Cooking with autumn produce is the perfect way to enjoy the flavours of the season, with lots of tasty fruits and vegetables in-season during this time. From apples and pears to pumpkins and squashes, there's something for everyone.
Here are five of our favourite recipes to help you take advantage of the bounty of flavours. Plus, they're all very easy to follow and will make your home smell delicious!
1. Pumpkin & Ricotta Filo Log
As pumpkins start to come into season, this is the perfect recipe to make! Naturally sweet, pumpkin is a favourite of many. It’s such a versatile veg and is able to be transformed with various herbs and spices for both savoury and sweet dishes!
Linked with protecting eyesight as well as supporting your immunity, pumpkin has many nutritional benefits and is rich in beta-carotene and Vitamin C. There are tons of ways to enjoy pumpkin within your diet. This recipe only takes 30 min to cook and can be served hot or cold!
Any leftover pumpkin can be roasted and tossed into salads or made into puree and used in baking dishes. If you’re not quite ready to eat more pumpkin throughout the week, you can freeze the puree and it will keep for months!
2. Gluten Free Carrot Cake
This cake is full of nutrients and is the perfect healthy treat (plus, it’s gluten-free). You don’t need any other excuse to enjoy this delicious carrot cake for Easter!
Carrots are full of beta-carotene (Vitamin A), which is commonly linked with healthy vision. This recipe is packed with carrots and spices for a homely, warming treat,
3. Roasted Vegetable and Kale Lasagne
Have some extra produce that you’re unsure what to do with? Mix it up and try something new, like making a roasted vegetable and kale lasagne!
Rich in antioxidants and numerous vitamins and minerals, Kale has been widely renowned as a ‘superfood’. It is part of the family of cruciferous vegetables, which support our liver’s detoxification process to remove unwanted toxins from our body.
If you find raw kale tastes bitter, steaming or sautéing for a short period of time will activate its flavors and help neutralise the bitterness. You can use any veg in this recipe, making it a useful recipe for avoiding waste. Plus, any remaining veg can be sautéed with oil and garlic to use in salads or with scrambled eggs for a nutritious breakfast.
4. Rainbow Chard and Feta Filo Pie
If you’re looking to add more nutrients into your diet, check out rainbow chard. This veg is rich in vitamins K and A, as well as a healthy source of potassium and fibre. It’s a must have!
This recipe is easily customisable and can be modified for vegan or vegetarian diets. The combination of almond and flaxseed meal is not only an irresistible flavour, but puts more fibre into your diet!
This pie makes an easy meal later in the week and a good leftover option because it can be served warm or cold.
5. Orange and Poppy Seed Cake with Orange Glaze
Everyone knows oranges are rich in Vitamin C, but did you know they are full of many other nutrients too? Rich in antioxidants, blood oranges contain high levels of anthocyanins that can help reduce disease risk. They also contain potassium, fibre, and calcium.
Oranges make a perfect addition to baking with their delightful mix of sweet and tart flavours. This recipe serves up to 12 people and can be easily modified with vegan alternatives.
