Our complete guide to cooking with the seasons
From January to December, here are our top seasonal recipes to try.
Welcome to our complete guide of cooking with the seasons. We've compiled all our favourite recipes by month into this gallery so you'll have all the inspiration you need to ensure you're cooking and using the best produce available in it's peak seasonal range.
Whenever you can, buy fruit and vegetables that have been grown during their natural growing season – namely, when conditions are right for them to be grown outdoors.
Fresh produce that’s been grown in the field is likely to have a lower carbon footprint than produce grown out of season in a heated greenhouse. And if it’s grown in season locally to you, so much the better.
Outside the natural UK growing season for certain fruits or vegetables, buying produce from abroad isn’t necessarily an unsustainable option.
An apple that’s been grown outdoors during its natural growing season overseas and shipped to the UK, for example, might be responsible for fewer greenhouse gas emissions than an apple grown in season in the UK and then chilled in refrigerated storage for months to enjoy out of season.
To keep the greenhouse gas emissions of your food to a minimum, though, you should avoid produce grown in far-flung locations that spoils quickly (think berries and cherries, green beans and asparagus), which will usually have been transported by air to the UK.
With this in mind, some of our favourite recipes we think you'll love include our red onion tarte tatin, asparagus orzotto with a watercress pesto drizzle on top, our three ingredient apple tarts and our delectable rhubarb and custard eclairs - just to name a few! We've also shared some of our top tips for ensuring your produce lasts longer too.
What to cook in January
From an apple and pork casserole, to a white cabbage okonomiyaki traybake, January has plenty of in-season produce to look forward to.
For recipe inspo check out our January recipes.
What to cook in February
February is the perfect month for hearty, warming recipes like our Jerusalem artichoke soup, mushroom bourguignon and butternut squash curry - just to name a few.
For recipe inspo check out our February recipes.
What to cook in March
Mark the beginning of spring with our fresh chicory salads, purple-sprouting broccoli omelette, and the first of rhubarb season appears too!
For recipe inspo check out our March recipes.
What to cook in April
April brings with it the wonderful asparagus season, plus a bounty of other veg. Our favourite recipes include asparagus orzotto with a watercress pesto, new potatoes with a herb dressing and rhubarb frangipane tart.
For recipe inspo check out our April recipes.
What to cook in May
From asparagus to aubergine, May brings not only warmer weather but lots more seasonal produce. Try our spinach, ricotta and spelt gnocchi, or our rhubarb crumble ice cream.
For recipe inspo check out our May recipes.
What to cook in June
June includes globe artichoke season, courgettes, elderflowers and berries are aplenty. Our favourites include our courgette, carrot and cumin fritters and our cherry bakewell tart.
For recipe inspo check out our June recipes.
What to cook in July
The peak of summer calls for fresh strawberries and juicy tomatoes. Try our eton mess ice lollies, or our roasted tomato and burrata salad.
For recipe inspo check out our July recipes.
What to cook in August
Sweetcorn and strawberries are the heroes this month. We love our strawberry and limoncello cheesecake pots and our smoky corn, bacon and avocado salad.
For recipe inspo check out our August recipes.
What to cook in September
August turns our attention to a harvest brimming with crisp apples, figs, pears and plums – while cauliflower, cabbage, kale, runner beans and brussels sprouts grow in our beds.
For recipe inspo check out our September recipes.
What to cook in October
Pumpkin season has arrived! Our favourite recipes to cook in October include our polenta with garlicky wild mushrooms, butternut katsu curry and our toffee, pear and walnut loaf - yum!
For recipe inspo check out our October recipes.
What to cook in November
Sprouts, squash and chestnuts are in full abundance in November. Try making our Italian sausage and squash risotto, pumpkin scones and sage and chestnut soup.
For recipe inspo check out our November recipes.
What to cook in December
Showcase the best of winter with these warming, hearty recipes. Some of our favourites include the beetroot and pearl barley risotto, brussels sprouts and ham spaghetti and chestnut and chocolate torte.
For recipe inspo check out our December recipes.
Mel is the Senior Food & Drink Writer for Good Housekeeping UK, covering all the delicious new product launches that come her way, writing about food and drink topics, and curating gift guides for the best foodie products to buy. Alongside that, she can be found developing and creating cocktails for GH and holds her WSET Level 2 in Wine and Spirits. She was part of the Good Housekeeping Institute food testing team for over four years before moving over to the digital side, so knows a thing or two about great food products. You'll find her scouring the supermarket shelves in her spare time for new and exciting ingredients to experiment with in her kitchen.
Seasonal recipes for January
15 Best Autumn Baking Recipes
Seasonal recipes for August
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