Summer may be winding down, but there’s still plenty of time to take advantage of the seasonal produce you can find in our produce department or even your very own garden. If you’re looking for some fresh ways to prepare the season’s bounty, check out these ideas from the Weis Dietitians.
Veggie Noodles
Replace traditional pasta with vegetable noodles for a lower calorie and carbohydrate meal. This trick is also an easy way to sneak a few veggie servings into your family’s favorite recipes. Beyond classic Italian dishes, vegetable noodles can be used in salads, stir-fries, frittatas and casseroles. To make them, simply use a vegetable peeler to cut veggies into long thin slices then cut into smaller strips with a sharp knife. Or look for the VeggettiPro® spiralizer tool in our stores.
Sensational Salads
Salads are a no-cook summer meal staple. To liven up traditional leafy green salads, toss with a variety of seasonal fruits and vegetables for color, texture and a bigger nutrition punch. And try giving salads a whole-grain boost by adding nutrient-rich quinoa, bulgur and brown rice salads. Our Cranberry Pecan Wheatberry Salad is made with a tangy homemade cranberry vinaigrette dressing, chewy wheat berries, pecans and more. Or go try the latest trend in make-ahead meals with our Balsamic Rotini Salad in a Jar.
Fire up the Grill
The intense heat of the grill caramelizes the natural sugars in fruits and vegetables, giving them an irresistible flavor and crisp-tender texture. For perfectly grilled summer produce:
- Wash and cut pieces into a uniform size and thickness to ensure even grilling. The best fruits and vegetables for the grill include corn, zucchini, tomatoes, onions, potatoes, broccoli, stone fruits, pineapple, bananas and citrus.
- Marinate veggies lightly with a vinaigrette salad dressing or toss them in olive oil and your favorite herb, spice or salt-free seasoning blend. Or try drizzling fruit with a little bit of honey or maple syrup and a sprinkle of cinnamon.
- Use a skewer or grill basket for small and round pieces to prevent them from rolling around and slipping through the grates. If you don’t have a grill basket, create a pouch out of heavy duty aluminum foil.
- Grill until tender. The cook time will vary depending on your choice of produce and size of the pieces.
Looking for more ways to enjoy summer fruits and veggies? Try these!
Teriyaki Chicken Sausage Kabobs
Caribbean Jerk Chicken with Nectarine Salsa
How do you savor your favorite summer produce?
