Seasonal Fruit and Vegetable Chart for South Africa

It’s something we’re told all the time, to eat with the seasons. But why exactly should we eat seasonally? Well, there are numerous reasons. Firstly, abundance – in-season produce costs much less, as it’s more readily available and doesn’t have to be flown from halfway across the world. Secondly, it tastes better. It’s been ripened (hopefully) naturally by the weather conditions it’s most suited to and hasn’t been refrigerated for extended periods of time. Lastly, it offers you variety – different vegetables are available throughout the year. Use this Seasonal Fruit and Vegetable Chart for South Africa as a guideline and find inspiration in cooking with something new each season.

Seasonal Fruit and Vegetable Chart for South Africa Autumn Vegetables (MARCH, APRIL, MAY)
VEGETABLES	CLICK BELOW FOR RECIPE INSPIRATION
aubergine	Parmigiana di Melanzane
beetroot	Summer Beetroot Salad with a Herby Pesto
broccoli	Broccoli & Bacon Orecchiette
Brussels sprouts	Roasted Brussels Sprout & Pumpkin Salad with Apple and Mint Yoghurt Drizzle
cabbage	Cabbage Pakora with Mint Chutney
cauliflower	Pork Steaks on Cauliflower Mash
celery	Tomato, Sausage and Bean Stew
chives	Bacon, Cheese & Chive Cornbread
courgette	Lemony Courgette and Chilli Spaghetti
endive	Toast with Four Fabulous Toppings
green beans	Samp & Beans, Lamb Cutlets, & Green Bean Chakalaka
horseradish	Vetkoek Steak Sliders with Horseradish Mayo
kale	Penne Pasta with Kale Pesto
leeks	Leek and Goat’s Cheese Hand Pies
mielies	Bacon & Corn Chowder
mushrooms	Country Rustic Dijon Chicken
peas	Fresh Pea & Mint Soup with Garlic Bruschetta
parsnips	Sticky Parsnips
spinach	Spinach, Lamb & Feta Gözleme
sweet peppers	Marinated Peppers
turnips	Crispy Pork Belly with Creamy Turnip Purée

Seasonal Fruit and Vegetable Chart for South Africa Autumn Fruit (MARCH, APRIL, MAY)
FRUIT	CLICK BELOW FOR RECIPE INSPIRATION
apples	Tomapork Chops in Cider Sauce with Pink Lady Apples
avocado	Avocado Linguine with Parmesan Pangrattato
bananas	Marbled Choc Avocado Banana Bread
figs	Fig and Caramel Cake
grapes
gooseberries	Gooseberry, Mint and Vanilla Ice Cream
guavas	Guava and Quince Crumble
lemons	French Toast with LemonGold Labneh & Bacon Crumble
mangoes	Mango Popsicles with Vanilla Frozen Yoghurt
oranges	Mini Orange and Almond Bundt Cakes with Orange Syrup
pawpaw	Chapati with Vegan Nuggets & Pawpaw Salsa
peaches	Sweet Vanilla Risotto with Poached Peaches & Chocolate
pears	Poached Pears with Butterscotch Sauce & Nut Praline
plums	Plum & Vanilla Tarte Tatin
pomegranates	Grilled Lamb Fillet With Baba Ghanoush, Chickpeas and Pomegranate
quince	Guava and Quince Crumble
spanspek	Strawberry, Melon and Parma Ham Salad
tomatoes	Fresh Tomato Marinara Sauce Pasta
watermelon	Watermelon Crowd-Pleaser Cocktail

Seasonal Fruit and Vegetable Chart for South Africa Winter Vegetables (JUNE, JULY, AUGUST)
VEGETABLE	CLICK BELOW FOR RECIPE INSPIRATION
asparagus	Asparagus and Poached Egg with Béarnaise Sauce
artichoke	Jerusalem Artichoke and Sea Asparagus Tortellini
beetroot	Gluten-Free Chocolate and Beetroot Cake
broad beans
broccoli	Beef and Broccoli Stroganoff
Brussels sprouts	Smoked Pork Rashers with Creamed Leeks & Brussels Sprouts
cabbage	Schnitzel Sub with Braised Cabbage
cauliflower	Grilled Cauliflower and Brussels Sprout Salad with Crushed Nuts
celery	Tomato, Sausage and Bean Stew
celeriac	Celeriac ‘Annas’
endive	Toast with Four Fabulous Toppings
garlic	Ribeye with Black Garlic & Truffle
horseradish	Prime Rib Roast with Smashed Potatoes & Horseradish Cream
kohlrabi	Perlemoen, Kohlrabi and Sea Lettuce
leeks	Smoked Pork Rashers with Creamed Leeks & Brussels Sprouts
mushrooms	Marinated Wild Mushroom Pasta with Walnut Crumble
parsnips	Sticky Parsnips
peppers	Roasted Red Peppers Purée Tagliollini with Fresh Ricotta
rhubarb
Swiss chard	Steamed Hake with Swiss Chard
spinach	Spinach & Ricotta Patties
spring onions	Naan Chicken & Veg Pizzas with a Peanut & Hoisin Sauce
turnips	Crispy Pork Belly with Creamy Turnip Purée

