What to Eat Now: June

What to Eat Now: June

As summer begins, the farmers' markets are overflowing! Stone fruits, avocados, new potatoes, garlic scapes, and berries are all at their peak.

Things are finally heating up in much of the United States, bringing a bounty of fruits and vegetables to supermarkets around the country. With stone fruits and avocados in fine form, you'll be sure to get practice removing pits this June. You won't find new potatoes or garlic scapes in the supermarket, however, so there's two good reasons to visit your local farmer's market right there, no matter where you live! Here's a look at the pick of June, with plenty of recipe ideas to get you started.

Avocados

Avocados

Where to begin with avocados? A hipster joke about overpriced urban toasts? Debating whether the avocado truly IS the healthiest food on earth? How about starting here: They're delicious. Buttery, rich, and full of healthy fats — but simultaneously fresh, clean, and light — avocados have earned their popularity. Equally at home as the star of a dish, a vessel for stuffing, or as a base for creamy sauce substitutes, the avocado is eminently flexible.

Buying and storing avocados

While there are several different varieties of avocados, the dark-skinned Haas avocado, developed in California in the 1930s, is the most common by far. Other well-known cultivars include the green-skinned Bacon, Fuerte, and Zutano. And while, yes, we do often rely on imported avocados from Mexico, the California crop is now in season, so look for these domestically grown treats in your markets now. Just look for the "California grown" sticker on the produce, or, if you live on the West Coast, get yourself to the nearest farmers' market.

Notably, the avocado does not ripen on the tree, but only ripens after it's picked so if you get a perfectly ripe avocado at the market, this is actually a sign that it's older than its hardened peers! Avocados should be stored at room temperature on the counter to allow them to ripen; a fully ripe avocado will give a little when you press on it (but shouldn't show any signs of mold, or give way completely). Once ripe, you can extend the life of the avocado by storing it in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.

Preparing avocados

It's recommended that you wash your avocado before slicing it even though you won't use the tough outer skin, it's known to harbor bacteria that can be transferred to the edible flesh by the knife when you cut into it.

And speaking of cutting, do be careful when you do it! Enough people injure themselves trying to remove the pit that there's a name for it: "avocado hand." DO NOT hold the avocado in one hand and forcefully attack the pit with a knife in the other there's too much risk of the knife slipping through the tender avocado and into your tender palm.

Instead, begin first by slicing the avocado lengthwise around the pit, then gently twist the two halves apart. The pit will stay stuck in one of these halves. To get the pit out, the safest bet is to use a soup spoon to gently scoop it out. You can also place the half with the pit on a cutting board, reach for a large knife, and give the pit a quick, hard rap with the knife blade. Done properly, the pit will cling to the blade, which you can then twist gently to ease the pit out of the fruit.

Beat the brown scourge

As any avocado aficionado will tell you, once you cut it open, the battle against browning begins. Air is the enemy here, so wrapping it airtight or better yet, submerging in a neutral oil is your best bet to keep the brown spots at bay. Applying an acid such as lemon or lime juice can also delay the development of brown spots. Or do like I do, and just slice up the unused pieces and eat them out of hand while they're still nice and fresh. No guilt with this healthy treat!

Avocado Fries RecipeAvocado Fries Recipepanko breadcrumbs, salt, all purpose flour, avocados, large eggs and 3 more
Baked Seafood Stuffed Avocados RecipeBaked Seafood Stuffed Avocados Recipefresh parsley, cooked shrimp, lemon juice, eggs, Vidalia onion and 4 more
Avocado Popsicles RecipeAvocado Popsicles Recipesweetened condensed milk, syrup, milk, dark chocolate, avocado
Fresh Fig and Avocado Grilled Cheese RecipeFresh Fig and Avocado Grilled Cheese Recipeavocado, sourdough bread, figs, butter, baby spinach leaves, cheese
Deliciously Rich Avocado Brownies RecipeDeliciously Rich Avocado Brownies Recipepure vanilla extract, salt, avocados, pure maple syrup, chocolate chips and 5 more
Avocado Toast RecipeAvocado Toast Recipeavocado, eggs, seasoning, gluten free sandwich bread

Garlic Scapes

Garlic Scapes

If you're a garlic lover and haven't tried cooking with garlic scapes, get thee to a farmer's market, stat! While the serpentine greens don't appear to have much in common with garlic, they are in fact just a different part of the same plant. Garlic plant varieties are classified as either softneck or hardneck; garlic scapes only grow out of hardneck varieties.

