Making the most of Summer fruits

These fruits and vegetables are abundant, affordable and taste amazing. Eating and cooking with in-season produce means you're getting the pick of the crop. Let's kick off with what's in season for summer.

Five Ways to Use Summer Fruits

Mango Smoothie Bowl

Ingredients:

• 2 ripe mangoes
• 1 frozen banana
• ½ cup coconut milk
• 1 tsp honey (optional)
• Fresh fruit (e.g., passionfruit, kiwi, strawberries) and granola for topping

Steps:

• Peel and dice mangoes.
• Blend the mangoes, frozen banana, and coconut milk until smooth and thick.
• Pour into a bowl and top with fresh fruits and granola.

Pineapple & Lime Salsa 

Ingredients:

• 1 fresh pineapple, finely diced
• 1 red chili, deseeded and chopped
• ½ red onion, finely diced
• Juice of 2 limes
• Handful of chopped fresh coriander

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients in a bowl.
• Mix well and refrigerate for 30 minutes before serving.
• Serve as a topping for grilled fish or tacos.

Passionfruit Cheesecake

Ingredients:

• 200g digestive biscuits (crushed)
• 100g melted butter
• 500g cream cheese (softened)
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup fresh passionfruit pulp

Steps:

• Mix biscuit crumbs and butter; press into a springform pan to form the base. Chill.
• Beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth, then fold in passionfruit pulp.
• Pour the mixture onto the base and chill for 4-6 hours.

Papaya Face Mask

Ingredients:

• ½ ripe papaya (mashed)
• 1 tsp honey
• 1 tbsp plain yogurt

Steps:

• Blend papaya until smooth.
• Mix in honey and yogurt.
• Apply to clean skin and leave for 15 minutes.
• Rinse off with warm water for hydrated, glowing skin.

Citrus Cleaning Spray

Ingredients:

• Peels from 2-3 oranges or lemons
• 1 cup white vinegar
• 1 cup water

Steps:

• Place citrus peels in a glass jar and cover with vinegar. Let sit for 2 weeks.
• Strain the liquid into a spray bottle and dilute with water.
• Use as a natural household cleaner.

How to Store Summer Fruits 

• Choose quality fruits
  Pick fruits that are ripe but not overripe and free from blemishes or bruises.
• Wash and dry
  Wash fruits like berries gently in a vinegar-water solution (1 part vinegar to 3 parts water) to kill bacteria. Pat them dry.
• Refrigerate appropriately
  Store fruits like mangoes and papayas in the crisper drawer. Berries should be kept in a shallow container lined with paper towels.
• Freeze for later use
  Slice fruits like mangoes, bananas, and pineapples, then freeze them in a single layer on a baking sheet. Once frozen, transfer to airtight bags.
• Preserve or dehydrate
  Turn fruits into jams, chutneys, or syrups for longer storage. Alternatively, dehydrate slices using an oven or dehydrator and store in airtight containers.