Fall: Recipes in Season

Fall farmers market
Image © iStockphoto

Fall is a time of transition from the best of summertime produce to a harbinger of winter selections. Strongly seasonal fruits like pomegranates and persimmons again become available after a long absence. Winter squashes show their widest variety. And the apples of Washington and New York make for fresh cider drinking all over the chilling countryside.

By the time fall rolls around in late September, the summer harvest has largely exhausted itself. Never fear! Fall produce is here! Shortening days and cooler nights bring with them a riot of food flavors. Root vegetables and winter squash dazzle us with their variety and sweet flavors. Broccoli, cauliflower and leafy greens benefit from a hard frost. Chanterelle and porcini mushrooms poke up from a carpet of fallen leaves. And apples, pears, melons, persimmons and pomegranates form the perfect finish to an autumn meal.

Here is a list of items that are abundant, fresh and seasonal when autumn rolls around.

September Ingredients

Vegetables

Beets | Beet Greens | Cauliflower | Corn | Eggplant | Porcini Mushrooms | Summer Squash | Tomatoes | Winter Squash

Fruits

Figs | Grapes | Melons | Peaches | Pears | Plums

September Fish and Seafood

Oysters

October Ingredients

Vegetables

Beets | Beet Greens | Cauliflower | Collard Greens | Chanterelle Mushrooms | Lettuces | Parsnips | Summer Squash | Winter Squash

Fruits

Apples | Coconuts | Grapes | Melons | Peaches | Pears | Persimmons | Pomegranates | Tangerines

Fish and Seafood

Oysters

November Ingredients

Vegetables

Artichokes | Beets | Cabbage | Cauliflower | Celery | Celery Root | Collard Greens | Chanterelle Mushrooms | Parsnips | Rutabagas | Winter Squash | Turnips

Fruits

Apples | Coconuts | Dates | Grapefruit | Grapes | Persimmons | Pomegranates | Tangerines

Fish and Seafood

Clams (U.S. West Coast) | Dungeness Crab | Oysters

International Recipes for Fall

Try these autumn recipes.

Khoresht-e Aloo 
(Persian lamb stewed with prunes)
Plate of khoresht-e aloo

Khoresht-e Aloo 
(Persian lamb stewed with prunes)

Gratin de Potiron 
(French winter squash casserole)
Casserole dish of gratin de potiron

Gratin de Potiron 
(French winter squash casserole)

Töltött Káposzta 
(Hungarian stuffed cabbage rolls over sauerkraut)
Hungarian stuffed cabbage rolls showing filling

Töltött Káposzta 
(Hungarian stuffed cabbage rolls over sauerkraut)

Bigos 
(Polish hunter's stew of meat, cabbage and sauerkraut)
Bigos stew in a dish

Bigos 
(Polish hunter's stew of meat, cabbage and sauerkraut)

Fabada Asturiana 
(Spanish sausage and bean stew)
Fabada Asturiana (Spanish sausage and bean stew)

Fabada Asturiana 
(Spanish sausage and bean stew)

Besan Laddu 
(Indian sweet chickpea flour balls)
Balls of besan laddu

Besan Laddu 
(Indian sweet chickpea flour balls)

Boston Baked Beans 
(American white beans baked with molasses)
Boston baked beans in a bean pot

Boston Baked Beans 
(American white beans baked with molasses)

Semmelknödel 
(German bread dumplings)
Semmelknödel German bread dumplings on a platter

Semmelknödel 
(German bread dumplings)

Rob-e Anar 
(Persian pomegranate molasses)
Fresh pomegranate molasses

Rob-e Anar 
(Persian pomegranate molasses)

Lanttulaatikko 
(Finnish mashed rutabaga casserole)
Half-served casserole dish of lanttulaatikko

Lanttulaatikko 
(Finnish mashed rutabaga casserole)

Brasato al Chianti 
(Italian beef braised in red wine)
Slices of beef brasato al Chianti on a plate with polenta

Brasato al Chianti 
(Italian beef braised in red wine)

Ajvar 
(Serbian roasted eggplant and pepper spread)
A jar of ajvar with some spooned onto a plate.

Ajvar 
(Serbian roasted eggplant and pepper spread)

Spaghetti and Meatballs 
(American pasta with meatballs)
Plate of spaghetti and meatballs

Spaghetti and Meatballs 
(American pasta with meatballs)

Daube de Boeuf Provençale 
(French Provencal beef braised in red wine)
A large dish of daube de boeuf provancale.

Daube de Boeuf Provençale 
(French Provencal beef braised in red wine)

Apfelstrudel 
(Austrian apple strudel pastry)
A slice of apfelstrudel on a plate.

