June features an abundance of English seasonal fruit that can inspire your menus for the month.
From sweet strawberries to tart gooseberries, cherries, raspberries, and the delicate scent of elderflower, there are plenty of options to add a taste of summer to your dishes.
Cherries – A Summer Delight
In the heart of June, the cherry season reaches its zenith in England, presenting an opportunity to infuse menus with the distinctive taste and visual appeal.
They can elevate both sweet and savoury dishes. Perhaps a rustic tart or a savoury cherry salsa, its vibrant colour and slight tang making it the perfect companion for grilled meats or a bold, unconventional topping for tacos.
Venturing beyond the expected, cherries can be macerated with a touch of sugar and a splash of kirsch, an addition that brings out their natural sweetness and depth of flavour, serving as a decadent topping for ice cream or a rich yoghurt.
For those inclined to innovative beverages, cherries offer a refreshing option; a cherry mojito or a cherry-infused sparkling water provides a delightful twist on summer refreshments, marrying the fruit’s sweetness with the crispness of mint or the fizz of carbonation.
Elderflower – Capturing the Scent of Summer
Elderflower, with its heady, floral aroma, marks a quintessentially English summer, coming into its own in the month of June.
This delicately scented blossom lends itself to a many culinary uses, transforming the simplest of dishes and drinks into something truly special.
This fragrant flower can also be the star in desserts, such as an elderflower-infused panna cotta, its gentle floral notes pairing beautifully with the creaminess of the dish.
Savoury dishes too can benefit from a hint of elderflower, with its essence being used to marinate chicken or fish, providing a light, summery flavour that’s hard to pinpoint yet unmistakably delicious.
APRICOTS
Apricots really come into their own around now.
The season will last until September but we’re already seeing some great qualty fruits coming through.
Absolutely delicious in anything from sauces and stuffings to cakes and puddings.
Raspberries – A Burst of Flavour
Raspberries arrive in June to offer their vibrant colour and intense flavour to a myriad of dishes.
Their inherent sweetness and slight acidity make them ideal for a wide range of uses.
From enhancing the freshness of a garden salad to becoming the star ingredient in a raspberry frangipane tart.
These berries also lend themselves beautifully to savoury pairings, such as a raspberry glaze over duck breast, where their tartness cuts through the richness of the meat, creating a harmonious blend of flavours.
For an innovative take on beverages, raspberries can be pureed and stirred into iced teas or lemonades. This imparts a rosy hue and a depth of flavour that’s both unexpected and delightful.
Alternatively, a raspberry coulis can add a touch of elegance to any dessert plate, its vibrant red streaks enhancing both the visual appeal and the taste profile of the dish.
The Sweetness of Strawberries
June heralds the much-anticipated peak of strawberry season in England. A time when these succulent red berries grace menus with their vibrant colour and incomparable sweetness.
Strawberries offer a versatile palette for culinary experimentation, from the simplest of desserts to the most elaborate of salads.
For a savoury twist, strawberries can transform a salad. They add a sweet note that complements the tang of balsamic dressing and the creaminess of goat’s cheese can create a dish that sings of summer.
Their versatility doesn’t end with starters and desserts; strawberries can also lend their sweet charm to refreshments, like a strawberry lemonade!
Gooseberries – The Tart Taste of Summer
Gooseberries emerge in June as a true testament to the diversity of English seasonal fruits.
These small, vibrant fruits encapsulate a unique tartness that can invigorate any dish. A classic British dessert that showcases gooseberries at their finest is the gooseberry fool. A delightful concoction of lightly stewed gooseberries folded into soft, whipped cream, offering a perfect balance between tart and sweet.
For those with a penchant for savoury creations, gooseberries can be transformed into a chutney that pairs wonderfully with a mature Cheddar. Or as a zesty salsa to accompany grilled mackerel, highlighting their versatility in both main meals and starters.
Culinary adventurers might explore the fusion of gooseberries with elderflower, another June gem, to create sorbets or refreshing cocktails that embody the essence of an English summer garden.
Bakers can incorporate these tart berries into pies or tarts, where their acidity cuts through the sweetness. Providing a moreish, palate-cleansing finish.
Other seasonal fruits worth a mention
- Blackcurrants
- Redcurrants
- Rhubarb
- Tayberries
Utilising June’s bounty of English seasonal fruits within your menus offers a myriad of opportunities to elevate your dishes with the essence of summer.
To find out about our full range of English Seasonal Fruit in June, get in touch with us: enquiries@fsfruit.co.uk
If you’ve enjoyed our English Seasonal Fruit in June Update, see our June salad and veg update here.
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