But hold up. What exactly is a "garlic scape," again? It's not the view out your car window as you drive through Gilroy, CA (the garlic capital of the U.S.); instead, it's a green shoot from the garlic plant. The bulbs we typically use in cooking grow underground, with green shoots (the garlic scapes) growing out of the bulb and ending in a pointy flower bud. Garlic scapes appear shortly before the garlic bulb itself is ready to be harvested, and are frequently removed and sold at markets so as not to divert any energy away from the growing bulbs.

Garlic scapes are quite hardy and can last for three weeks or more in the refrigerator after being harvested. And if you love the soft scent of garlic wafting through the house, they make dramatic additions to floral bouquets!

While the scapes are garlicky by nature, it's not the exact same flavor you'd get from a garlic clove. Unsurprisingly, perhaps, the taste is a bit milder and less assertive. The older the scape, the more fibrous it becomes, so be prepared to chop or puree the scapes before using, as you'll see in many of the recipes below. The flowers and ends should be trimmed off altogether before doing so.

Cold Garlic Scape Potato Soup (Vichyssoise) RecipeCold Garlic Scape Potato Soup (Vichyssoise) Recipeleek, olive oil, baguette, half and half, freshly ground black pepper and 8 more
Garlic Scape and Cherry Tomato Pasta RecipeGarlic Scape and Cherry Tomato Pasta Recipelemon, garlic scapes, freshly ground black pepper, kosher salt and 5 more
Summer Garlic Scape Pesto RecipeSummer Garlic Scape Pesto Recipelemon, pepper, garlic scapes, kale, salt, extra-virgin olive oil and 1 more
Garlic Scape Dal RecipeGarlic Scape Dal Recipechilli powder, sesame oil, red chilli, garlic scapes, cumin seeds and 9 more
Garlic Scape Pancakes RecipeGarlic Scape Pancakes Reciperice vinegar, baking powder, sugar, freshly grated ginger, boiling water and 10 more
Garlic Scape Aioli (Mayo) RecipeGarlic Scape Aioli (Mayo) Recipeolive oil, lemon, egg yolk, garlic scapes, sea salt, vegetable oil

New Potatoes

New Potatoes

Potatoes may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of late spring, but the first potatoes of the season are something not to be missed. Potatoes are tubers in the nightshade family (yes, along with tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants). And while we often associate potatoes with European countries (Irish potato fields, Russian potato vodka, the classic Spanish tapas of patatas bravas … the list goes on), the potato originated in South America and didn't appear in Europe until Spanish explorers brought them back East.

New potatoes are not a specific variety of potato (so no, they're not the same thing as a red potato, fingerling potato, or other variety that's characteristically small in size). Instead, they're just early season tubers of any variety that have been harvested before they reach maturity. Typically, you'll only find new potatoes at farmers' markets.

Because new potatoes are lower in starch, you're not going to want to use them for mashed potatoes, but they'll truly shine when boiled or roasted. Better yet? The papery young skins don't need to be peeled. When choosing any potato, try to avoid green or black spots or any early-stage sprouts (although all of these can simply be cut off if the rest of the potato looks OK). All potatoes should be stored in a cool dark place; however, unlike older storage potatoes, new potatoes should be eaten within a couple of days of purchase.

