For once, it is possible to compare apples and oranges since these two fruits dominate May’s top produce.
“May is the start of the winter season fruit, so apples are at their best,” says Hannah Ghassan at Hilltop Fruit in Merrylands Western Sydney.
Her top pick is the granny Smith. “They’re a start of season apple,” she declares. Ghassan sells them at $5.99 per kilo, and she predicts they’ll fall to $2.50 for a kilo before mid-winter.
Granny Smiths are among the most versatile of apples. They are good for eating and used in savory and sweet recipes. Apples in pastry are a no-brainer. Check out Yotam Ottolenghi’s apple butter galette and this triple threat Toffee Apple Cake.
Granny Smith’s tartness does well in the rojak, which is a Malaysian mix of fruit salad sharply served with chili, tamarind, and belachan. The green apple adds a touch of balance to this savory pie of gruyere and potato.
Pink ladies will drop in price through May. They are currently available in the supermarket for around $5.50 per kilo. They are also available in other seasonal varieties, such as Fujis and kanjis.
In the Summer Hill Village Fruit Shop located in Sydney’s inner west, Co-owner Sonia Elias also recommends “sweet and crunchy” bravo apples if you are able to identify bravo apples. The season began around a week back, but the varieties with purple skin aren’t quite as readily available as their red counterparts.
If you’re looking for winter citrus, the fleshy navel oranges that taste good are priced at $7-$8 a kilogram in the supermarkets and will likely become less expensive and plentiful by the beginning of May and the end of June. It’s difficult to resist Yotam Ottolenghi’s chocolaty and orange-flavored fondants in which the tiny mounds of molten chocolate are infused with chili chipotle.
Grapefruit – a less polarizing citrus – is priced at $5 per kilo at the supermarket in the US, while limes and lemons are at $1.50 each. A little more than three limes is enough of the trick for Belinda Jeffery’s pistachio-lime syrup cake made with pomegranate.
But the most anticipated star of winter is mandarins. Imperials cost about $3 per kg at a time in supermarkets, and the sweeter and fleshier honey Turcotte and four varieties are expected to fruit in the final week of May.
Beware of stone fruits (gone) as well as the grapes (going) and the berries (becoming costly). If you have to buy blackberries, they’re the most affordable. Although you’ll be able to find high-quality watermelons and grapes, prices will increase when they become more difficult to find.
For these vegetables, they need to be rooted.
A bounty of pumpkins, potatoes, and leeks, which means the soup season is upon us.
“As soon as the cooler months come, pumpkin is a big hit in our store,” says Ghassan, who is selling pumpkin for $2.50 per kilogram. It’s going to take 1.5kg to make Felicity Cloake’s soup for a pumpkin that is spiced with sage, chili, and nutmeg. Yasmin Khan’s version is aromatic thanks to ginger, cardamom, along with coconut milk. If you want something to chew on, you can try Nigel Slater’s homemade pumpkin topped with spiced chickpeas.
Potatoes and sweet potatoes cost approximately $4 a kilo at supermarkets (or less if you buy on special occasions), and supply remains constant despite the rainy weather.
Greens are a must
at Signorelli Balwyn, located in Melbourne’s eastern owner, Steve Signorelli, says a robust green like silverbeet is a good bet for around $4 a bunch. In the supermarkets, the price of broccoli is 4 dollars per kilo. Cauliflower is sold and priced between $5 and $6 per head, and leeks cost about $2.50 to $3 per kilo.
If you have paralysis, mix all the above (and then some) into Thomasina Miers’ potato leek cavolo-nero soup, and add parmesan croutons.
Cucumbers and tomatoes will decrease in value as the winter crop season begins. However, while the supply of eggplant stays constant, prices are starting to increase (they are available at prices of up to $9 per kilogram). But smaller, less delicate vegetables like broccolini, asparagus, and Brussels sprouts are expected to be a major part of the grocery store.
Treasure chestnuts
After several months of fluctuating prices, avocados are now significantly less expensive and of higher quality. Hass avocados can be found in a few stores, but the controversial Shepard variety is the most common, priced between $2 and $3.50 per pound.
However, give a huge warm greeting to the chestnuts that are abundant and best roasted over a fire if you possess the patience and skill or an oven, in the event that you don’t.
“They are a very hearty nut,” says Ghassan, who is the owner of an extremely high turnover of chestnuts in the Merrylands shop. “It’s a nice winter warmer, roasted or boiled.”
At Ghassan’s supermarket, they’re selling at $9.99 per kilo. Alternatively, they are available at the grocery store in good supply for around $12 a kilogram. To stop the explosives with a chestnut scent (and to make them easier to remove), cut a cross into the chestnut prior to boiling or roasting to get the most pure flavor. To take your consumption of chestnuts up a notch, use them in Rachel Roddy’s Risotto-like dish for rice with sage, pumpkin, and sayings.
Now for something more unique …
Suppose you’re looking for a cold-weather fruit that’s interesting, unique, unusual, or different. In that case, The Signorelli name-checks include nashi pears ($2.50 per) as well as golden kiwi fruit (about $1.50 for each) that will decrease in price during autumn and winter. Also, Custard Apples (about $6 to $7 per kilo, or $4.50 per kilo in supermarkets). Persimmons are also in their best condition (Signorelli sells them for 2 for $5), while their peak season runs from early May until the beginning of June.