Make the most of British summertime with these super-seasonal July ingredients.
Beautiful tomatoes, vibrant beetroot and super-fresh green beans are just some of the brilliant produce at its best during July. Cooking with local, seasonal produce is often cheaper and more sustainable – plus, you might stumble upon something you’ve never tried before! So celebrate these seasonal heroes in style with our top recipes to cook in July – enjoy!
July marks the start of tomato season here in the UK. This seasonal star is a true taste of summer, and best enjoyed simply – thinly sliced up with a drizzle of good extra virgin olive oil, a few fresh basil leaves and a generous pinch of sea salt. Make the most of these gorgeous sunshine flavours in a rainbow tomato carpaccio, or a light and elegant tomato broth.
MORE: How to use up ripe tomatoes
Beautiful, bold beetroot is one of summer’s most versatile veg. Cook and slice into a delicious beetroot niçoise salad, blitz it into a beetroot dip for a super-summery side dish, or thinly slice and make a batch of beetroot crisps – perfect at any picnic. July is only the start of beetroot season; but the perfect time to pair it with other seasonal staples such as watercress or tomatoes.
MORE: Brilliant beetroot recipes
These classic climbing beans tend to first pop-up at markets around mid-July. Their fresh flavour is a signal that summer is truly here! Enjoy them in a gorgeous green bean bruschetta, as a simple side dressed with garlic and vinegar, or paired with gorgeous lemon sole.
Let courgettes speak for themselves in simple recipes like this lemony courgette linguine. At its peak from June to October, courgettes are an ideal veg to celebrate in July. Pair them with fresh basil in an oozy risotto; or peppers, aubergines and tomatoes in a summer ratatouille salad. If you’re lucky enough to find any courgettes with flowers, they’re incredible stuffed with pea and ricotta,
MORE: Best courgette recipes
The versatile potato is ideal in every season, but summer is all about potato salads. Pair with warm mackerel, roast and top them with a crunchy pickle or go classic with finely chopped shallots and a punchy, herby dressing.
MORE: Brilliant new potato recipes
Radishes will add a pop of colour and crunch to almost any meal, and this Watermelon, radish & feta salad is a brilliant example. Elevate a meal in seconds with a quick radish pickle, or roast them whole as part of a crunchy veg traybake.
Stone fruits like cherries can be cooked down into some gorgeous desserts like this super-easy cherry clafoutis, or added to savoury dishes such as our Cherry chard wild rice; but our cherry iced tea mocktail is one you’ll be making on repeat all summer.
MORE: Cheerful cherry recipes
That sweet-tangy burst of a fresh raspberry is best enjoyed from June through to August, so lap it up while you can by knocking up some delicious raspberry recipes. Hosting a summer party? Greet guests with a raspberry and ginger fizz cocktail, then round-off the evening with this chocolate and raspberry tart – the perfect summer pud.
Looking for more seasonal cooking inspo? Here’s our month-by-month guide of what to eat throughout the year
