Contents:

• Apples, pears and plums – seasonal fruits of September
• How do you use apples, plums and pears in the kitchen?

The term "seasonal nutrition" is slowly gaining traction among people interested in healthy and balanced nutrition. Why is choosing seasonal produce sensible and so important? After all, we live in a time when we can easily buy strawberries in the middle of winter.

But are strawberries imported from abroad out of season, subjected to long transport routes and heavily treated with preservatives, really as delicious, healthy, and aromatic as our sweet and fragrant local strawberries, which we can enjoy in mid-June? Not really. That's why seasonal and regional vegetables and fruits should be the basis of our diet. This is when they have the best growing and ripening conditions, are at their tastiest, and contain the most vitamins and valuable nutrients.

Apples, pears and plums – seasonal fruits of September

After all the bounty of fruit this summer has offered us, it seems as if September marks the end of the fruit season. However, the end of summer is the time when we finally have access to the most delicious and aromatic apples, plums, and pears:

• Apples – provide large amounts of vitamin C , B vitamins, beta-carotene, phosphorus, calcium, sulfur, magnesium, and iron, among other nutrients. They are also a rich source of fiber, especially pectin, quercetin, and antioxidants. They contain many phenolic compounds with the following properties:
  • Antioxidants,
  • antibacterial,
  • antiviral,
  • anti-inflammatory,
  • Anti-allergic.
• Pears – are a source of valuable nutrients, including potassium, vitamin C, and fiber. They provide many antioxidants that help reduce the risk of chronic lifestyle diseases. Pears are also exceptionally rich in fructose and sorbitol, making them perfect for a diet that prevents chronic constipation. The high potassium content in pears promotes heart function, and vitamin C helps prevent colds.
• Plums – contain many B vitamins and, compared to other fruits, also high levels of vitamins A and E, which are considered valuable antioxidants, as well as potassium, iron, magnesium , calcium, phosphorus, and polyphenols. They have a positive effect on the nervous system. Plums improve appetite, regulate digestion, and prevent constipation.

How do you use apples, plums and pears in the kitchen?

There's no doubt that apples taste great raw and are most commonly eaten raw. However, they're also an excellent material that can be used for a variety of culinary applications. They can be used in a variety of mousses, jams , and salads. They can be used in desserts, such as the traditional apple pie, but also in savory dishes; they pair perfectly with braised liver and roast duck. Of course, apples are also used to make juices and compotes, as well as vinegar and cider.

Pears are also excellent in fruit compotes, desserts, and sweet and savory tarts, and are just as popular eaten raw as apples. Pears pair wonderfully with goat cheese and figs. You can use them to make winter jams with pears in sweet syrup or vinegar, or to make a sweet tincture. One of the simplest and most effective recipes using pears as the main ingredient is a delicious salad with Parma ham, Camembert , walnuts, and, of course, a pear with olive oil and a little honey . Fresh bread with goat cheese, roasted pear, and fig also tastes delicious.

Plums can be used in a variety of dishes. If we're tired of eating them fresh, we can prepare them not only as a digestive compote for dinner, but also for dinner itself. For example, delicious, traditional plum dumplings. These fruits, both fresh and dried, are excellent with meat dishes, for example, they are added to pork tenderloin, bigos, duck, and game, as well as a side dish to salads. A delicious combination of lamb's lettuce or arugula , goat cheese, boiled beets with prunes baked in bacon tastes good. In winter, delicious, traditional, homemade plum jam will certainly come in handy. Plums are also a good addition to chocolate and all kinds of chocolate cakes, and just like pears – in vinegar marinade.