Easy Ways to Use Seasonal Produce This Summer

Summer markets are full of eye candy. You know what we're talking about - those bright, plump, fresh, ripe items that basically call your name as you walk through the aisle of a grocery store or past a farmers market stand. Summer's produce is a collection of food that is illustrious and beautiful, and is comprised of some of the most prized cooking ingredients in our kitchens. Fruits and vegetables are so luscious and tempting during the summer that it's hard to wait to get your hands on them.

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But what should you do when you actually do get this bounty into your kitchen? Sure, you know that tomatoes are one of summer's greatest accomplishments, but do you know what to do with them besides toss them in a salad? Have you ever even thought of using a fig before? Or using a strawberry in something besides a fruit salad? Not only is the best produce so delicious at this time of year, but there's a number of ways to put these fruits and veggies to use that go way beyond your usual repertoire. To help guide you through the highlight of our culinary calendar, we've outlined our top picks out of summer's seasonal produce. And not only that, but we hope to give you a few tips for inspiration to get out of the old, boiled-corn-on-the-cob rut.

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Whether you choose to take our advice or not, these picks are what you should be keeping your eye out for this summer. If you're seasonal-savvy and already have them on your radar, then we hope you use some of our ideas as inspiration for your next summer meal.

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Figs
Buy these babies during early or late summer, which is their peak season, and include them wrapped in pancetta as an appetizer or tossed in a salad with goat cheese and walnuts.

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Peaches
Peaches should be alternating shades of orange and slightly give to your touch when you buy them. Go savory with peaches this summer and add some diced fresh peach to your favorite salsa to serve with tortilla chips, or add peach slices to your next salad.

Related: 8 Unusual Herbs to Grow This Season

Strawberries
Strawberries are at their best with they're plump and dimpled and are a vibrant shade of red. Don't get us wrong, we love strawberries in our dessert, but what about jazzing them up a bit? Strawberry compote may seem like an intimidating task, but it's actually quite easy and adds a touch of elegance to your shortcake or vanilla ice cream. Just add three pints of fresh, hulled strawberries to 1 cup of sugar and ½ cup of alcohol (we like red wine but rosé and Grand Marnier are great, too), and simmer. Once it cooks down to a silky, gooey sauce, it's ready to serve.

Tomatoes
Tomatoes should be firm, plump, and shiny when you buy them. This summer, put away the fresh mozzarella for a minute and try pairing tomato with juicy watermelon, red onion, and white balsamic vinaigrette for a salad. If you're up for using your oven, our summer tomato pie recipe, with tomatoes layered with cheese and mayonnaise in a store bought pie crust, is a fun and unconventional way of using the fruit.

Zucchinis
The ripest zucchini is going to be about 6-8 inches in length and will be uniform in color. Rather than just sautéing it, create a creamy, exciting side dish by adding a dollop of cream cheese to the pan right before removing it from the heat. You can also purée it with store-bought Alfredo sauce for a light and fresh summer pasta sauce. For more ideas on how to use zucchini, see our 13 Zesty Zucchini Recipes.

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-Anne Dolce, The Daily Meal