Spring Recipes Using Seasonal Fruit and Vegetables

Spring officially begins with the equinox on 22 September, and I’ve been waiting for it. Autumn is my favourite season, but spring comes a close second. I love the anticipation of it. Warmer days, longer light, the garden and the mountain springing back into colour. There’s something in the air I can never quite put my finger on.

I loved putting together my autumn harvest round-up so much that I wanted to do the same for this season. So here is everything I cook when the first asparagus and broad beans appear, when the strawberries are at their peak, and while the last of the winter citrus is still worth buying.

Below is what’s in season here in the Southern Hemisphere right now, followed by my recipes for cooking with it. Most of this produce is at its cheapest and best over the next few weeks, so buy it while you can.

What’s in Season in Spring in South Africa

These are Cape timings. Dates shift by a few weeks in Gauteng and further north, so use this as a guide, not a rule.

Fruit

Strawberries (peak picking season in the Cape)
Blueberries (early local season)
Cape gooseberries
Mulberries
Loquats
Granadilla
Guavas
Youngberries and early raspberries
Valencia oranges
Lemons and limes
Grapefruit
Late mandarins and easy peelers
Avocados
Pineapples (Eastern Cape)
Pawpaw and papaya
Bananas
Sweet melon and watermelon (from late spring)
The first stone fruit: apricots, peaches, nectarines and plums (from late October)
Early Limpopo mangoes (from November)

Fruit on its way out

Naartjies
Navel oranges
Kiwifruit (local, final stock)
Apples and pears (stored autumn harvest, still good but no longer fresh-picked)

Vegetables

Asparagus, green and white
Globe artichokes
Broad beans
Garden peas, sugar snaps and mangetout
Pea shoots and pea tendrils
New potatoes
Baby carrots
Baby beetroot
Baby turnips
Radishes
Spring onions
Green garlic and new-season garlic
Fennel
Rhubarb
Spinach and Swiss chard
Kale
Rocket, watercress and sorrel
Lettuces and salad leaves
Celery
Cauliflower and cabbage
Green beans
Cucumbers
Tomatoes (as the early local crop comes in)
Baby marrows and courgette flowers (from late spring)
Mielies/corn (from late spring)

Vegetables on their way out

Leeks
Waterblommetjies (a Cape speciality, and the last of them)

Herbs, flowers and foraging

Chives and chive flowers
Dill, parsley, coriander, chervil and mint
Tarragon
The first basil
Wild garlic flowers
Nasturtium leaves and flowers
Rocket and rosemary flowers
Borage flowers
Lemon verbena, first flush
Fennel fronds
Elderflower (late October in cooler areas)

Spring Fruit Recipes

No-bake berry cheesecake with almond crumble

Apple and strawberry crumble

Roasted strawberries with Pimms, balsamic and ginger

Blueberry and lemon scones

Fluffy blueberry & banana pancakes

Dutch baby pancake with blueberries & lemon

Blueberry & banana smoothie

A recipe for two healthy blueberry & banana protein smoothies

Easy blueberry & frangipane galette

Granadilla curd & lemon curd

This is the best thing to make if you have a glut of granadillas (passion fruit).

Granadilla curd loaf cake

The best granadilla sorbet & popsicles

My best lemon meringue pie

A pile of Italian meringue on a lemon pie

Guavas poached in chamomile syrup with vanilla & cinnamon

Guavas poached in a chamomile syrup with vanilla & cinnamon recipe

Grapefruit brûlée with black pepper

Gin & tonic with pink grapefruit

Pink grapefruit & Campari sorbet

Spring Vegetable Recipes

Asparagus with anchovy butter & Parmesan

Asparagus, blue cheese & Parmesan quiche

Saved asparagus & pea frittata with mint & Parma ham

shaved asparagus and pea frittata with mint and parma ham

Creamy pasta with artichokes and spinach

Broadbean dip

Piedmontese peppers

Cucumber salad with yoghurt, dill, and mint (tzatziki salad)

Cucumber and Yoghurt Salad with Dill & Mint (Tzatziki Salad)

Greek lamb souvlaki – this pairs so well with the tzatziki salad and a delicious recipe for spring, and cooking outdoors.

Greek lamb souvlaki and easy homemade pita recipe

The viral cucumber salad (I eat this on repeat all year round).

The Viral Cucumber Salad Recipe You’ll Eat Every Week

Jamie Oliver’s best fennel and radish salad

Trout en papillote with fennel

New potato salad with fennel & radish

Whole baked trout with herbs and lemon – there is something about this dish and the new potato salad with fennel, and creme fraiche that makes me think of Spring.