Making the Best Seasonal Food – Texas Style!
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In Texas, we’re lucky to have access to a wealth of produce all year round. However, some vegetables and fruits are seasonal in Texas. It means that there are times of year when you’ll find specific fruits or vegetables are in abundance at farms, farmers’ markets and grocery stores.
This means that particular dishes belong to certain seasons. I remember in my younger years that during the months of May to July, I would be blessed by my mom’s blueberry cheesecake, as early summer was and still is Texas blueberry season. She and I would go to our local farmers’ market and bring back punnets of fresh bloobs, which she would use to prepare this beloved dessert.
Using seasonal ingredients is the perfect way to spruce up your dishes. Here are some tips on how to make the best of seasonal food in Texas!
Texas Farm-to-Table Cuisine
With huge quantities of fruits and veggies harvested from thousands of farms, it’s safe to say that the Lone Star State is an agricultural powerhouse. In 2017, Texas led the nation in its number of farms (over 248,000 farms and ranches covering 127 million acres!).
So what’s farm-to-table cuisine? This term refers to dishes made from locally grown and produced ingredients. Forget about chilled and frozen vegetables imported from many miles away – Texas offers a bounty of high-quality produce, allowing you to create delicious meals with local ingredients.
Soups and stews – A whole host of vegetables belonging to different seasons can be turned into delicious soups and stews. In summer, you can cook okra, eggplant, corn, tomatoes, and more – and then spice everything up by chucking in plenty of fresh chillies. During fall, you can make a comforting pumpkin stew, adding squash and turnips if you’re feeling particularly autumnal.
Salads – You can add apples and roasted pecans, which are abundant during fall.
Omelets – Aside from veggies, Texas is also known for pastured poultry products such as chicken eggs. You can create an omelet that features any veggies that are currently in season.
Noodle dishes – Combine broccoli (fall and spring), spinach (spring) and peas with some local cheese to produce a tasty bowl of mac and cheese.
Drinks and beverages – During spring and summer, fruits are abundant in Texas. Fresh citrus, strawberries, watermelon, cucumbers and many other fruits can be made into juices that quench our thirst in the Texas heat.
Seasonal Food and Desserts
We Texans love our cakes and pastries, and the desserts we produce are very much dependent on the fruits that are in season in the State.
Blueberry season occurs during late spring and early summer. As mentioned before, blueberry cheesecake is a particular favorite of mine. But a good old-fashioned blueberry pie never goes amiss in Texas.
Summer Barbecue
Lazy summer afternoons are best accompanied by a flaming barbecue. Veggies that are great for grilling include corn and peppers. Bell peppers stuffed with beef, cheese and other vegetables are a popular BBQ dish.
For snacking we have blueberries (how long do blueberries last?) strawberries, raspberries, and more. Try beating the heat with frozen grapes as a delicious summer treat. Homemade ice cream using fresh in-season fruits is also a winner – why not try making a tub of strawberry ice cream using fresh berries and locally produced milk?
You can also prepare refreshing coolers using these fruits. Fresh citrus fruits and berries are particularly good for these beverages.
Winter Seasonal Food
Kale, broccoli rabe and fennel (how long does fennel last?) are all wintertime crops. These leafy greens add both flavor and nutritional value to winter dishes. Other veggies popping up during winter season in Texas include potatoes, carrots, yams and sweet potatoes. Sweet potatoes can be made into mash or fries, both of which are great side dishes. Pair your steak with a hunk of sweet potato fries for a truly satisfying meal.
Squashes are also winter vegetables. Butternut squash (how long does butternut squash last?), for example, can be made into a hearty soup that is just perfect for the cold weather. Butternut squash can also be roasted with spices such as cinnamon and, if you fancy it, sweetened with some sugar.
Everything that you should know about butternut squash, click here!
Advantages of Using Seasonal Produce in Texas
There are many benefits when it comes to using seasonal ingredients to enhance your dishes. Texas cuisine has evolved by adapting to what is abundant during a particular time of year. Back in the day, there was no refrigeration to chill and preserve our harvests. Instead, people had to make do with the farm produce available to them during a specific season.
Using seasonal produce harvested from farms (or your own backyard!) often means spending less on ingredients. And most importantly, these fresh fruits and veggies provide our bodies with much needed nutrients, vitamins and minerals.
