These Arizona Farmers Market Finds Are Perfect For Late Summer Recipes
Farmers markets are always great opportunities to support local businesses and integrate a bit of freshness into one’s diet – not to mention, it can be a far more sustainable source of food. Though, if you’re anything like me, you set your sights on the farmer’s market without any indication of what you’ll find, let alone what you’ll make with your finds. Going into the situation with an understanding of what’s in season (in your area) can open up the opportunity to plan amazing dishes around your fresh finds. In late summer, there is no shortage of amazing produce to pick from. There also is no shortage of meals one could make with these amazing August and September fruits and vegetables.
Zucchini
Zucchini is such a versatile vegetable, and I love preparing both sweet and savory recipes with them. One savory dish that uses zucchini is this roasted zucchini with parmesan from The Modern Proper. This is a delicious snack, or a perfect side dish for a dinner. I also love getting zucchinis from the farmer’s market because I feel like they always look cooler than they do in the grocery store – with stripes and twists and even really gigantic ones. A great way to use zucchini, no matter how it looks, is to make zucchini bread, like in this mouth-watering recipe. Zucchini bread is something I love to have around the house, ready to be eaten for breakfast or as a healthy snack.
Tomatoes
I love using farmer’s market tomatoes when I plan on eating them fresh! There is something much more delicious about the local farmers’ cherry tomatoes than the ones from my grocery store. They’re soft, small and mouth watering. I also love that the tomatoes found at the farmer’s market often come in a variety of colors and shapes. I love using fresh cherry tomatoes for bruschetta and in salads. Make sure you are prepared to eat them fresh though.
Mushrooms
Especially with the recent rains, my local Arizona farmers market erupted with mushrooms lately. If mushrooms grow around your area, and mushroom hunting isn’t your thing, the farmer’s market is a great place to introduce yourself to the local varieties of edible mushrooms and explore their flavors. Some delicious farmer’s market varieties to look out for include: Lobster, Chanterelle, and Oyster. Because of their savory umami flavors, mushrooms are often great substitutes for meat, and with Lobster mushrooms (which taste similar to lobster) in season, this vegan mac and cheese is a perfect plant-based comfort meal.
Summer Squash
The beautifully buttery summer squash has endless cooking opportunities, but one of the most delicious ways to use summer squash to tie all your farmer’s market finds together is to make a ratatouille with them. For this, you can use eggplants, zucchini, tomatoes, and more! Another option for enjoying your farmer’s market summer squash is to create noodles out of them by making thin cuts by hand or with a tool for the healthiest and most delicious pasta.
Blackberries
Fresh local blackberries are to die for and there are so many possibilities for dishes to be made with them! From including them in tarts, ice cream, pancakes, and pound cake to creating delicious cocktails with them, blackberries really do scream “late summer” in my opinion. This recipe for this five-ingredient blackberry cobbler and this blackberry thyme cocktail are definitely worth trying!
Do you like to go to the Arizona farmers market or another farmers market? Share your favorite finds and recipes in the comment section down below!