It’s August! What’s in season this month?

August is one of my favourite months. With warm evenings and long, golden days, I absolutely love eating outside — whether it’s catching up with family and friends around a BBQ, heading out for a picnic, or simply enjoying an alfresco dinner at home.

If you love tomatoes, this is your moment. Farmers’ markets are overflowing with sun‑ripened varieties bursting with sweetness. Juicy stone fruits like peaches and plums are at their peak, herbs are fragrant and abundant, and everything tastes better with almost no effort. Whether you’re cooking for family, hosting friends in the garden, or just trying to keep weeknights simple, this month’s recipes are all about freshness, ease, and flavour.

So why not make the most of August’s fruit and vegetables while they’re at their best?

🍓 Fruits in Season

• Berries: Blackberries, raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, redcurrants
• Stone fruits: Plums, cherries, apricots, peaches, nectarines, damsons, greengages
• Others: Figs, melons (Charentais, cantaloupe, galia), early apples, gooseberries

🥬 Vegetables in Season

• Summer stars: Tomatoes, courgettes (yellow and with flowers), aubergines, peppers, cucumbers, fennel, globe artichokes
• Beans & peas: Broad beans, runner beans, French beans, mangetout, sugar snap peas
• Roots & leaves: Beetroot, carrots, turnips, radishes, chard, chicory, lettuce, rocket, watercress, summer cabbages
• New potatoes: Perfect for warm salads and easy traybakes
• Others: Sweetcorn, celery, pak choi, marrows, okra, shallots, spring onions, baby leeks

🐟 Seafood Specials

• Baked halibut with pea mousse & sauce vierge – light and flavourful
• Sea trout with ruby chard and clams – seaside vibes on a plate
• Mackerel with watermelon rojak – bold and unexpected
• Charred mackerel with tomato ceviche – smoky fish meets zesty tomato‑lime salsa

🍽️ Mains & Savoury Dishes

• Sticky chicken and plum traybake – sweet, savoury, and ideal for weeknights
• Courgette and blackberry traybake – a surprising combo that works beautifully
• Grilled sea bass with herb risotto & roasted fennel – elegant and summery
• Lemon & Herb Chicken Traybake – minimal prep, loads of flavour

🥗 Salads & Lighter Plates

These dishes keep things light, fresh, and fuss‑free — ideal for warm evenings or lazy weekends.

• Piccolo tomato, watermelon & mint salad – juicy and refreshing with goat’s cheese
• Plum and wild rice salad – sweet, nutty, and gently spiced
• Green beans, bulgur, feta & pomegranate salad – crunchy and vibrant
• Marinated Tomato & Herb Salad – five minutes, maximum flavour
• Sweetcorn Salad with Lime & Chilli – bright, crunchy, perfect with grilled chicken or halloumi
• Courgette & Feta Fritters – crisp, golden, and great with yoghurt
• No‑Bake Berry Ripple Ice Cream – a cooling treat without turning on the oven

🍰 Something Sweet for the Weekend

• Blackberry Crumble Muffins – soft, fruity, freezer‑friendly
• Cherry Bakewell Cupcakes – nostalgic almond‑cherry goodness
• Chocolate Orange Brownies – rich, fudgy, citrus‑bright
• Fruits of the Forest Crumble Traybake – simple, crowd‑pleasing
• No‑Churn Berry Ripple Ice Cream – creamy, cold, no faff
• Spiced Bread Pudding – cosy, early‑autumn comfort
• Blackberry & Lemon Upside‑Down Cake – tangy, golden, beautifully sticky
• Redcurrant Ripple Cheesecake – creamy with a tart swirl
• Damson Mess – whipped cream, hazelnut meringue & glossy damson sauce

📬 Coming in September Next month we’ll shift gently into early‑autumn comfort cooking — warm spices, apple bakes, and cosy weeknight meals as the evenings start to cool