Enjoy the flavours of Queensland’s warmer weather with a wide selection of fruits, salads and vegetables coming into season and making their way through the Brisbane Markets to your local fruit and veg shop. There’s something to suit all tastes.
Our pick of the week is Celery, which is coming from Victoria. Celery is packed with essential vitamins and minerals and is an excellent source of antioxidants and enzymes which can help improve cholesterol levels, blood pressure, and prevent heart disease. Snack to your health with Celery by adding cheese or peanut butter, or add a fresh side to the table with our Thai Celery Salad.
You’ll still find plenty of Capsicum from Bowen in your local fruit and veg shop this week. Crisp, tasty and well-priced in red, yellow and green, use them to add a little extra flavour to a breakfast-on-the-go this week with these Egg, Bacon and Capsicum Muffins.
North Queensland and South Australian grown Eggplant is in good supply, so keep an eye out for this dark purple aubergine. Eggplant is known for promoting better bone health, memory, lowering blood pressure and aiding in digestion. Why not try these Stuffed Eggplant Fritters for a snack everyone will love, including the kids.
Green Beans from Bowen and Gatton are great value this week and are a great source of vitamins A, C, and K. The best way to enjoy Green Beans as a dinner side is to lightly sauté them with either Garlic, Thyme and Basil, or even just butter, so they still have a little bit of crunch. Yum!
Speaking of crunch, delight in the colourful crunch of Red Cabbage from Lockyer Valley, also at great prices. Full of vitamin C and immune-boosting antioxidants, Red Cabbage is a delicious option for your spring-time slaws, or make your very own Sauerkraut to enjoy with meats and sandwiches.
If you’re someone who prefers to eat salads as the weather heats up, you’re in luck. There are plenty of salad ingredients coming into season now, making for readily available, affordable, healthy ingredients. Keep any eye out for Iceberg Lettuce from Stanthorpe, Tasmanian grown Spinach and Rocket, Lebanese Cucumbers from New South Wales, Continental Cucumbers from Bundaberg, Cherry and Grape Tomatoes also from Bundaberg, and Hass Avocados coming in from New South Wales and Western Australia. Using all of these as a base, try adding a few of these Simple Ingredients to make your salad exciting.
The Cherry season has started, with boxes of these tiny stone fruits coming through the Brisbane Markets from Victoria and New South Wales. Add them to your salads, punch drinks or simply top off your favourite morning cereals with Cherries for a seasonal twist! For a fun savoury makeover, try these Duck Tacos with Cherry Salsa.
You’ll find delightfully delicious eating Apricots from Mildura and Swan Hill this week as stone fruit season continues to ramp up. While they’re great as they are for a snack on the go, if you’re feeling creative this weekend why not try these Apricot and Macadamia Balls?
We are seeing a good supply of sweet and juicy Mangoes from Bowen in your local fruit and veg shop this week. Mangoes are a spring winner with the kids and are easy to slice up and add to a lunchbox or smoothie!
