July seasonal update

From seasonal vegetables to game and fruit, read our monthly market report to decide what to put on your menus this July

When is beetroot in season?

Beetroot is a root vegetable that is typically in season in the UK from late spring to early autumn, with peak season falling in the summer months of June through to August when it is at its sweetest.

Watch chef Liam Nichols from Michelin-starred STORE at Stoke Mill create a glazed beetroot with cheese curd, nuts and seeds, and tarragon emulsion. The dish features beetroot that is grown on-site with cheese curd that is sourced from a local farm.

Want more beetroot recipes? Take a look at our great selection in our recipe section 

How to cook Dover sole 

Dover sole - sometimes known as the king of soles - has a crisp white flesh, firm to the touch, and an almost sweet taste.

The long flat fish has a small head, light-brown skin and a creamy underside and is traditionally skinned on the darker side only, leaving the white skin of the underside in place. The skin separates easily from the flesh and the flesh falls easily from the bone.

Watch Adam Byatt cook one of the dishes from the menu at Michelin-starred restaurant Trinity - Dover sole baked in dashi butter, white beetroot, cauliflower and caviar.

Or watch 3 Michelin star chef Clare Smyth create a Dover sole, lovage, shellfish, sea vegetable minestrone recipe.

What is Samphire good for?

Samphire is known to have a distinctive crisp and salty taste and works well with a variety of different foods, in particular pasta and seafood. 

Check out samphire being used by Robin Gill in his recipe for Cornish crab, fried CackleBean egg and coastal vegetables.

What to make with broad beans

Though small broad beans are perfectly acceptable with the skin on, their delicate flavour and texture will sing if you remove it, and while they are delicious whole, they make for a light puree to accompany lamb or beef dishes.

In 2020, Michelin-starred chef John Williams from The Ritz London shared a recipe for soft-boiled Gull eggs, asparagus, broad beans and Pecorino foam.

What is the best use for gooseberries?

This underrated berry is a species of Ribes native to Europe, the Caucasus and northern Africa. The species is also sparingly naturalised in scattered locations in North America.  Often a little tart, it has fallen out of favour in recent years, as consumers favour other, less acidic fruit like raspberries and blackcurrants.

Michelin-starred chef Kenny Atkinson pairs gooseberries with fish in his mackerel, gooseberries, lemon and mustard dish. Check it out here. 

Meanwhile, Paul Carroll uses gooseberries in a savoury dish of air-dried beef, pickled black bread, gooseberries, carrots. Here's his recipe.

Which ingredients do cherries go well with?

The red succulent cherry is a definite yes in July. Eat the sweeter ones as they are or cover them in cream and mix them with other berries, or adorn a cake with them.

Member Johanna Wikstedt has used fresh and candid cherries in her Red velvet cake – take a look at Johanna’s member profile to see what other inspirational images have been shared on The Staff Canteen.

How can I use courgette in a dish?

Fresh, homegrown courgettes are an ideal accompaniment to any summer dish, but this delicately flavoured vegetable is very versatile and can be incorporated into dishes such as soups, risottos, pasta, salads, pizzas, stir-fries as well as into bread and cakes. Alternatively, simply serve it alongside a great piece of fish or meat.

We highly recommend you try Alex Povall's Cornish Pollock served with courgette, fennel, hazelnut ragout and courgette basil purée. Here's the recipe.

Also take a look at Lee’s scotch egg which sits on a bed of pickled vegetables, including courgette by member Lee Ladislav Poustevnik.

Is trout a good eating fish?

Trout is a member of the Salmonidae family, related closely to salmon and char.

Trout is an excellent choice of fish, with a wide variety of health benefits including high omega-3 fatty acid content and low levels of mercury.

Watch one Michelin-starred chef Brad Carter, Chef Patron of Carter's of Moseley, cook his heritage tomato and trout recipes.

These are just few of seasonal recipes and dishes that our members have posted on their TSC accounts. Why not inspire others by sharing your seasonal recipes? 

Don't forget that posting a recipe, photo, or video of your culinary creation can enhance your prospects of being chosen as the Member of the Month. 

Are you using any of these seasonal ingredients in your menus? Upload and share your pics from our Chef+ mobile app!