Arab Foods in Season this Fall
BY: Nisreen Eadeh/Arab America Contributing Writer
Forget about your lemons, melons, avocados, and nectarines. The Fall sesson has begun and with it comes sweet vegetables, hard fruit, and dry herbs. There is a misconception that fruit and vegetables are best if they’re grown in the summer, but autumn’s seasonal produce are equally as delicious.
Since the Arab world was blessed with dry heat, select summer produces, like tomatoes, remain excellent past the summer. These summer favorites are joined by October’s finest fruits and vegetables. This time of year is especially wonderful for the Arab diet because it brings plenty of healthy, yet sweet, delights.
Fruits
Raw Olives
Try an at-home curing treatment with raw red or yellow olives to give them a flavor all your own.
Quinces
This ancient fruit resembles pears but has to be cooked before eaten. Try a quince pie recipe this fall and fall in love with the fruit.
Persimmons
This sweet fruit is native to East Asia but can be found across the Levant now.
Yellow and Red Dates
Often called the healthiest fruit on Earth, red dates are back! Pick up some yellow dates too to try new flavors.
Figs
Fresh figs definitely taste better than fig newtons, so put these purple beauties out on a table with guests in October.
Tomatoes
There are endless possibilities with tomatoes. Just make sure you use them while they’re still fresh and in season!
Vegetables
Cabbage
Without a doubt… The best way to eat cabbage is rolled up with rice and meat!
Bell peppers
Peppers are a close second for the best-stuffed vegetable.
Cauliflower
Roasted, fried, mixed with tahini, or dipped in ranch – there are many ways to get your cauliflower fix in the fall.
Fennel bulbs
Arabs are already eating plenty of fennel seeds, so try a bulb this season to shake things up!
Eggplant
Charred eggplant with tahini makes this season vegetable “baladi”.
Sweet onion
Grilling season has officially ended, but you can still get a similar flavor from the sweet onions by putting the skewers over a glass or metal pan in the oven.
Squash
Squash is planted in mid to late summer, so by October, they are ready to be stuffed for the table.
Herbs
Mint
Your mint is ready to dry it out or use the fresh leaves in tea this season.
Basil
This fragrant herb can make any dish delicious.
Coriander
Put it in soup, salad, rice, or anything else you love. Coriander goes great with almost anything.
Parsley
Start picking that parsley because now is the time for tabouli!
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