Pams Prep Kitchen: A Guide to Eating Seasonally in Spring & Summer

Fresher, sweeter and cheaper – seasonal produce is simply all-round goodness. When purchased and consumed around the time of local harvest, fresh fruit and vege is likely to be tastier and more nutritious than your usual imported or out of season ingredients. Less transport and storage time means more time to be naturally ripened by the sun, allowing for premium produce all spring and summer long.

Eating and shopping seasonally means following nature’s natural rhythm of production and eating what’s in abundance. We’re usually spoilt for choice in New Zealand, with our local supermarkets stocking all kinds of produce all year round, but just because it’s available doesn’t mean it’s in season! Although we’re grateful for tomatoes in winter and strawberries in autumn, nothing quite beats them when they’re in their prime. Juicy and fuller in flavour, eating seasonally elevates your dishes and adds to your healthy lifestyle during the warmer weather. After a long winter full of hearty, wholesome meals eaten indoors, it’s definitely time to take advantage of those lighter options!

We get so excited seeing all the seasonal produce start to fill the shelves when the weather gets warmer. From asparagus, tender courgette, corn and tomatoes to juicy stone fruit and sweet berries. Here’s to colourful fruit bowls and abundant veggie drawers!

Spring Asparagus

The first sign of spring marks the beginning of asparagus season. Asparagus is in abundance throughout spring and summer - first in stores from October and finishing up their season around January. Delicious in everything from shaved into raw salads, tossed in pastas, served on the side of a light roast and even grilled on the barbeque - these tender stalks of green goodness are super versatile and easy to cook with. Even finger-licking good just simply blanched for 2 mins and tossed in salt and lashings of butter!
We love asparagus in our Green Shakshuka - perfect for a spring weekend brunch! 

Spring Courgettes

Full of nutrients with a delicate flavour and firm flesh, courgettes are plentiful this time of year. Courgette, also known as zucchini, is in season throughout spring and summer, first in stores from October and finishing up their main growing season up until May. Use them in a wide variety of dishes – stews, stir-fry, grilled kebabs, stuffed or even raw as zoodles in salads. Soaking up the flavour of what they’re paired with, courgettes are a favourite spring veggie for all types of cooking!

Summer Tomatoes

Juicy, ripe, and full of flavour, fresh tomatoes can elevate summer cooking and add a rich wholesome flavour, or zesty burst of freshness depending on their preparation. Cheapest, and at their seasonal prime during summer, these versatile vegetables are a staple in home cooking.
Although tinned tomatoes are accessible and affordable and great to have in the pantry, nothing quite beats a homemade fresh tomato sauce for seasonal pastas, stews, or curries. Pams has multiple varieties of tomatoes, with each type having its own perfect place in your cooking. From fresh, grilled, or roasted, tomatoes can make a dish without breaking the bank!
Check out all the different varieties of Pams tomatoes! We have Strawberry Tomatoes, Vine Tomatoes, Sweet Tomatoes, Cherry Tomatoes, Baby Heirloom Tomatoes. Even try a mix of these in our BBQ Camembert Bruschetta. 

Summer Corn

Corn is the star of seasonal summer produce, with juicy golden kernels being found in so many of our favourite dishes. Eaten right off the cob, or shaved into fresh salads and BBQ sides, corn is almost unbeatable during the warmer months. Corn is a crowd pleaser and should always be taken advantage of during the warmer months! Keep them wrapped up in their natural casing in your fridge or even your cool pantry until ready to be shucked and prepared how you like!
Fritters, Mexican Corn Cobs, freshly shaven kernels sprinkled over summer pizza, or even just simply smothered in butter. We especially love the bursts of yellow in this Sweet Corn Summer Pasta. 

Summer Stone Fruit

When the weather is warmest, nothing quite captures the essence of summer like juicy, sweet stone fruit. Peaches, plums, nectarines, and cherries – these gems are at their seasonal peak during the months of December to March. Delicious in sweet dishes like crumbles, pies, and trifles, as well as being the hero as grilled or fresh slices in BBQ spreads and salads. Our Peach Caprese Salad will definitely be the star of the show at your next get together.

Summer Berries

Super tasty, flavour-packed, and fragrant, we love our berries in the summer! Full of fiber, antioxidants and vitamin C, these little bites of goodness are scrumptious additions to a whole range of dishes. There’s nothing quite like a burst of berry when the sun is shining. These fruits are cheaper in the summer months while they’re in season, when local harvests are abundant. Our seasonal Pams range of fresh berries includes strawberries & blueberries.
If your fridge is overflowing with berries, or your kids went overboard at a berry picking farm, then we recommend making your own simple jam. Super easy and quick to do, having sweet homemade jam on hand never disappoints – your morning toast will taste even more delicious! Or, whip up this delicious Simple Berry Cobbler for an after-dinner treat! 

Quick Pickling

Spring & summer are the perfect times of the year for pickling & preserving. Produce is in abundance, and instead of wasting any veggies you have excess of, why not whip up an easy pickle brine to store them in! With no canning necessary and ready to eat after just 24 hours, these quick pickles keep well in the fridge for a few months and are a great way to reduce waste and increase flavour!

A basic brine is equal parts vinegar and water, with salt & sugar. Bring this mix to the boil on the stove, add your favourite aromatics for flavour, and pour over your prepared vegetables in a sterilized jar. Screw on the lid and store in the fridge for up to 3 months. We love to make quick pickles with green beans, asparagus, courgette, cauliflower, carrots, cucumbers, capsicums - you name it! You can even quick pickle in-season cherry tomatoes – the options are endless.
Try out some of our tips & tricks or get creative with it to make your family’s favourite flavour combos!

• Add stems of fresh herbs to your vegetables in the jar before pouring over the brine – try dill to make a dill pickle.

• Add a tablespoon of your favourite spices to your brine – we love aromatics such as coriander seeds, mustard seeds, cumin seeds, chilli flakes, peppercorns, or a pinch of turmeric.

• Add a few cloves of fresh crushed garlic, some sliced fresh chillies, or slices of fresh ginger for a boost of flavour.

Delicious, healthy, and packed full of flavour - pickled vegetables are the perfect condiments for topping the warmer month’s dishes with. Great in salads, sandwiches, burgers or for just a quick snack right from the jar!