What’s in season – June

Summer is here! For a few months, we can take a break from brassicas and enjoy the more colourful, complex and delicate produce of summer.

You can get strawberries and tomatoes all year round, but it really is worth holding off until now, when they’re truly at their best – juicy and full of flavour. This month’s seasonal list includes courgettes and raspberries, too.

Find more exciting recipe ideas in our summer recipes, no-cook summer recipes and healthy summer recipes. We also have our guides on what to eat in May and July.

June seasonal food

1. Raspberries

Only around for a fairly short stint, it’s worth freezing or steeping these little summer fruits so you can preserve their flavour for when the season is over. To freeze, lay out on a lined baking tray and open-freeze until solid, then transfer to a freezable container for three to six months. This shrub recipe is one of our favourite non-alcoholic drinks, that’s still special enough for a party.

Tip: For raspberry vodka, mix 500g raspberries, 250g white caster sugar, 2 vanilla pods, and 1 litre vodka. Keep in a sterilised 1.5-litre jar for two weeks, shaking occasionally, then strain and bottle. Will keep for up to two years.

Use your haul for a bright raspberry sorbet, try making these fibre-packed tiramisu-style overnight oats with raspberries for breakfast or bake our raspberry & rosewater sponge cake recipe for a special occasion. If you’re considering what to bring to your next summer party, consider our aromatic raspberry jam & coconut sponge. For more ways to use this tart fruit, see our raspberry collection.

2. Courgettes

Thankfully, these vegetables are extremely versatile because, as gardeners will know, they produce masses when they grow. They make excellent sides and starters, like in this homemade courgette fries recipe or this braised courgettes & butter beans with pesto recipe. Or, consider tossing them in simple salads such as this steak, courgette & summer bean salad or turn them into sweet bakes such as this vegan courgette cake.

For an easy vegetarian midweek meal, make our lemony courgette, basil & pine nut tagliatelle with burrata or courgette & chickpea pilaf. Find more recipe inspiration by checking out our courgette collection.

3. Strawberries

Strawberries have their moment of fame during the two weeks of Wimbledon in June. Make the most of the berries at their peak with our indulgent strawberry, white chocolate & matcha cheesecake bars, or for a simpler way to treat a sweet tooth, try making this easy strawberry mousse that takes just 15 minutes to prep.

If there’s an early heatwave, stay cool with our homemade strawberry lemonade or elderflower & strawberry sangria. For those who love a fruity salad, consider making our mint & strawberry tabbouleh, a great accompaniment to a Mediterranean meze. Discover more strawberry recipes.

4. Watercress

Punchy, peppery watercress gives an instant lift to summer salads, but it can also shine on its own. Try this vibrant watercress risotto topped with goat’s cheese & hazelnuts – watercress is blitzed into a pesto to flavour the whole risotto, with more fresh stems piled on top.

For a light lunch, make this pea, ham hock & watercress salad or this Vietnamese-inspired watercress & beef noodle soup. For those hosting friends and family this season, our lamb meatballs served with couscous get a vibrant watercress dressing for an easy entertaining dish. Get more watercress recipe ideas this season.

5. Broad beans

Broad beans are in season from late June to mid-September and are at their best when double-podded – that means removing them from both the outer pods and the individual bean casings for a sweeter, more tender bite.

Try them in our pea & broad bean shakshuka, a vibrant, gluten-free dish that’s perfect as a sharing brunch. You can also spoon them over a hearty protein in our harissa lamb meatballs with broad beans & garlic yogurt. Or stir them through a summery risotto with courgette and basil pesto – it freezes well, so you can enjoy a taste of summer even in the colder months. Check out our larger collection of broad bean recipes for more.

Browse recipes for, and information on, other ingredients in season in June:

Seasonal food dates in June:

5 June: National Sausage Roll Day

With summer here, it’s time to whip out your picnic blankets along with an array of summer staples like quiches and sandwiches – and don’t forget the mighty sausage roll. Up your picnic game with Diana Henry’s lamb harissa sausage rolls or this indulgent cheeseburger and sausage roll mash-up.

16 June: World Gin Day

Try our gin & tonic ice lollies for a refreshing summer treat.

26 June: National Cream Tea Day

Our Pimm’s scones are the perfect fit for a summer afternoon tea.

Other food dates for your diary:

21 June: Father’s Day

If you’re looking for something to whip up for dad, see our Father’s Day collection. See our seasonal calendar for more inspiration.

19 June: National Martini Day

Make the most of the good weather with an ice-cold martini. Our passion fruit martini is a fruity tipple perfect for summer days.

More seasonal recipes and information

What to cook for Father’s Day
Next-level picnic recipes
Healthy summer dinner recipes
Cherry recipes
Strawberry recipes
What to do with broad beans
Best gin reviews – all our taste tests