To prepare new potatoes, simply give them a quick scrub but wait to do so until you're ready to cook them, as washing in advance can hasten deterioration. If boiling, add the potatoes to cold water and then heat the water and potatoes together to avoid unevenly cooked potatoes; adding them to already boiling water will cook the outsides more quickly than the insides.

Pasta with Snow Peas and New Potatoes RecipePasta with Snow Peas and New Potatoes Recipebaby potatoes, snow peas, walnuts, Parmesan, farfalle pasta, red pepper flakes and 7 more
Roasted New Potato Salad with Lentils + Herb Dressing RecipeRoasted New Potato Salad with Lentils + Herb Dressing Recipewhite wine vinegar, sea salt, honey, dill, sea salt, Dijon mustard and 7 more
New Potato, Caramelised Onion, Rosemary & Gruyère Pizza RecipeNew Potato, Caramelised Onion, Rosemary & Gruyère Pizza Recipesugar, fresh rosemary, salt, pepper, gruyère cheese, strong white bread flour and 10 more
Cuban Picadillo RecipeCuban Picadillo Recipecilantro, queso fresco, 90% lean ground pork, frozen corn, tomatillo salsa and 3 more
Sheet Pan Chicken with Asparagus and Potatoes RecipeSheet Pan Chicken with Asparagus and Potatoes Recipefresh asparagus, bone-in chicken breast halves, chicken legs and 7 more
Spring Peas with New Potatoes, Herbs and Watercress RecipeSpring Peas with New Potatoes, Herbs and Watercress Recipesalt, extra-virgin olive oil, watercress, chives, freshly ground pepper and 7 more

Blackberries & Raspberries

Blackberries

You may see blackberries starting to appear at markets this time of year, but no need to rush this is just the very beginning of the season in Southern growing areas, and they'll continue to ripen and produce well into the summer. Interestingly, as blackberries ripen and start to turn from sour to sweet, they lose some of the shine on their skin. So, sometimes, all that glitters is not … ripe. Like most berries, blackberries don't keep for long in the fridge, but they are perfect for freezing or canning. Their signature sweet but sour flavor makes them a natural pairing for desserts with buttery crusts and an accent of lemon.

Blackberry Hazelnut Clafoutis RecipeBlackberry Hazelnut Clafoutis Recipeblackberries, hazelnuts, eggs, all-purpose flour, butter, pure vanilla extract and 6 more
Easy No Bake Blackberry Tart RecipeEasy No Bake Blackberry Tart Recipesweetened condensed milk, honey, heavy whipping cream, butter and 3 more
Blackberry-Almond Rolls RecipeBlackberry-Almond Rolls Recipesugar, blackberry, sugar, almond extract, yeast, low fat milk and 14 more
Blackberry Bars RecipeBlackberry Bars Recipesugar, sour cream, butter, sugar, flour, blackberries, salt, all purpose flour and 2 more
Homemade Blackberry Syrup RecipeHomemade Blackberry Syrup Recipesugar, frozen blackberries, cane sugar, Swerve, lemon juice, pectin
Blackberry & Custard Doughnuts RecipeBlackberry & Custard Doughnuts Recipebutter, large egg yolks, sunflower oil, milk, caster sugar, milk and 8 more
Raspberries

Like blackberries, June is the beginning of the season for raspberries as well, depending on where you live. While the bulk of the nation's raspberries come from the Pacific Northwest, the berry grows well around the country, so if you can search out a local grower, it's worth your while. Be extra careful of mold when choosing raspberries, as they're susceptible; as such, don't expect to store them for long before they go bad. Your best bet to determine if the raspberries are ripe? Give one a taste, if you can! The berries should be neither overly sour nor musty. Again, with their short lifespan, raspberries are excellent candidates for freezing to capture them at just the right state of ripeness and preserve them for the winter months to come.

