Seasonal fruit and vegetable chart for South Africa

June 7, 2018 (Last Updated: January 13, 2023)

If you ever wondered what fruits and vegetables are in season in South Africa, then this handy guide is for you.

Seasonal fruit and vegetable chart for South Africa

 

Summer

December, January, February

Seasonal fruit and vegetable chart for South Africa

Fruits

Apples Apple and yoghurt cake
Apricots Apricot roly-poly with ginger custard
Bananas Fluffy banana bread
Blueberries Ricotta cakes served with blueberries and honey yoghurt
Cherries Sour cherry and açaí dark chocolate bliss balls
Figs Polenta cake with crème fraîche, figs and honey
Granadillas Granadilla fridge tart with white chocolate ganache
Grapes Baked Camembert with honey-roasted grapes, almonds and puff-pastry shards
Guavas Guava jam
Litchis Litchi-mousse no-bake cheesecake
Mangoes Yoghurt panna cotta with mango and granadilla jelly
Melons Pawpaw, melon and blueberry cooler
Mulberries
Nectarines Spice-crusted grilled feta with nectarines
Papayas Smoked chicken and pawpaw salad with pistachio pesto
Peaches Brioche with thyme-roasted peaches and vanilla mascarpone
Pears Black sesame stuffed pavlova with port poached pears
Pineapples Blistered pineapple, cinnamon and ginger pickle
Plums Spinach, chickpea, Gorgonzola and pecan nut salad with grilled plums
Pomegranates Gooey chocolate cake served with crème fraîche and pomegranates
Raspberries Salted milk chocolate, cinnamon and hazelnut rocky road with ricotta and raspberries
Strawberries Rose and lemon scented no bake cheesecake stacked with strawberries
Watermelons Watermelon and Aperol snow

Seasonal fruit and vegetable chart for South Africa

Vegetables

Artichokes Chargrilled artichokes with crushed garlic and orange, honey and sage butter
Asparagus Wild mushroom, pancetta and asparagus cheesecake
Aubergines Fragrant roasted aubergines with harissa and guacamole
Baby corn
Baby marrow Baby marrow fritters with green salsa and coconut cream
Beans Lamb Chops with Marmite sauce, baby potatoes and green beans
Beetroot Beetroot and dark chocolate meringue cake
Chives Ham and cream cheese terrine with chives and mustard
Mange tout Lemony cauliflower and sweet potato salad with crunchy mange tout peas
Mealies Bacon-wrapped mealies topped with garlic and jalapeño butter
Mushrooms Garlicky wild mushrooms on rye toast
Pattypans Pattypan and bulgur-wheat sushi with mango-chilli dip
Peppers Stuffed peppers
Radishes Pickled pink peppercorn radishes
Red onions Pickled red onions in a Caprese salad
Rhubarb Rhubarb tart
Spinach Basil, spinach and ricotta gnudi with red pepper and tomato sugo
Tomatoes Tomato and apple chutney
Watercress Pickled squid, watermelon, watercress and olive tapenade salad

 

Autumn

March, April, May

Seasonal fruit and vegetable chart for South Africa

Fruits

Apples Almond-studded toffee apples
Blueberries Spiced blueberry and chocolate honeycomb tart
Figs Vanilla-infused figs with fresh coconut muesli
Gooseberries Gooseberry-roasted pulled pork buns
Granadillas Self-saucing granadilla, white chocolate, yoghurt and coconut puddings
Grapes White chocolate cake with drunken grapes
Mandarins Chicken, cashew and mandarin salad
Mangoes Mango doughnuts
Papayas Thai prawn, pawpaw and palm heart salad with a citrus dressing
Peaches Poached peach and rosé trifle
Pears Caramelised pear and vanilla-bean oats
Plums Red velvet pancakes with poached plums
Pomegranates Smoked salmon, red onion and pomegranate salad with creamy dill dressing
Strawberries Home-made strawberry milk
Watermelons Watermelon pizza

Seasonal fruit and vegetable chart for South Africa

Vegetables

Aubergines Preserved aubergines with herbs
Avocados Beetroot carpaccio with avocado salsa, salmon ribbons and walnuts
Baby marrows Baby marrow, pepper and spinach muffins
Beans Tacos with vindaloo beans, crushed avocado and charred corn
Beetroot Beetroot and chocolate cake
Broccoli Chicken, broccoli and peanut-butter curry
Brussels sprouts Lentil pasta with leeks and shredded Brussels sprouts
Butterbeans Three recipes with butterbeans
Cabbage Ouma’s cabbage frikkadels
Cauliflower Spiced coconut cauliflower rice veggie bowls with peanuts
Celery Chicken burgers with hummus and a fennel, celery and orange slaw
Hubbard squash Hubbard squash slices with a cinnamon and nut crust
Mange tout Lemony cauliflower and sweet potato salad with crunchy mange tout peas
Leeks Whole spanakopita with leeks and spring onion
Mushrooms Garlicky wild mushrooms on rye toast
Parsnips Lemon-roasted chicken with parsnips
Peppers Broccoli with roast peppers and chilli
Persimmons Persimmons in vanilla and grapefruit syrup with white chocolate whipped cream
Radishes Griddled sourdough with steak, marinated radish and avocado
Spinach Vegan chickpea and spinach burgers with red onion chutney
Sweet peppers Baked ricotta with corn, chilli and peppers
Tomatoes Tomato, aubergine and parsnip stew with torn roasted tofu