Seasonal Fruit and Vegetable Chart for South Africa Winter Fruit (JUNE, JULY, AUGUST)
FRUIT	CLICK BELOW FOR RECIPE INSPIRATION
apples	Apple Crumble
avocados	Tacos with Chilli Salsa and Guacamole
bananas	Marbled Choc Avocado Banana Bread
gooseberries	Gooseberry, Mint and Vanilla Ice Cream
guavas	Guava and Quince Crumble
granadillas	Granadilla Éclairs with White Chocolate Topping
grapefruit	Mini Polenta Cakes with Pink Grapefruit Drizzle
kiwi (limited)	Healthy Kiwi Cooler Juice
kumquats
lemons	South Indian Lemon Rice
limes	Lime Quinoa Salad with Chimichurri
loquats
naartjies	Naartjie, Thyme and Marigold Cake with Walnut Praline
oranges	Roast Beetroot and Orange Salad with Goat’s Cheese
pawpaw	Chapati with Vegan Nuggets & Pawpaw Salsa
tomatoes	Fresh Tomato Marinara Sauce Pasta

Seasonal Fruit and Vegetable Chart for South Africa Spring Vegetables (SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER, NOVEMBER)
VEGETABLES	CLICK BELOW FOR RECIPE INSPIRATION
asparagus	Asparagus, Pea and Goat’s Cheese Tart
artichoke	Artichoke & Feta Crème with Flatbreads
baby marrow	Tex-Mex Baby Marrow Chilli
beetroot	Beetroot Ravioli with Brown Butter & Poppy Seeds
broad beans
broccoli	Shaved Lemon Broccoli & Wild Rocket Salad with Jammy Eggs
cabbage	Schnitzel Sub with Braised Cabbage
cauliflower	Pappardelle with Cauliflower Purée and Peas
celery	Tomato, Sausage and Bean Stew
courgettes	Courgette Cake with Lemon Mascarpone Icing
cucumber	Tomato, Cucumber and Avocado Gazpacho
garlic	Garlic & Sage Wild Mushrooms on Toast
green beans	Smoked Salmon Terrine with Sesame Green Beans
leeks	Macaroni and Cheese with Caramelised Leeks
mushrooms	Tagliatelle with Mushrooms, Bacon & Basil Pesto
mielies	Corn Riblets with Smoky Mayo
parsley	Grilled Oysters with Parsley & Caperberries
parsnips	Confit Parsnip Gratin
peas	Pan-fried Salmon on Pea & Lemon Risotto
rhubarb
spinach	Beetroot & Baby Spinach Salad with Panko Crumbed Brie
Swiss chard	Steamed Hake with Swiss Chard and Hollandaise Sauce
spring onion	Yellowtail Ceviche with Lime Palm Sugar Dressing
turnips	Crispy Pork Belly with Creamy Turnip Purée
waterblommetjies	Waterblommetjie and Pork Knuckle Soup

Seasonal Fruit and Vegetable Chart for South Africa Spring Fruit (SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER, NOVEMBER)
FRUIT	CLICK BELOW FOR RECIPE INSPIRATION
avocados	Avocado Creme Potato Salad with Crispy Bacon & Fried Onions
apricots*	Nut, Apricot & Mixed Seed Loaf
blackberries*	Vanilla Crème Brûlée with a Blackberry Compote
bananas	French Toast with Caramelised Bananas
Cape gooseberry	Gooseberry, Mint and Vanilla Ice Cream
cherries*	Cherry Chutney \| Cherry Crumble Bars
grapefruit	Pineapple and Grapefruit Mojito
guava	Guava and Quince Crumble
kumquats
kiwi	Healthy Kiwi Cooler Juice
lemons	Lemon Curd Crème Brûlée
limes	Yoghurt & Lime Tart
melons	Strawberry, Melon and Parma Ham Salad
mulberries
naartjies	Naartjie, Thyme and Marigold Cake with Walnut Praline
oranges	Orange & Chilli Glazed Chicken on Egg Noodles
pawpaw	Chapati with Vegan Nuggets with Pawpaw Salsa
peaches	Roast Duck with Poached Peaches
plums*	Baked Plums with Spiced Ginger Biscuit Crumble
raspberries*	Raspberry Cheesecake Brownies
rhubarb
spanspek*	Strawberry, Melon and Parma Ham Salad
strawberries	Strawberry and Cream Cheese Fold-Over Pies \| Strawberry Ice Cream Sandwiches
tomatoes	Olive Oil-poached Tomatoes with Moroccan Chicken, Bulgar Wheat & Mozzarella
watermelons*	Charred Watermelon & Bocconcini Salad with Honey Mustard Dressing

