Fall: Recipes in Season

Fall farmers market
Image © iStockphoto

Fall is a time of transition from the best of summertime produce to a harbinger of winter selections. Strongly seasonal fruits like pomegranates and persimmons again become available after a long absence. Winter squashes show their widest variety. And the apples of Washington and New York make for fresh cider drinking all over the chilling countryside.

By the time fall rolls around in late September, the summer harvest has largely exhausted itself. Never fear! Fall produce is here! Shortening days and cooler nights bring with them a riot of food flavors. Root vegetables and winter squash dazzle us with their variety and sweet flavors. Broccoli, cauliflower and leafy greens benefit from a hard frost. Chanterelle and porcini mushrooms poke up from a carpet of fallen leaves. And apples, pears, melons, persimmons and pomegranates form the perfect finish to an autumn meal.

Here is a list of items that are abundant, fresh and seasonal when autumn rolls around.

September Ingredients

Vegetables

Beets | Beet Greens | Cauliflower | Corn | Eggplant | Porcini Mushrooms | Summer Squash | Tomatoes | Winter Squash

Fruits

Figs | Grapes | Melons | Peaches | Pears | Plums

September Fish and Seafood

Oysters

October Ingredients

Vegetables

Beets | Beet Greens | Cauliflower | Collard Greens | Chanterelle Mushrooms | Lettuces | Parsnips | Summer Squash | Winter Squash

Fruits

Apples | Coconuts | Grapes | Melons | Peaches | Pears | Persimmons | Pomegranates | Tangerines

Fish and Seafood

Oysters

November Ingredients

Vegetables

Artichokes | Beets | Cabbage | Cauliflower | Celery | Celery Root | Collard Greens | Chanterelle Mushrooms | Parsnips | Rutabagas | Winter Squash | Turnips

Fruits

Apples | Coconuts | Dates | Grapefruit | Grapes | Persimmons | Pomegranates | Tangerines

Fish and Seafood

Clams (U.S. West Coast) | Dungeness Crab | Oysters

International Recipes for Fall

Try these autumn recipes.

Porotos Granados 
(Chilean pumpkin and cranberry bean stew)

Ajvar 
(Serbian roasted eggplant and pepper spread)

Rob-e Anar 
(Persian pomegranate molasses)

Gołąbki 
(Polish, stuffed cabbage rolls)

Classic Bread Stuffing 
(American seasoned bread side dish)

Kugelis 
(Lithuanian savory potato pudding)

Hausgemachtes Sauerkraut 
(German, Austrian, Swiss homemade fermented cabbage)

Brasato al Chianti 
(Italian beef braised in red wine)

Roast Turkey with Pan Gravy 
(American holiday turkey)

Poires au Vin Rouge 
(French pears poached in red wine)

Shepherd’s Pie 
(English-Irish meat pie with mashed potato topping)

Gratin de Potiron 
(French winter squash casserole)

Pan de Muerto 
(Mexican anise-scented bread for the Day of the Dead)

Sancocho 
(Latin root vegetable stew)

Khoresht-e Aloo 
(Persian lamb stewed with prunes)

Blitzkuchen mit Obst 
(German quick and easy coffeecake with fruit)

Apfelstrudel 
(Austrian apple strudel pastry)

Empanadas 
(Latin savory stuffed pastries)

Töltött Káposzta 
(Hungarian stuffed cabbage rolls over sauerkraut)

Fesenjan 
(Persian chicken in pomegranate-walnut sauce)

Lekach 
(Israeli Jewish honey cake)

Gajar ka Halwa 
(Indian, Pakistani sweet carrot pudding)

Lanttulaatikko 
(Finnish mashed rutabaga casserole)

Pavo Salvadoreño 
(Salvadoran roast turkey with sauce)

Challah 
(Israeli Jewish braided Sabbath bread)

Torta di Noci 
(Italian walnut cake)

Kotmis Satsivi 
(Georgian chicken with walnut sauce)

Glazed Pumpkin Spice Cookies 
(American cinnamon-scented baked treat)

Ghapama 
(Armenian rice-stuffed and baked whole pumpkin)

Baechu Kimchi 
(Korean spicy fermented cabbage pickle)

Torta Rustica di Mele 
(Italian rustic apple cake)

Chicken Pot Pie 
(American savory chicken stew in pastry)

Minestra de Ceci 
(Italian chickpea and pasta soup)

Torta di Mele 
(Italian apple torte)

Carbonade Flamande, or Vlaamse Stoverij 
(Belgian beef and beer stew)

Ash-e Jow 
(Persian barley bean soup)

Locro 
(Ecuadoran, Peruvian potato-cheese soup)

Apfelmus 
(German applesauce)

Roasted Pumpkin Seeds 
(American Halloween snack)

Tarte Tatin 
(French caramelized apple tart)

Atole 
(Mexican warm cornmeal beverage)

Hasenpfeffer 
(German stewed rabbit)

Dušené Zelí 
(Czech braised cabbage)

Torshi 
(Iranian, Afghan pickled vegetables)

Sweet Potato Pie 
(American, Southern-Soul sweet potato open-faced tart)

Whats4eats is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.