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

July is the heart of summer: bright, generous and made for easy food. Markets are full of berries, cherries, tomatoes, courgettes, beans, new potatoes and fragrant herbs, so this month’s cooking can stay simple — a little grilling, a good salad, something chilled to sip, and a pudding that lets the fruit do the talking.

This month, we’re celebrating the best of British summer eating: garden suppers, picnic lunches, barbecue favourites, seafood by the coast, juicy fruit desserts and refreshing drinks for long warm evenings.

🍓 What’s in season in July

• Fruit: strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, cherries, gooseberries, blackcurrants, redcurrants, peaches, nectarines, apricots, plums and melon.
• Vegetables: courgettes, tomatoes, cucumbers, beetroot, broad beans, French beans, runner beans, peas, new potatoes, fennel, radishes, lettuce, rocket, watercress, chard and samphire.
• Herbs: basil, mint, parsley, chives, dill, tarragon, thyme, rosemary, oregano and coriander.

🍽️ Easy summer suppers

• Grilled mackerel with cherry and soy glaze — sweet, smoky and perfect for the barbecue.
• Courgette, lemon and ricotta pasta — light, creamy and ready in around 20 minutes.
• Broad bean, pea and mint risotto — fresh, green and full of summer flavour.
• Tomato, basil and burrata tart — simple enough for a weeknight but special enough for guests.
• Herby lamb burgers with cucumber yoghurt — a relaxed garden-table dinner.

🥗 Picnic lunches and lighter plates

• New potato salad with mint, spring onions and mustard dressing — a classic summer side.
• Watermelon, tomato and feta salad — juicy, salty and refreshing.
• Runner bean, beetroot and goat’s cheese salad — colourful and earthy with a creamy finish.
• Crab rolls with lemon mayo — seaside flavour without leaving home.
• Courgette and halloumi skewers — ideal for barbecues, lunchboxes or mezze-style sharing.

🍰 Sweet things for July

• Gooseberry pavlova — crisp meringue, softly whipped cream and sharp-sweet fruit.
• Cherry and ricotta cake — moist, summery and perfect with afternoon tea.
• Blueberry and peach crumble — a relaxed pudding for a weekend lunch.
• Strawberry shortcakes — a simple treat while British berries are still at their best.
• Blackcurrant ripple ice cream — bold, tangy and made for warm evenings.

🥤 Seasonal drinks to try

• Blueberry and peach smoothie — creamy, fruity and breakfast-friendly.
• Raspberry lemonade — sharp, sweet and lovely over ice.
• Melon, lime and mint refresher — light, hydrating and ideal for hot days.
• Blackcurrant cooler — deep purple, tangy and great with sparkling water.

🎉 Food dates for your July calendar

• 4 July — Independence Day: a great excuse for barbecue menus, pies, slaws and smoky sides.
• 7 July — World Chocolate Day: try a chocolate berry tart, brownies with raspberries, or a no-churn chocolate ice cream.
• 14 July — Bastille Day: celebrate with a French-inspired picnic — baguettes, cheese, pâté, tomato tart or a fruit galette.
• All month — picnic and grilling season: keep recipes easy, colourful and made for sharing outdoors.

🌞 This month’s kitchen tip

When summer produce is this good, don’t overcomplicate it. Salt tomatoes a few minutes before serving to draw out their juices, dress beans while they’re still warm so they soak up flavour, and keep berries unwashed until just before eating so they stay fresher for longer. Here’s to sun-warmed fruit, relaxed garden suppers and recipes that taste like summer. We’ll be back in August with more seasonal eats, kitchen tips and late-summer inspiration.