Apfelstrudel 
(Austrian apple strudel pastry)

Shchi 
(Russian cabbage soup)
Pot of simmering shchi

Shchi 
(Russian cabbage soup)

Roast Turkey with Pan Gravy 
(American holiday turkey)
Beautifully roasted holiday turkey

Roast Turkey with Pan Gravy 
(American holiday turkey)

Pumpkin Pie 
(American pumpkin pastry dessert)
Freshly baked homemade pumpkin pies

Pumpkin Pie 
(American pumpkin pastry dessert)

Baechu Kimchi 
(Korean spicy fermented cabbage pickle)
Portion of kimchi in a bowl

Baechu Kimchi 
(Korean spicy fermented cabbage pickle)

Lekach 
(Israeli Jewish honey cake)
Lekach, a Jewish honey cake, in a Bundt pan

Lekach 
(Israeli Jewish honey cake)

Apple Cake 
(American tender cake with apples)
Moist apple cake in a pan.

Apple Cake 
(American tender cake with apples)

Ghapama 
(Armenian rice-stuffed and baked whole pumpkin)
Two ghapama pumpkins on a table

Ghapama 
(Armenian rice-stuffed and baked whole pumpkin)

Chicken Pot Pie 
(American savory chicken stew in pastry)
Skillet of chicken pot pie with biscuit crust

Chicken Pot Pie 
(American savory chicken stew in pastry)

Bográcsgulyás 
(Hungarian beef and pepper stew)
Pot of bogracs gulyas over a campfire

Bográcsgulyás 
(Hungarian beef and pepper stew)

Coq au Vin 
(French chicken braised in wine)
Coq au vin on a serving plate

Coq au Vin 
(French chicken braised in wine)

Roasted Pumpkin Seeds 
(American Halloween snack)
Roasted pumpkin seeds

Roasted Pumpkin Seeds 
(American Halloween snack)

Sauerbraten 
(German marinated beef pot roast)
Slices of sauerbraten with gravy and potato dumplings

Sauerbraten 
(German marinated beef pot roast)

Gajar ka Halwa 
(Indian, Pakistani sweet carrot pudding)
Bowl of colorful gajar ka halwa

Gajar ka Halwa 
(Indian, Pakistani sweet carrot pudding)

Fesenjan 
(Persian chicken in pomegranate-walnut sauce)
Fesenjan (Persian chicken in pomegranate-walnut sauce)

Fesenjan 
(Persian chicken in pomegranate-walnut sauce)

Gigantes Plaki sto Fourno 
(Greek baked white beans in tomato sauce)
Small plate of gigantes plaki

Gigantes Plaki sto Fourno 
(Greek baked white beans in tomato sauce)

Hausgemachtes Sauerkraut 
(German, Austrian, Swiss homemade fermented cabbage)
Jar of homemade fresh sauerkraut

Hausgemachtes Sauerkraut 
(German, Austrian, Swiss homemade fermented cabbage)

Boston Brown Bread 
(American steamed whole-grain molasses bread)
Slices of Boston brown bread with cream cheese

Boston Brown Bread 
(American steamed whole-grain molasses bread)

Tarte Tatin 
(French caramelized apple tart)
Finished tarte tatin

Tarte Tatin 
(French caramelized apple tart)

Schweinebraten 
(German roast pork)
Slices of schweinebraten roast pork

Schweinebraten 
(German roast pork)

Sancocho 
(Latin root vegetable stew)
Bowl of sancocho root vegetables stew

Sancocho 
(Latin root vegetable stew)

Wild Rice Pilaf 
(Canadian-American wild grain pilaf)
Mix of wild and regular rice

Wild Rice Pilaf 
(Canadian-American wild grain pilaf)

New England Clam Chowder 
(American clam and potato stew)
Bowl of New England clam chowder

New England Clam Chowder 
(American clam and potato stew)

Cranberry Sauce 
(American cranberry compote)
Glass bowl with cranberry sauce

Cranberry Sauce 
(American cranberry compote)

Apfelmus 
(German applesauce)
A spoonful of chunky applesauce from a bowl.

Apfelmus 
(German applesauce)

Torta di Mele 
(Italian apple torte)
Torta di mele Italian apple tart

Torta di Mele 
(Italian apple torte)

Carbonade Flamande, or Vlaamse Stoverij 
(Belgian beef and beer stew)
Plate of beef carbonade with fries

Carbonade Flamande, or Vlaamse Stoverij 
(Belgian beef and beer stew)

Kotmis Satsivi 
(Georgian chicken with walnut sauce)
Small bowl of kotmis satsivi garnished with pomegranate arils

Kotmis Satsivi 
(Georgian chicken with walnut sauce)

Empanadas 
(Latin savory stuffed pastries)
Tray of empanadas

Empanadas 
(Latin savory stuffed pastries)

Southern Greens 
(American Southern-Soul simmered leafy greens)
Pot of simmering greens

Southern Greens 
(American Southern-Soul simmered leafy greens)

Moules Marinières 
(French, Belgian, Dutch mussels in white wine sauce)
Bowls of French mussels in white wine sauce

Moules Marinières 
(French, Belgian, Dutch mussels in white wine sauce)

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