*come into season in November

Seasonal Fruit and Vegetable Chart for South Africa Summer Vegetables (DECEMBER, JANUARY, FEBRUARY)
VEGETABLES	CLICK BELOW FOR RECIPES INSPIRATION
asparagus	Chargrilled Asparagus in Lemon Caper and Pistachio Butter
artichokes	Artichoke and Lemon Mayo with Chicken Dippers
aubergine	Miso-glazed Aubergines with Vegan Miso Mayo
beetroot	Beetroot Ravioli with Brown Butter
butternut	Butternut Cakes with Crispy Bacon
cabbage	Stir Fried Veggie & Chicken Cabbage Parcels
celery	Tomato, Sausage and Bean Stew
chillies	Chuck-Chilli Potjie
chives	Zesty Tuna Fishcakes with Chives & Dill
courgettes	Courgette Cupcakes with Avocado Cream Cheese Icing
endive	Toast with Four Fabulous Toppings
garlic	Roasted Garlic with Basil & Thyme
green beans	Grilled Trout on a Medley of Lemony Greens
kohlrabi	Perlemoen, Kohlrabi and Sea Lettuce
mange tout	Chicken and Cashew Nut Stir Fry
mielies	Lime, Corn & Soy Chicken with Asian Slaw \| Mexican-style Grilled Corn
mushrooms	Beef & Mushroom Stout Stew with Colcannon
raddichio	Radicchio, Red Peppers, Snoek Bottarga
rhubarb
spinach	Spinach & Cheese Roulade
spring onion	Fish with Ginger, Lemon Grass and Spring Onion en Papillote
sweet peppers	Stuffed Peppers
Swiss chard	Steamed Hake with Swiss Chard
turnips

Seasonal Fruit and Vegetable Chart for South Africa Summer Fruit (DECEMBER, JANUARY, FEBRUARY)
FRUITS	CLICK BELOW FOR RECIPES INSPIRATION
apricots	Frozen Apricot Parfait
apples	Apple Compote Profiteroles with Whipped Cream & Caramel Sauce
bananas	Banana & Pecan Cake with Salted Caramel
blackberries	Dark Chocolate, Blackberries and Rhubarb
blueberries	Polenta, Blueberry and Coconut Muffins
strawberries	Strawberry and Cream Pots
cherries	(1 to 2 weeks only) Flatbread with Brie, Prosciutto & Cherries
elderberries
figs	Grilled Asparagus, Fig & Goat Cheese Salad with Citrus Vinaigrette
grapes
granadillas	Salmon with Fresh Granadilla
guavas	Guava and Quince Crumble
kiwi	Healthy Kiwi Cooler Juice
lemons	LemonGold Cups
litchis
mangoes	Frozen Mango Souffles with Coconut Cream Sauce
melons	Strawberry, Melon and Parma Ham Salad
nectarines	Nectarine & Proscuitto Sticks
pawpaw	Chapati with Vegan Nuggets & Pawpaw Salsa
peaches	Peach and Frangipane Tart with Chantilly Cream
pears	Pear & Gorgonzola Stuffed Pork Loin
plums	Plum & Vanilla Tarte Tatin
pomegranates	Pepper and Pomegranate Salad
prickly pears	Roast Leg of Lamb with Prickly Pear Basting
quince	Guava and Quince Crumble
spanspek	Strawberry, Melon and Parma Ham Salad with Risoni Pasta
tomatoes	Tomato & Black Bean Salsa with Corn Chips
watermelon	Watermelon Salad

Seasonal Fruit and Vegetable Chart for South Africa THROUGHOUT THE YEAR – Vegetables
VEGETABLES	CLICK BELOW FOR RECIPE INSPIRATION
butternut	Roasted Butternut with Salsa Verde
carrots	Harissa Glazed Carrots
cucumber	Spinach and Snoek Pâté with Cucumber
gem squash	Curried Gem Squash Soup
lemons	Lemon Cake \| Lemon Buttered Chicken \| Lemon Recipes
lettuce	Preserved Purple Fig, Gorgonzola and Candied Walnut Salad
onion	Tomato and Onion Tarte Tatin
potato	Crispy Potjie Potatoes with Herby Horseradish Cream \| Potato Recipes
pumpkin	Country Pumpkin Pie
radish	Beetroot Cured Salmon with Radish & Red Onion
sweet potato	Vegan Maple-roasted Hasselback Sweet Potatoes & Butternut

Seasonal Fruit and Vegetable Chart for South Africa FRUIT IN SEASON THROUGHOUT THE YEAR – Fruit
FRUITS	CLICK BELOW FOR RECIPE INSPIRATION
bananas	Banana and Peanut Butter Smoothie
pineapple	Braaied Durbs Pineapple Skewers with Yoghurt & Lime Drizzle