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What’s in Season – December Produce and Recipes
By Samira Kazan
published December 01, 2024
December produce is packed full of holiday favorites that can be enjoyed at the table or dressed up and given as gifts to loved ones.
The festive season is packed full of colorful ingredients that are at their best this month. December fruits and vegetables have had the summer and fall to ripen and grow, bringing essential nutrients and incredible colors to the first month of winter.
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- Winter squash
- Brassicas and leafy greens
- Root vegetables
- Fruit
- Others
- More seasonal produce guides
Winter squash
Butternut squash: This versatile vegetable crosses the seasons and becomes a staple in December. You can add it to stews or make stuffed butternut squash for a festive centerpiece. You can also make a butternut squash pizza crust or make a warming butternut squash soup .
Best Soup Recipes: Simple Butternut Squash Soup
Brassicas and leafy greens
Cauliflower: An underrated vegetable, cauliflower has recently resurfaced as a vegan alternative to everything from wings to rice. You can make cauliflower wings , crispy air fryer cauliflower , or vegan-friendly roasted cauliflower steaks .
Roasted Cauliflower Steaks
Collard greens: Rich in Vitamins A and C, collards are a loose-leaf green veggie similar to cabbage. Use them as you would an ordinary green cabbage or kale – perfect for boosting everyday meals or adding to salads. They’re easily boiled, steamed, or sauteed and are frequently found on dinner tables in the Southern USA.
Root vegetables
Carrots: These vibrant orange columns have spent the autumn burrowing roots and come out just in time for winter. They’re a great ingredient for both savory and sweet dishes. For a mix of the two, whip some honey-glazed roasted carrots as a festive side dish. And, for a no-waste option, keep the leafy green stalks and turn them into carrot top pesto ! You can also enjoy an easy carrot raisin salad , warming carrot soup , or even a roasted carrot dip .
Easy Carrot Soup
Beets: Packed full of essential antioxidants, beets have a beautiful purple jewel tone and can be enjoyed raw or cooked. They can be quickly turned into beet juice , pickled beets , roasted beets , or mixed into delicious winter beet pasta . You can also make nourishing borscht (beet soup) or fun, colorful beet hummus .
How to roast beets
Potatoes : In December, the heartier, larger potato varieties come into their own, having had all year to grow and develop. Look for Maris Piper, Nicola, and red potatoes—they are specifically planted to be enjoyed during the winter months. There are limitless possibilities when it comes to preparing potatoes.
Enjoy mashed potatoes , boiled potatoes , roasted potatoes , microwave baked potatoes , au gratin , or Lebanese-style spicy potatoes . If you need a quick side, you can make microwave baked potatoes in minutes.
You can also make fun recipes like parmesan-crusted potatoes or crispy smashed potatoes . And you can make a delicious one-pan chicken and potatoes to enjoy with the whole family.
How to Boil Potatoes (Whole or Cubed)
Fruit
Kiwi: Whether you’re brave enough to eat them with the skin on (they’re packed full of essential fiber!) or not, kiwi fruits are an antioxidant and Vitamin C powerhouse. Tart and sweet, you can enjoy these raw, as a kiwi juice , in a fruit salad , and more.
Citrus fruit: Oranges, clementines, and tangerines are Christmas staples in many countries. They are also another Vitamin C highlight of the December seasonal fruit. Try candied oranges in syrup as a homemade gift, or use them to make a delicious orange chicken dinner or orange pistachio cake .
You can also enjoy them in homemade juices and shots. Try freshly squeezed orange juice , orange-ginger juice , pineapple-orange juice , or orange-carrot juice .
How to Make Orange Juice
Pomegranate : Pomegranate season continues into December, so you can enjoy its nutritious goodness throughout the holiday season. Plus, the seeds can last up to two months in the fridge, ready to top all your favorite dips (like baba ganoush) and salads. You can also learn how to make pomegranate juice , pomegranate kombucha , or pomegranate molasses .
How to deseed a pomegranate
Others
Chestnuts : Traditionally roasted as a festive snack, chestnuts can be picked straight from the tree or bought at your local grocery store. They can be easily incorporated into stuffing, or you can elevate your side dishes by mixing them with mushrooms (for this delicious vegan Wellington ), lentils, parsnips, or sweet potatoes. In any case, make sure to learn how to roast chestnuts in the oven !
How to roast chestnuts
Wild Mushrooms: Named after how they grow, wild mushrooms include oyster, chanterelle, button, and porcini. Whether you buy locally or go foraging yourself, mushrooms are a fantastic substitute for meat without losing texture or flavor. I like to use them in many recipes, especially during the holidays. They’re also perfect for making dumplings !
You can enjoy fried mushrooms , mushroom pasta sauce , sautéed mushrooms , stuffed mushrooms , or toast with creamy mushrooms . You can even make dried mushrooms at home to store long-term.
