Your June Store Cupboard

June is a great time to cook and eat some great seasonal fruit and veggies. The sun comes out (okay, sometimes the sun comes out) giving you the perfect excuse to kick yourself out of the kitchen and explore your garden, local farm shop or independent greengrocer. Trying something new doesn’t have to be fancy, expensive or pretentious- sometimes the best discoveries are the ones we’ve been living with right under our noses.

The Garden Pea is one of the many greens that are at their best in June, but for a lot of people peas are eaten mushy and that’s it. Peas are, however, a really versatile ingredient and make a great alternative to your standard lettuce in a salad. Here at Kitchen Table Project HQ, we can’t wait to try this recipe with our roast chicken for a summery take on a Sunday Roast.

Another great green to try in June is the Broad Bean. Like the pea, this tasty little legume makes a great starring role in lots of dishes, and is super easy to grow if you do fancy embracing your inner Alan Titchmarsh.  We think that this broad bean and chorizo risotto would be just the thing for a satisfying friday night sups.

June is also a great time to be eating Courgettes, another green that has been getting a fair bit of attention recently for its fantastic health benefits. It may be super healthy, but we can’t resist a brunch plate piled high with these amazing Courgette fritters. These little beauties are just calling out for fresh coffee, salsa and sunshine- the perfect weekend treat! And if you’re feeling extra indulgent, finish off with a slice of this Courgette Loaf Bake- sounds weird we know, but the courgettes make the mixture super moist, plus it's super easy to make. Trust us, you won’t be able to pass on a slice!

Asparagus is another green that is great when picked and eaten in June. For us, there is no better way to enjoy it then grilled in a bit of butter and then used as a replacement (or an addition!) to your egg and soldiers.

Fruitwise, it can’t be denied that June is the month of the Strawberry. Without it, Pimms wouldn’t be the same, scones would feel naked, and the spectators at Wimbledon would be sure to have a bit of a breakdown. Strawberries are delicious on their own as a summery snack, but there are tonnes of delicious recipes around for you to try. This Strawberry Pavlova looks far too tempting to resist!

Another great but underrated June fruit is the Gooseberry. Gooseberries can be quite hard to find in the supermarkets, so it’s best to look for them in your local greengrocer or independent market. If you do manage to get hold of them, we recommend having a go at this yummy Gooseberry Custard tart. A bit more technical than your standard pavlova, but we guarantee it will be worth the effort!

What have you been eating this month? Tweet us @KitchTablePro with the hashtag #EatFresh