli, be sure to save the stalks and repurpose them into a delicious culinary creation for homemade vegetable broths, soups, or stir-fries.
Butter Lettuce
Add a touch of green to any meal with a leaf or two of Butter Lettuce leaves. Whether you make a hearty springtime salad or a carefully crafted homemade sandwich, Butter Lettuce leaves have a slightly sweet almost buttery taste, hence, Butter Lettuce.
Fiddlehead Ferns
When shopping for Fiddlehead Ferns, look for Fiddlehead Ferns that are tightly coiled with only about 1-2 inches of stem beyond the coil. Choose a variety that is brightly colored with no signs of softening or yellow in color and check to make sure they are firm and smaller in size.
Honehydew Melon
Although you may enjoy the taste of chilled fruit, Honeydew Melons, like most melons, taste better if they are left unrefrigerated for a few days. If you have the extra counter space, leave your melon out for 2-3 days before slicing into it (give the outside a rinse first), but once cut, be sure to refrigerate it so it lasts throughout the week. Enjoy on its own or add to a classic homemade fruit salad to enjoy on a warm spring day.
Jackfruit
Jackfruit is a great substitute for protein sources like chicken, so if you are looking to recreate that classic chicken salad recipe or pulled pork sandwich that can fit your new Vegetarian or Vegan lifestyle, just use jackfruit. Simply drain and rinse the jackfruit, remove the tough core and seed pods then incorporate them into your recipe and enjoy a delicious plant-based dish.
Lychee
When choosing lychees, look for fruits that are heavy and red in color. Tip: Brown indicates a sweeter fruit if you have a sweet tooth. To access the sweet fruit of the lychee, pierce the fruit with your fingernail then peel back the skin and squeeze out the fruit.
Morel Mushrooms
Morel Mushrooms are difficult to find as they require very specific growing conditions and are not as readily available as other mushrooms. If you are lucky enough to find them, you will be able to spot them as their caps resemble that of honeycombs.
Peas
Peas, including pea pods and snow peas, are all available during the springtime season. Enjoy them on their own or add them to a salad, soup, or stir fry. Springtime split pea soup, anyone?
Rhubarb
Rhubarb is a classic sign of early spring. The stalks are very tart, but are most commonly repurposed into rhubarb jams or pies.
Strawberries
Strawberries can be added to almost any meal. Enjoy them on top of a chia seed pudding, a bowl of cereal, oatmeal, or a stack of homemade pancakes or waffles. Slice some strawberries for your breakfast smoothie or lunchtime salad or enjoy them on their own for an after-dinner dessert. Elevate your midday snack by adding a drizzle of nut butter and if you have a sweet tooth, top them with some raw chocolate bits. You can even make a peanut butter sandwich with a handful of sliced strawberries instead of jarred jelly.
You Might Also Like
