What’s in season – July

Once you’ve got your produce ready to go, check out our July recipes for delicious dinner inspiration.

Don’t cook blueberries, unless you’re absolutely certain the variety used will retain flavour; most varieties do not. A perfect snack by the handful, fresh blueberries make outstanding additions to breakfast cereals, pancakes and waffles, yogurts and fruit salads. They’re equally good when used as a sweet-sharp garnish to almost anything else sweet or savoury, from a slice of fresh mango to a ham salad or plate of charcuterie, from chocolate ice cream to coronation chicken. They’re especially delicious when generously whizzed up with a sharp salad dressing or crushed into mayonnaise but you might want to strain afterwards for smoothness.

Tip: For blueberry curd, put 200g blueberries and 50g caster sugar in a saucepan. Mix 25ml water with 1 tsp cornflour, then pour over the blueberries. Simmer for 5 mins, squishing the berries a little as you stir. Tip the thickened mixture into a heatproof bowl with the juice and zest of ½ lemon, 50g butter, ½ tsp cinnamon and set the bowl over a pan of simmering water. Stir occasionally until the butter has melted. Whisk in 2 egg yolks and keep whisking over the heat for around 10 mins, or until the consistency of custard. Push through a sieve into a jug, then pour into a sterilised jar. Will keep in the fridge for up to two weeks. Makes 140g. Serve with meringue and double cream lightly whipped with icing sugar and a dash of sherry. Top with more blueberries for a fab summer dessert.

For more inspiration, see our blueberry collection.

Our favourite way to cook runner beans is to slice them into thin ribbons, boil them for 3-4 mins or until tender, and serve with a restrained dollop of clotted cream. For something more everyday, this green bean pasta bake is a wonderful excuse to use up a glut.

Tip: To stop your runner beans being stringy, use a peeler to take a thin strip off each of the sides. You can use the offcuts to make stock.

For more tasty recipes, see our runner bean collection.

Stock up on samphire from July to August. Flavour-wise, it’s quite similar to asparagus. Try it simmered for 2-3 mins, then tossed in melted butter as a side for fish. Or for something different, go for this modern brunch from Rosie Birkett.

For more recipe ideas, see our samphire collection.

Fold cherries through thick Greek yogurt with a grating of dark chocolate for a quick dessert, or give Tom Kerridge’s cherry bruschetta recipe a whirl for a stylish starter. We’ve also used cherries in a moreish crumble cake.

Tip: To pit cherries, set a small metal piping nozzle on a board, push the cherry on top slowly and the pip should come out of the top.

For our ultmiate selection of recipes, see our cherry collection.

Browse recipes for, and information on, other ingredients in season in July:

Seasonal food dates in July:

7 July – World Chocolate Day
Celebrate this indulgent day with the best of the best. See our best vegan chocolate and best dark chocolate reviews.

16 July – National Ice Cream Day
Cool down this summer with our tasty ice creams. See our top 10 ice cream desserts or our vegan ice cream ideas

25 July – National Wine & Cheese Day
Mix up traditional wine and cheese pairings with our unique recommendations. See our vegan ‘cheese’ review and find out why we’re drinking canned wine this summer.

Other food dates for your diary:

1-31 July – Ice Cream Month
Take advantage of the warm summer holidays by making your own ice cream. For ice cream ideas without the fuss, see our easy no-churn ice cream recipes.

See our seasonal calendar for more inspiration.

More seasonal recipes and information…

Summer recipes
Vegetarian summer recipes
Summer budget recipes
Summer family recipes
Easy summer recipes

What fruit & veg do you enjoy in July? Leave a comment below…