It’s no secret that autumn has arrived, with shorter days, cooler mornings, and light frosts. Whether you love the cold or long for the warmer months again we can all agree that good hearty food makes the autumn season that little more bearable, especially when the produce is fresh and most importantly in season. Knowing what to cook using seasonal produce can be a challenging and daunting prospect but rest assured it couldn’t be easier to implement seasonal produce into your cooking this autumn, creating delicious and warming meals. At dido’s fine food we want to make this cooking season as stress-free as possible so continue reading to find out what to cook this autumn.
The benefits of eating seasonally
Better taste – Seasonal produce is fresher, sweeter, and perfectly ripe. This is because when foods have been picked for direct consumption they are naturally ripened and harvested at just the right time, meaning the produce will be more flavoursome and nutritious. At dido’s we only use local, seasonal produce in our catering, ensuring your food tastes the absolute best and has the highest nutritional value.
Higher nutritional value – Did you know that once produce is harvested the nutritional value of food tends to decline? Vitamin C, folate and carotenes are just a few of the amazing nutritional elements of the produce that rapidly decrease over time. In-season produce that is grown locally combats this as it tends to be consumed closer to harvest and has fewer miles to travel meaning you are getting the best nutritional value from your produce.
Value for money and supports local farmers – Believe it or not buying local in-season produce is often a lot cheaper than foods sold in your regular supermarket. This cheaper price point is due to local farmers having a high supply of in-season produce and them having no need to store or pay for travel expenses. These are all elements that push up the prices of ingredients and ultimately catering costs.
Not so spooky Pumpkin recipe ideas this autumn
Delicious autumn produce like pumpkins are a firm favourite of ours at dido’s this season. Forget banana bread, why not create a warming spiced pumpkin and honey loaf instead, the perfect afternoon tea treat. Serve warm and enjoy with the kids as an after-school snack or share over a cosy catch-up with friends, this flavoursome loaf will be sure to pack a hearty punch. No need to waste your Halloween pumpkin carving leftovers either, use them to create a delicious pumpkin and chickpea curry, which you can serve with a fresh kick of spiced cucumber labneh, great for veggies.
Tangy apple and blackberry recipe ideas
Apples and blackberries seem to be everywhere during the autumn season, making them the perfect seasonal ingredient to create sweet, tangy treats. There is nothing more warming and more wintery than a tangy apple and blackberry crumble, why not try a boozy twist by adding a splash of alcohol to your crumble? Serve your crumble with fresh vanilla custard, the perfect dessert to end a dinner party with. Apples aren’t just for sweet recipes, they can also pair beautifully with pork. For your next roast, consider serving a roast loin of pork with crispy crackling and roasted apples, the perfect balance of sweet and savoury.
Get in touch for a catering quote today
We hope our delicious seasonal autumn recipe ideas and tips are useful! If you would like your private event, party or corporate lunch to be catered for by dido’s fine food, contact us today at 07796 274028 or drop us an email at [email protected] and we will be more than happy to provide a catering quote for you. Our bespoke, fine food catering company is based in Thame, Oxfordshire and we can cater across many of the adjoining counties too including Buckinghamshire and areas of Berkshire.