Crispy Raspberry Oats RecipeCrispy Raspberry Oats Recipecacao nibs, almond milk, slivered almonds, rolled oats, chia seeds and 2 more
Raspberry Balsamic Chicken RecipeRaspberry Balsamic Chicken Recipegarlic, chicken pieces, avocado oil, sea salt, raspberry jam and 1 more
Homemade Raspberry Vinaigrette Dressing RecipeHomemade Raspberry Vinaigrette Dressing Recipewater, dried basil, raspberries, apple cider vinegar, salt, olive oil
Raspberry Pistachio Magic Bars RecipeRaspberry Pistachio Magic Bars Recipecrumbs, unsalted butter, shredded coconut, pistachios, semisweet chocolate chips and 4 more
Raspberry Macarons RecipeRaspberry Macarons Recipealmond flour, large egg whites, seedless raspberry jam, granulated sugar and 2 more
Keto Cobbler RecipeKeto Cobbler Recipeegg, salted butter, salt, almond flour, raspberries, cinnamon and 5 more

Stone Fruits

Stone Fruits

Stone fruits, biologically known as drupes, are a true hallmark of summer. The stone, or pit, is used to classify two main types of stone fruits: clingstones, which include several varieties of peaches, where the flesh "clings" to the pits; and freestones, such as apricots, where the pit easily separates from the fruit. While peaches, plums, apricots, and nectarines are the most well-known stone fruits, there are many other popular foods in the category, including cherries, olives, and even almonds.

Cherries

Cherries

June is the best time of year for that perennial favorite: cherries. The little ruby orbs mark the beginning of stone fruit season, with young apricots nipping at their heels.

Cherry varieties are divided up into two groups: sweet and sour. Sweet cherries are more likely to be negatively affected by late spring rains. Sour cherries are a bit more resilient, and many cross-bred varieties reap the benefits of both types. In fact, there are over a thousand different varieties of cherries, so you most certainly have your pick! Well-known sour varieties include the Montmorency and Morello varieties; the better known sweet varieties include the gold and red-tinged Rainier and classic deep-red Bing cherries.

When choosing cherries, avoid ones that have split (you'll frequently see mold growing in the gap), and opt for ones with taut, richly-colored skin. And remember, stone fruits and berries tend to freeze quite well, preserving that peak freshness; if you miss out on the fresh ones at the market, there's no shame in using frozen cherries for any of these recipes! While cherry pie (or perhaps Cherry Garcia) is likely the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about cherry recipes, they pair wonderfully with meats from lean pork to unctuous duck so don't be afraid to take cherries for a spin on the savory side.

Black Forest Cake RecipeBlack Forest Cake Recipelight corn syrup, unsalted butter, almond extract, cake flour and 22 more
Cherry-Pork Meat Loaf RecipeCherry-Pork Meat Loaf Recipebreakfast sausage, saltine crackers, eggs, chopped parsley, kosher salt and 4 more
Cherry Salsa RecipeCherry Salsa Recipered onion, jalapeno, sweet cherries, cilantro leaves, pepper and 2 more
Cherry Popovers RecipeCherry Popovers Recipebaking powder, sugar, whole milk, cherries, all purpose flour and 2 more
Cherry Lamingtons RecipeCherry Lamingtons Recipecornflour, icing, baking powder, butter, boiling water, cocoa powder and 8 more
Cherry Garcia Ice Cream RecipeCherry Garcia Ice Cream Recipedark chocolate, granulated white sugar, large eggs, whole milk and 2 more

Apricots

Apricots

Sweet apricots are on their way! You'll start seeing them in the market in June, with the sweeter cream-of-the-crop coming late in the month and continuing on through July and August. Like peaches and nectarines, you should be able to smell them when ripe, making for an exhilarating experience for your nose when you walk through the market.

To choose apricots, check out the color (after enjoying a good long sniff). The color gets deeper as apricots continue to ripen; and in the process, the fruits become sweeter. With the exception of tiny Blenheim apricots, you should avoid any fruits with a green tinge. When perfectly ripe, the delicate fruits will give slightly when you press on them lightly. A hard apricot will continue to soften at home, a process you can hurry along by putting it in a paper bag with an apple, pear, or banana. However, while they will get softer at home, they won't get any sweeter or develop more flavor that only happens on the tree. Apricots should be stored on the counter away from heat and light, but will not keep long, so eat up!

