August seasonal food
Plums
August is usually the time of maximum harvesting with everything ripening in the late summer sunshine.
Vegetables
Enjoy legumes, brassicas, onions and early root vegetables.
Cucumbers: grown all year round in hothouses, but when grown under glass they can end up quite tasteless. It's better to get cucumbers which are locally produced and grown outdoors. As cucumbers are a heat-loving species the best British ones will be available now.
Artichokes: not grown extensively in this country, so if you can't find any UK-grown examples go for French imports. The simplest way to cook artichokes is to boil them in salted water with a good squeeze of lemon until the lower leaves pull off easily. Drain and eat with vinaigrette or melted butter.
Fennel: the strong aniseed flavour does not appeal to all. When eaten raw, it is crisp and flavoursome but it can be cooked for a more mellow flavour. Go for smaller bulbs as they are more tender and the feathery green tops can be used as a garnish.
Fruit
Plums: the first English plums are available. As they are rich in pectin, they make beautiful jam.
Berries: if you haven’t already been fruit picking, you should do it this weekend. Freshly picked berries are far superior in appearance and taste to what is available in the supermarkets as it hasn’t travelled for miles and been picked before reaching ripeness.
Apricots: the British apricot season is also in full swing.
Meat
Game: August sees the start of the Grouse season. There is more meat on grouse than other game birds, which makes them a popular choice. Grouse makes a great late summer/ early autumn dish because they naturally complement earthy root vegetables.
