What are the best vegetables to eat in September?
September is one of those months when we can still find the colors of summer at the vegetable stand, while the first products that will accompany us through autumn slowly begin to appear.
But which vegetables are best to bring to the table in September? Of course, there's no one-size-fits-all ranking, especially since seasonality varies depending on the area, climate, and varieties grown.
However, we can take advantage of this period to alternate the last typical summer vegetables with the first vegetables of the new season, also making our diet much more varied.
Vegetables to bring to the table in September
Zucchini, eggplant, and peppers are still among the mainstays. They're perfect for making the most of the last few summer menus: they can be grilled, baked, used as a pasta sauce, or used as a simple side dish.
Tomatoes may also still be available, especially in areas where temperatures remain high. September may therefore be the right time to take advantage of them before seasonal availability dwindles.
But it's also the season when pumpkin takes center stage again. We can use it in soups, risottos, pasta, baked side dishes, and numerous other dishes. It's rich in carotenoids and allows us to gradually change the way we cook with the arrival of cooler days.
Depending on the area and the time of month, we can also find chard, chicory, green beans, cucumbers, and salad greens, always remembering that the gardening calendar is not the same throughout Italy.
In September we don't have to choose just one vegetable
The real advantage of this month is the variety. We don't need to single out one vegetable as "better" than the others.
Alternating colors and types allows us to consume fiber and a broader range of vitamins, minerals, and plant compounds. This allows us to organize our grocery shopping and avoid buying the same two vegetables every week.
We also look at the provenance and what we actually find at our greengrocer's: a locally grown product may have a slightly different seasonality than that indicated in generic calendars.
September, therefore, doesn't force us to completely say goodbye to summer. We can place peppers, eggplants, and zucchini on our plates alongside the first pumpkins, letting our groceries slowly tell us about the change of season.