For more tangy-sweet taste adventures, look for plum-apricot hybrids around this time as well. Plumcots, pluots, and apriums are all crosses of apricots and plums, covering the spectrum in between pure plum and pure apricot. Any of these apricot varieties and hybrids are excellent for making jams and preserves, using in crisps, crumbles, and pandowdies, or adding sweetness to savory applications, such as chicken or lamb accompanied by nuts and warming spices. Can't find good apricots locally? Dried apricot recipes abound, as well as ones using apricot preserves. Truly, anyone can indulge in the sweet flavor of apricots year-round!

Apricot Pistachio Squares RecipeApricot Pistachio Squares Recipeapricots, unsalted pistachios, granulated sugar, unsalted butter and 10 more
Apricot Jam RecipeApricot Jam Recipegranulated sugar, apricots, fresh lemon juice
Chicken, Date & Apricot Tagine RecipeChicken, Date & Apricot Tagine Recipeground coriander, chilli powder, garlic cloves, ground cinnamon and 12 more
Apricot Chicken with Brie Cheese and Bacon RecipeApricot Chicken with Brie Cheese and Bacon Recipebrie cheese, apricot, olive oil, chicken breasts, chopped bacon and 1 more
Apricot Ricotta Honey Basil Bites RecipeApricot Ricotta Honey Basil Bites Recipefresh basil, apricots, ricotta cheese, sea salt, balsamic glaze and 1 more

Plums

Plums

There's such a wide variety of plums available today, that if you've typically shrugged off plums, you really ought to take another look. For me, the eye-opening experience was making jam with Italian plums never had I realized that this sort of rich, sweet jam with great depth of flavor could come from a simple plum mixed with sugar. After expanding into Italian plums, I became obsessed with seeking out the elusive Damson plum, star of the classic British jam (feel free to send me a case if you happen upon them).

Plum varieties are grouped as either Japanese, American, or European (and in many cases, a blend of two or all of the above). The Santa Rosa plum is the hallmark of Japanese-style plums, despite the fact that it was developed in the 1920s in Santa Rosa, California. The Santa Rosa is the plum you envision in your mind: red-skinned and yellow-fleshed with red flecks. European plums (which are more often dried to make prunes) come into season later on in the year, so check back in late summer/early fall for the aforementioned Italian plums.

Like other stone fruits (or perhaps an avocado), plums have a short window of perfect ripeness. Picked too early, they'll be hard and never develop their signature sweet flavor; but an overripe plum will spoil quickly, leading to an off flavor and texture. A perfect plum shouldn't be hard, but also shouldn't be squishy like many of the June fruits, they should simply give a little when gently pressed. Needless to say, plums don't keep well, so you're best off eating them as a special treat right when you get home from the market or buying a bunch on a weekend to immediately freeze, turn into jam, or otherwise preserve.

Hazelnut Plum Crumb Tart RecipeHazelnut Plum Crumb Tart Recipeplums, table salt, ground cinnamon, heavy cream, all purpose flour and 12 more
Plum Kuchen Recipe | Epicurious.com RecipePlum Kuchen Recipe | Epicurious.com Recipeflour, plain whole milk yogurt, unsalted butter, large egg, warm water and 7 more
Damson Plum & Gin Jam RecipeDamson Plum & Gin Jam Recipegin, plums, lemon juice, granulated sugar
Plum Crumble Bread RecipePlum Crumble Bread Recipealmond extract, plums, flour, Greek yogurt, baking soda, flour and 12 more
Summer Barbecue Plum Sauce RecipeSummer Barbecue Plum Sauce Recipesalt, worcestershire sauce, black pepper, granulated sugar, soy sauce and 7 more

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Check out other articles in our monthly fresh produce series.