From crisp salads to crisply flavored fruit sorbets, early summer produce, and the resulting recipes, have one thing in common: fresh flavor. Try these French summer produce recipes when your CSA box is overflowing with local fruits, vegetables, and herbs.
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Flickr user avlxyzNothing is as reminiscent of summer refreshment as this easy tomato snow pea salad recipe made with readily available ingredients. This quick salad is packed with nutrients and is budget-friendly from the use of canned beans and inexpensive, yet wholesome, carrots.
Flickr user sporkistThis roasted potato salad recipe is an easy, year-round dish made with readily available, affordable ingredients. Serve the herb roasted potato salad hot and fresh from the oven, or chill it in the refrigerator for a day and serve the salad cold as a healthy side dish.
Tracy HunterYou don’t need to go to a restaurant to get gourmet stuffed Brie; it’s very easy to make in your own kitchen! Any combination of fruit and nuts is delicious, but this apricot Chambord Brie recipe adds a special dimension to the filling – the fruit is roasted. The result is a fantastic, subtle caramel flavor that contrasts nicely with the soft, warm-from the-oven, savory Brie. Serve it as-is - en croûte - or with toasted baguettes for an unforgettable appetizer.
Peter LindbergThis cornichon pickles recipe is for the tart, little pickles traditionally served with appetizer platters, smoked meat and fish, and in tartines. These homemade treats are so easy to make and have a delicious advantage over store-bought gherkins. Use this recipe and learn how to make cornichon pickles in your own kitchen.
This grilled peach and goat cheese canapés recipe is a year-round favorite because it can be prepared outdoors or inside, on a grill pan. Nearly effortless and very elegant, these grilled peach canapés feature a cinnamon-laced, caramelized flavor that is heavenly paired with goat cheese toasts.
©Paul GoyetteThis herbed goat cheese and tomato tart is a fantastic appetizer. Made with garden tomatoes, a thin layer of Dijon mustard, and fresh herbs, this pastry is a light meal in itself with a glass of wine. Use your favorite blend of herbs to customize your tart.
Rebecca FranklinWhen one thinks of palmiers – the tiny scroll-like pastries - sweet, flaky cookies come to mind. While these are flaky and delicate like the original, that’s where the similarities end. This recipe for herbes de Provence palmiers uses a dried herbes de Provence and garlic for a fresh, sophisticated flavor.
©foéÖþoooeyThis raspberries with balsamic glaze recipe has a special secret: crushed raspberries. Cooking and then crushing fresh raspberries into the balsamic reduction adds an intense berry flavor to the already flavorful glaze. These berries are so versatile and delicious; add them to ice cream, crepes, or a salad.
Flickr user FrettingDetailsNectarines make up nearly half of all peach cultivars in France and the majority are from the scenic Rhone Valley. Given their popularity and unique refreshing flavor, it's no mystery why they're the focus of so many summer-themed recipes. This fresh nectarine tart recipe takes a few hours and three simple steps - pastry, custard, and fruit topping - to create an exceptionally elegant and scrumptious dessert.
This strawberry and vanilla charlotte recipe creates a beautiful presentation full of fresh, juicy strawberries and creamy vanilla custard. This recipe is a simplified version of the classic layered charlotte, and every bit as delicious. It makes an effortlessly impressive dessert to take along to a weekend party.
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