Put on a jacket, book that ski trip, and get out your blender because soup season is here – otherwise known as winter. Here is our winter produce guide so you can buy in season all winter long.
Temperatures may drop to a low during winter in Australia, but it doesn’t mean we’re lacking in the fresh produce department. Winter is the ideal time to heat up some leftover casserole for lunch, gather your family and friends for a roast dinner, and enjoy some mulled wine.
We love Sustainable Table and the Seasonal Food Guide when it comes to seasonal eating, but keep in mind that things will differ according to region.
Time to rug up and get the fire started, here’s our guide to the fruit, veg, herbs and spices that are in season this winter.
Fruit
In the fruit department, there’s less variety than in autumn but there’s still plenty to get excited about. Winter fruit favourites include tangy cumquats, zesty grapefruits, and ripe quince.
Apple | Avocado | Cumquat | Custard apple | Feijoa | Grapefruit | Kiwi fruit | Lemon | Lime | Mandarin | Nashi | Orange | Pear | Persimmon | Pineapple | Quince | Rhubarb | Tamarillo | Tangelo
Eat-spiration:
- Cumquat jam
- Honey baked pears
- Lemon poppyseed cake
- Pineapple upside-down cake
- Poached quince
- Stewed apples and oatmeal
Vegetables
Root vegetables and anything orange-coloured takes centre stage during autumn, but it doesn’t stop there! We love winter veg because there’s so much roasting potential and delicious soup combinations.
Asian greens | Broccoli | Broccolini | Broad beans | Brussels sprouts | Cabbage | Capsicum | Carrot | Cauliflower | Celeriac | Celery | Chokos | Cucumbers | Eggplants | Fennel | Horseradish | Kale | Kohlrabi | Leek | Mushrooms | Okra | Onion | Parsnip | Potato | Pumpkin | Radish | Shallot | Silverbeet | Spinach | Swede | Sweet potato | Turnip
Eat-spiration:
- Cabbage rolls
- Carrot and pumpkin soup
- Eggplant moussaka
- Fennel salad
- Oven-roasted tomatoes
- Potato and leek soup
- Roasted brussel sprouts
- Stuffed capsicums
- Sweet potato mash
Herbs and spices
Fresh herbs and spices aren’t at their finest during the cooler months, but things aren’t completely dire! If you dried or froze some of your herbs over summer and autumn, it’s time to dip into that stash – otherwise, head for the spice shakers and herb packets in the supermarket.
Coriander | Ginger | Dill | Mint | Oregano | Parsley | Rosemary
For an overview of the seasons, check out our seasonal eating guide – we’ve got your bases covered from the warmer to cooler months.
Interested in Nutrition?
Find out more about sustainable eating through our Food and the Environment: from farm to fork, one of our Nutrition Short Courses. Set the pace towards a happier, healthier you.
Endeavour College of Natural Health is Australia's largest Higher Education provider of natural medicine courses.
The College is known as the centre of excellence for natural medicine and is respected for its internationally recognised academic teams and high calibre graduates. Endeavour offers Bachelor of Health Science degrees in Naturopathy, Nutritional and Dietetic Medicine, Acupuncture Therapies and Chinese Medicine, Undergraduate Certificates, a Diploma of Health Science and massage courses.
