What to Cook in February: 7 Fresh, Fast Dinners from the Garden

Can you believe we're nearly at the end of summer?!

This is the part where we could bag on the weather and how “summery” this season has been… but let's save the deep-dive-into-weather topic for the Farm Update!

Instead, let's make the most of our late summer crops and appreciate this season of abundance while we can!

February is the month for cooling dishes that bring the freshest flavours to the plate.

It's the time of year to appreciate the crispy leafy greens, the delightfully tropical greenhouse crops and the sweet root veggies (before those sugars get converted into starch!).

Here are seven of our favourite February dishes to savour the flavours of this seemingly fleeting season:

• Tomato & basil bruschetta: bring the flavours of Italy to your dining table with this deadly combination of tomatoes, basil, olive oil and salt, all atop a wonderfully crispy slice of crusty bread.
• Courgette & sweetcorn fritters: these crispy miniature pancakes meld together the lovely flavours of corn, coriander, cumin and paprika. Throw in grated courgette and you've got an unrivalled textural component that will have you making these non-stop!
• Fresh bean & herb salad: a light, zingy and refreshing dish that showcases the best that green beans, parsley, chives and basil have to offer. If you're looking for the perfect salad for a summer evening, this is it!
• Summer ratatouille: celebrate the welcoming flavours of eggplant, courgette, capsicum and tomatoes in this dish that truly highlights our incredible greenhouse crops.
• Antipasto chickpea salad: a classic no-cook Mediterranean salad that's both filling and unbelievably healthy! Packed with protein and fibre, this is a great dish to bring along to an evening BBQ.
• Vietnamese lettuce wraps: light on carbohydrates but heavy on flavour - these wraps are loaded with an incredible savoury tone and lip-smacking taste combinations. Swap out ingredients to cater to your dietary needs - they're great for everyone.
• Berry & stone fruit crumble: an absolute classic - and very, very good served cold the next day! Throw together fruits of the season, top with a layer of party, buttery, crunchy, caramelised topping and feel your salivary glands go!