Foods in Season in July

Broccolini, sometimes referred to as baby broccoli, has long stems and smaller florets than regular broccoli. I love throwing it on the grill or roasting it, since it gets really crispy and takes only 10 to 15 minutes to cook. It works well in sheet pan meals and overall makes a great side for quick meals on hot summer evenings.

Here are the best ways to eat broccolini in July:

• Grilled Broccolini with Lemon and Parmesan
• Chili Sesame Sautéed Broccolini
• Baked Feta with Broccolini and Chickpeas

Biting into an ear of boiled sweet corn slathered with butter is a summer pastime that never gets old. Fortunately for all of us, sweet corn starts to make its debut this month! And believe me, there is so much you can make with this veggie besides corn on the cob.

Here are the best ways to eat corn in July:

• Mango Corn Salsa with Black Beans (great for a 4th of July cookout)
• Blueberry Sweet Corn Frozen Greek Yogurt Bark
• Sweet Corn and Cherry Arugula Salad
• Yellow Tomato and Corn Gazpacho

If you need to cool off, cucumbers are one of the best foods to eat! Thanks to their high water content, they’re also very hydrating. While cucumbers are most commonly enjoyed raw, you can cook them. Seriously, you have to try grilled cucumber (use mesh grill mats or a grill basket for easy grilling)!

Here are the best ways to eat cucumbers in July:

• Grilled Cucumber with Mint and Feta
• Mango Cucumber Salad
• Blended Cucumber Gin Cocktail
• Chickpea Salad Cucumber Boats

Lanky, hydrating, and delightfully crunchy, green beans are one of the best foods in season in July. Their crop tends to be very prolific, meaning you’ll almost always find them at the farmers market during this time of year. Home gardeners who grow green beans are also probably swimming in them right about now!

Here are the best ways to eat green beans in July:

• Blackened Green Beans and Grits
• Herb and Garlic Butter Green Beans
• Green Beans and Corn with Cider Vinegar and Herbs
• Italian Marinated Green Bean Salad

Fresh herbs add so much to summer meals. Plus, you can transform them into delicious condiments. Chimichurri or pesto, anyone? I especially enjoy mint, basil, cilantro, and tarragon during July. If you also use a lot of basil, be sure to check out my tutorial on How to Cut Basil Chiffonade.

Here are the best ways to eat herbs in July:

• Tarragon Roasted Summer Vegetables
• Cherry Tomato Tart (with fresh basil and herbed cheese)
• Mint Basil Pesto
• Easy Cilantro Chimichurri Sauce
• Vegetarian Pesto Pasta with Peas
• Healthy Cucumber Mint Lemonade
• Grilled Cod Foil Packets with Fresh Herbs

Jicama is a great vegetable to eat on a hot July day! It’s crunchy and hydrating and is typically enjoyed raw. You can add it to salsas, fruit salads, or just eat it on its own as a snack. If you’re not familiar with how to prepare this tuber, check out my tutorial on How to Cut Jicama.

Here are the best ways to eat jicama in July:

• Chili Lime Jicama and Cucumber Salad
• Apple Jicama Slaw
• Homemade Pineapple Jicama Salsa
• Red, White, and Blue Fruit Salad (make it for the 4th!)
• Baked Jicama Fries with Cilantro Lime Dressing

If you want to try one of the more unique foods in season in July, pick up some kohlrabi! This bulbous vegetable comes in purple or green, has a crunchy texture, and tastes similar to broccoli stems. It’s fun to add to salads or slaws and can be roasted, too.

Here are the best ways to eat kohlrabi in July:

• Sautéed Kohlrabi (with the greens)
• Baked Kohlrabi Chips with Shallot Yogurt Dip
• Shaved Kohlrabi Salad
• Lemon Dill Kohlrabi Fritters
• Sage Brown Butter Kohlrabi Noodles

Millions of peaches, peaches for me! These juicy stone fruits are in peak season during the summer and should be thoroughly enjoyed in July. Enjoy peaches on their own as a snack, added to yogurt or oatmeal, grilled and topped with ice cream, or baked into peach crisp or cobbler. They also pair well with vegetables and salads.

Store unripe peaches on a plate at room temperature away from direct sunlight. Once they reach your desired level of ripeness, store them in the fridge.

Here are the best ways to eat peaches in July:

• Mini Peach Cobblers in Ramekins
• Fresh Peach Caprese Salad
• Healthy Baked Peach Oatmeal

Shallots are a relative of onions, but they grow in clusters like garlic. In terms of taste, they tend to have a sweeter and milder flavor than onions. You can substitute shallots for onions in almost any recipe. But their amazing flavor makes them worthy of centering entire dishes around them!

Check out my tutorial on How to Cut Shallots if you are interested. Different recipes call for different preparations.

Here are the best ways to eat shallots in July:

• Quick Pickled Shallots
• Balsamic Caramelized Shallot Pasta
• Sugar Snap Pea Quinoa Salad
• Kale and Broccoli Salad with Lemon Shallot Dressing
• Grilled Panzanella Salad with Shallot Red Wine Vinaigrette

Zucchini and other summer squash are now available! This summer vegetable is just as versatile as it is abundant. With such a mild taste, zucchini can take on the seasonings of any recipe with ease. Add it to baked goods, transform it into “zoodles,” or enjoy it sautéed or grilled.

Here are the best ways to eat zucchini in July:

• Healthy Olive Oil Zucchini Bread
• Creamy Peanut Zucchini Noodles with Chicken
• Zucchini Carrot Oat Muffins
• Baked Italian Zucchini Balls
• Zucchini Risotto with Shrimp