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17 recipe ideas for feasting on late summer produce

When gardens and markets are at their most plentiful, here's how to use up your haul.

When gardens and markets are at their most plentiful, here's how to use up your haul

CBC Life ·
3 images, left to right. Left: overhead shot of 2 blue and white plates with slices of tomatoes on them, topped with a creamy sauce, breadcrumbs, fried capers and fresh dill. Middle: closeup on a plate of stir fry made with zucchini, plantains and green chiles. Right: a batch of sweet rolls with blueberry filling and white icing on a wooden cutting board on a wooden table.
(Photo, left to right: Dominique Lafond, Christian Lalonde, Michael Gozum)

As the sun sets on summer, the markets are brimming with vibrant fruits and vegetables. Golden corn, radiant tomatoes, slender green beans, deep purple eggplants and bright blueberries beckon from the stands. Maybe you've been given a generous bag of zucchini or kale from a neighbour's overflowing garden, or you've harvested your own home-grown gems. And now, the perennial question arises: "What dishes can I make with these?"

Whether you're a novice in the kitchen, overwhelmed by the abundance of your haul, or a seasoned home cook looking for fresh inspiration, this roundup of recipes will help you use and celebrate these ingredients in their prime. 

Corn Pakoras with Sabz Chutney 

overhead shot of a turquoise platter of pakoras. it's sitting on a golden yellow cloth napkin, on a white table.

Slow-Cooked Chicken with Tomatillos, Poblano Peppers, Sheep's Milk Cheese and Corn Pudding

Closeup overhead of a bowl of yellow sauce with shredded chicken topped with cilantro, pickled red onion, crumbled feta and ½ charred lemon.
(Photography by Ryan Szulc)

Harvest Corn Chowder 

a bowl of chowder filled with corn, chopped zucchini and red bell pepper
(Photography by Tim and Angela Chin)

Tomato Tonnato 

overhead shot of 2 blue and white plates with slices of tomatoes on them, topped with a creamy sauce, breadcrumbs, fried capers and fresh dill. They're on a grey table and a green wine bottle is pouring white wine into a yellow glass beside the plates.
(Photography by Dominique Lafond)

Tangy Quickled Cherry Tomatoes 

overhead shot of a white platter with caesar salad on it, on a white surface. the salad is topped with pickled cherry tomatoes and a bowl of the tomatoes sits next to it.
(Photography by Leila Ashtari)

Mezhukkupuratti | മെഴുകുപുരട്ടി

closeup on a plate of stir fry made with zucchini, plantains and green chiles
(Photography by Christian Lalonde)

Borani-yeh Kadoo | Summer Squash Yogurt Dip 

closeup on a yogurt dip topped with sauteed zucchini, tomatoes and fried onions. the dip is on a dark blue plate, with flatbread sitting next to it.
(Photography by Eric Wolfinger)

Secret Steak, Chips and Garlicky Green Beans

closeup on a white plate with a cut-up steak on a bed of green beans, sitting on a dark brown wooden table.
(Credit: David Loftus)

Diri Sos Pwa Legim 

Overhead shot of a plate with with rice, black bean sauce and stew on it, on a wooden table. A bit of a silver pot of stew sits in the top right corner. Another plate is in the bottom left corner. A leafy plant sits in the top left corner.
(Photography by Dominique Lafond)

No-Fry Eggplant Parmesan

overhead shot of a white baking dish with eggplant parmesan in it. it's on a wooden table. a slice is missing from the dish and is sitting on a white plate behind the baking dish.
(Credit: Allison Day)

Make-ahead Eggplant Borani 

overhead shot of a white plate on a dark blue surface. the plate has eggplant borani on it, with a base of tomatoes, slices of eggplant, a layer of yogurt and topped with pomegranate arils.
(Photography by Leila Ashtari)

Sukuma Wiki (Greens with Tomatoes)

closeup on a shallow grey bowl filled with Sukuma Wiki, a dish of sauteed kale, chopped tomatoes and onion.
(Photography by Khadija M. Farah & Jennifer May)

Smoky Stone Fruit and Bourbon BBQ Ribs 

overhead shot of a rack of ribs on a wooden cutting board on a wooden table. peaches, plums, a small bowl of BBQ sauce and a bottle of bourbon sit around the board.
(Photography by Michael Gozum)

Sweet and Sour Quickled Peaches

a wooden cutting board topped with cheese, meats, olives and pickles. the focus is on a white bowl of pickled peach slices. a white plate sits next to the board with more peach slices on baguette slices.
(Photography by Leila Ashtari)

Flognarde with Plums or Berries or Pears

Closeup on a cake in a shallow white dish on a wooden table. The cake is dotted with small plums and sprinkled with icing sugar.
(Photography by Ellen Silverman)

Blueberry Sweet Rolls with Mascarpone Frosting

a batch of sweet rolls with blueberry filling and white icing on a wooden cutting board on a wooden table. a bowl of blueberries and a plate with a roll on it are visible in the background.
(Photography by Michael Gozum)

Chokecherry Butter Tarts 

closeup on 3 small tarts with chokecherry filling on a white plate on a wooden table.

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