 

Winter

June, July, August

Seasonal fruit and vegetable chart for South Africa

Fruits

Apples Wicked toffee-apple cake with caramel peanut-brittle buttercream and snow-white apples
Dates Springbok shanks with dates
Figs Classic terrine with boozy figs
Gooseberries Gooseberry and granadilla Pavlova
Granadillas Crêpes with pan-fried orange, pear, caramel and granadilla
Grapefruits Grapefruit, orange and minneola stuffing
Kiwifruits Kiwi fruit and cucumber granita
Limes Chicken thighs with lime juice and ginger
Mandarins Linguine with mandarin, chilli and lobster sauce
Naartjies Naartjie daiquiri
Oranges Beer, orange and spice caramel sauce
Papayas Papaya atchara
Pears Caramel-glazed poached pear bread and butter pudding
Persimmons Spicy prawn and vegetable spring rolls with sweet persimmon and ginger dipping sauce

Seasonal fruit and vegetable chart for South Africa

Vegetables

Asparagus Crustless quiche with asparagus, goat’s cheese and basil
Avocados Crystal spring rolls with chargrilled tuna, avocado, apple and herbs
Beetroot Pan-fried rump steak with spiced salt and fresh beetroot salsa
Broccoli Creamy broccoli and gorgonzola soup with toasted walnuts
Cabbage Leek, smoked chicken and cabbage soup
Cauliflower Cauliflower and potato curry with peas
Celery Caramelised carrots, celery and honey
Kale Crispy kale with chilli soya dipping sauce
Leeks Greek lentil soup
Mushrooms Wild mushroom tart with porcini vinaigrette and pea shoots
Parsnips Cider-battered hake with parsnip chips and crushed peas
Spinach Lasagne of pumpkin, spinach, mascarpone, onion marmalade and walnuts
Sweet peppers Peppadew, roast pepper and goat’s Camembert savoury tart

 

Spring

September, October, November

Seasonal fruit and vegetable chart for South Africa

Fruits

Apples Chocolate and apple wonton pastries
Apricots Chargrilled apricots with prosciutto, buffalo mozzarella and basil
Bananas Roasted banana and coconut milkshake with Amarula
Berries Show-stopping stars and floating berries trifle
Blueberries Blueberry and carrot bread with flavoured cream cheese
Cherries Rippled cherry and Greek yoghurt parfaits with honey-roasted almonds
Dates Apple, date and cinnamon achar
Gooseberries Gooseberry fool
Grapes White chocolate mousse with red grapes
Grapefruits Grapefruit, strawberry and mint granita
Kiwifruits Strawberry and kiwi ice-cream terrine
Papayas Granadilla jellies with papaya salsa
Peaches Spiced peach sherbet
Plums Vanilla, coconut and plum cupcakes
Strawberries Blueberry, plum and strawberry vanilla crumble
Watermelon Watermelon pizza

Seasonal fruit and vegetable chart for South Africa

Vegetables

Artichokes Chargrilled artichokes with crushed garlic and orange, honey and sage butter
Asparagus Warm cannellini bean salad with herbs, vine tomatoes & asparagus
Aubergines Aubergine, buffalo mozzarella and sun-dried tomato stack
Avocados Avocado and yoghurt dip
Baby marrows Baby marrow, seed and herb no-grain bread
Beans Lamb Chops with Marmite sauce, baby potatoes and green beans
Beetroot Beetroot risotto
Broccoli Broccoli, cauliflower and Cheddar soup with Gruyère and chive croutons
Brussels sprouts Brussels sprouts and kale salad
Cabbage Cabbage and mince lasagne with yoghurt
Cauliflower Spiced, roasted cauliflower with hazelnuts and pomegranate rubies
Celery Celery, apple, kale, spinach, lime and ginger juice
Leeks Fish with baby leeks and borlotti beans
Mange tout Tagliatelle with prawns, mange tout and lemon sauce
Marrows Roast beef with carrot, horseradish, duck fat potatoes & marrows
Mealies Braai mealies with 3 different toppings
Mushrooms Butternut pansotti with buttery wild mushrooms, rosemary and pecan nuts
Parsnips Ginger and honey roasted baby carrots and parsnips
Peppers Summer meatloaf with roasted peppers
Tomatoes Spelt pizza with heirloom tomatoes, nectarine, prosciutto and kale pesto
Turnips Paprika battered fish with turnip chips
Watercress Roasted beetroot, whipped chèvre, walnut sable and watercress salad

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