25 foods you should try at least once
Call yourself a foodie? We’ve picked must-try dishes, trendy ingredients and edible oddities that every discerning gourmand should seek out.
Summer is here! For a few months, we can take a break from brassicas and enjoy the more colourful, complex and delicate produce of summer.
You can get strawberries and tomatoes all year round, but it really is worth holding off until now, when they’re truly at their best – juicy and full of flavour. This month’s seasonal list includes courgettes and raspberries, too.
Raspberries
Only around for a fairly short stint, it’s worth freezing or steeping these little summer fruits so you can preserve their flavour for when the season is over. To freeze, lay out on a lined baking tray and open-freeze until solid, then transfer to a freezable container for three to six months. This shrub recipe is one of our favourite non-alcoholic drinks, that’s still special enough for a party.
Use your haul for a bright raspberry sorbet, bake our raspberry & white chocolate scones for afternoon tea or try our raspberry & rosewater sponge cake recipe for a special occasion.
Tip: For raspberry vodka, mix 500g raspberries, 250g white caster sugar, 2 vanilla pods, and 1 litre vodka. Keep in a sterilised 1.5 litre jar for two weeks, shaking occasionally, then strain and bottle. Will keep for up to two years.
For more serving ideas, see our raspberry collection.
Courgettes
Thankfully these are extremely versatile because, as gardeners will know, they produce masses when they grow. As well as these homemade courgette fries, courgettes are great in sweet bakes such as this vegan courgette cake recipe or even cocktails. For an easy vegetarian midweek meal, make our courgette & chickpea pilaf.
For more recipe inspiration, see our courgette collection.
Strawberries
Strawberries have their moment of fame during the two weeks of Wimbledon in June. Make the most of the berries at their peak with our indulgent Eton mess cheesecake recipe, or for a simpler way to treat a sweet tooth, try making this easy strawberry mousse that takes just 15 minutes to prep. If there's an early heatwave, stay cool with our homemade strawberry lemonade.
Watercress
Punchy, peppery watercress gives an instant lift to summer salads, but it can also shine on its own. Try this vibrant watercress risotto topped with goat's cheese & hazelnuts – watercress is blitzed into a pesto to flavour the whole risotto, with more fresh stems piled on top. For a light lunch, make this pea, ham hock & watercress salad, while these lamb meatballs served with couscous get a vibrant watercress dressing for an easy entertaining dish.
Browse recipes for, and information on, other ingredients in season in June:
- Aubergines
- Beetroot
- Broad beans
- Cauliflower
- Cherries
- French beans
- Globe artichokes
- Gooseberries
- Lettuce
- Nettles
- New potatoes
- Peas & sugar snap peas
- Peppers
- Radishes
- Rhubarb
- Samphire
- Spring onions
- Watercress
Seasonal food dates in June:
5 June - Sausage Roll Day
With summer now here it’s time to whip out your picnic blankets along with an array of summer staples like quiches and sandwiches and you can’t forget the mighty sausage roll. Up your picnic game with Diana Henry’s lamb harissa sausage rolls.
8 June - World Gin Day
Try our gin & tonic ice lollies for a refreshing summer treat.
28 June - National Cream Tea Day
Our Pimm's scones are the perfect fit for a summer afternoon tea.
Other food dates for your diary:
16 June - Father's Day
If you're looking for something to whip up for dad, see our Father's Day collection. See our seasonal calendar for more inspiration.
19 June - Martini Day
Make the most of the good weather with a glass of your favourite martini in your hand. A fruity tipple perfect for summer days is our passion fruit martini.
More seasonal recipes and information
What to cook for Father's Day
Next level picnic recipes
Healthy summer dinner recipes
Cherry recipes
Strawberry recipes
What to do with broad beans
Best gin reviews – all our taste tests
