1. Turnip
A root vegetable that might bring up grim childhood memories of over-boiling and over-steaming, the turnip actually has a delightfully mellow, peppery flavour when cooked well. Try our root vegetable and rosemary gratin or this shepherd’s pie with turnip mash topping for a comforting winter meal that brings out the best in this veggie. If you find the bitter flavour of regular turnips too strong, try some of our baby turnip recipes instead. The smaller, glossy globes are much sweeter, and add a lively taste when roasted and added to this baby root vegetable salad, or combined with a creamy blue cheese topping on this vegetable tart.
2. Fennel
Dried fennel seeds may be a more common ingredient in your kitchen, but fennel bulbs and fronds provide the same intriguing aniseed taste, as well as adding a delightful crunch and freshness to salads. Whip up this fennel slaw to give our crispy fish sliders a health kick, or try this refreshing fennel and apple slaw with fennel-rubbed pork for a match made in heaven. The bulbous vegetable also lends its liquorice flavour well to this velvety salmon-topped soup, and our melt-in-your-mouth chicken and mushroom pies, which are both perfect for a chilly winter evening.
3. Orange
The sweetest citrus fruit of the bunch, oranges are just as gorgeous in baking, desserts and salads as they are to peel and eat with sticky, juice-stained fingers. Bake the juice and zest into this moreish loaf, where the combination of orange and chocolate really shows its strength, or create a heavenly citrus-spiked dessert with our orange and lime delicious pudding recipe. You could also bring a refreshing twist to savoury dishes by adding segments of orange, such as in this zingy haloumi, kale and apple salad. Preserve their goodness for months to come by making a batch of this magical marmalade, where the orange brings sweetness amongst lemon, lime and grapefruit.
4. Shallots
Bringing all the incredible goodness of the onion but in a smaller, sweeter and milder package, the shallot gives dishes a delicate flavour kick with a lovely hint of garlic. It’s perfect for recipes such as this cheese and herb fondue, which would be overpowered by brown onions, or our slow-cooked beef rib bourguignon, which uses shallots to reach its delicious potential. Discover shallots at their delicious best in this chicken drumsticks recipe, where they are glazed and roasted to create small morsels of creamy, caramelised heaven.
5. Brussels sprouts
Another vegetable notorious for causing many a childhood nightmare, Brussels sprouts are divine when they’re not boiled to death. Discover their true deliciousness by roasting them in our maple and miso glaze or drizzling with tahini dressing in this roasted cauliflower dish. You could also try this winning combination of balsamic-glazed beetroot and Brussels sprout for another scrumptious side dish. If you’re still not convinced, these ham and Brussels sprout croquettes will have you enjoying the nutty, earthy flavour of these healthy greens.
6. Rhubarb
While rather acidic on its own, add some sugar and the rhubarb takes on a gorgeous tart sweetness, making it an excellent choice for cakes, desserts and chutneys. Our rhubarb-berry crumbles balance the fruit’s tang with sweet and silky ricotta cream, or try it roasted and served over waffles with yoghurt, maple syrup and candied walnuts. You could also opt for a savoury alternative by pairing our spiced rhubarb relish with succulent roast pork shoulder. But as far as looks go, our rhubarb galette takes the cake with its beautiful arrangement of vibrantly pink rhubarb atop the pastry.
7. Kohlrabi
Kohlrabi is a vegetable that you might not usually find in your fridge crisper drawer, but July is a great time to give it a go while in the peak of its season. Similar to the radish, kohlrabi has a mildly spicy flavour that adds a great crunch to salads, perfect when paired with fish or beef. If you are hesitant to try the unfamiliar veggie for the first time or want to get the kids on board, these kohlrabi fritters with yoghurt dipping sauce are a great way to test the waters!
8. Lemon
Packing a punch in zingy flavour, a squeeze or grating of lemon is an easy way to add wow-factor to any dish. Get the best of the brightness in this Louise slice with lemon curd and coconut, which puts a citrusy twist on the Kiwi classic, or try these gin-spiked lemon custard squares, which look gorgeous when topped with a dried lemon slice. If you’re looking for a show-stopping dessert, this baked lemon and ricotta cheesecake with marmalade syrup is perfect for a special occasion. Plus, experience how well lemons work in savoury dishes with this oh-so-easy but seriously impressive wine-braised chicken thighs dish.
