Crisp fallen leaves, hot apple cider, pumpkins everywhere – yep, autumn has arrived, and with it comes the warm, earthy tastes of the season. But I’m not just talking about sage stuffing or pumpkin pies. By adding complementary flavors to fall’s produce, the possibilities for creating new seasonal favorites are endless.Not sure where to begin? Here are a few tips and perfect pairings to help you get on your way to a delicious harvest season.
Fresh Fruits
Apples are a quintessential fall ingredient for desserts and breakfasts. Why not add a savory edge and pair it with cheese? Cheddar is a perfect match for apples – try adding diced cubes to our Apple Pie with Walnut Crumb Topping opens in a new tab.
Did you know raspberries are a fall fruit? They’re excellent with nuts, like in this Raspberry-Almond Crumble opens in a new tab.
Figs aren’t just for snack bars! Cured meats like prosciutto make for a sweet and salty flavor combo. Try stuffing half a fig with goat cheese and then wrapping it with a piece of prosciutto for an elegant appetizer.
Shake up your salad routine by adding thinly sliced crisp pear and crumbled creamy blue cheese. This Endive, Pear and Walnut Salad opens in a new tab just needs the cheese added!
Crostini is a tempting snack in any season. Warm things up with our Roasted Pear and American Artisan Cheese Crostini opens in a new tab.
Sweet grapes and earthy nuts burst with flavor when paired up. Try an appetizer of Blue Cheese and Walnut Dusted Grapes opens in a new tab, or an entrée of Quinoa Salad with Chicken, Grapes and Almonds opens in a new tab.
Vegetables
It’s not too late to enjoy fresh tomatoes, and pairing them with the sharp flavor of fennel makes for a new take on sauces. Check out this simple recipe for Tilapia with Fennel and Tomato opens in a new tab.
Sweet potatoes are more than just a Thanksgiving side dish! Their mildly sweet flavor makes them a great addition to both sweet and savory dishes, and when paired with ginger packs a flavor punch. Add freshly grated ginger to Quinoa and Sweet Potato Cakes opens in a new tab, or mix up your pie rotation with Coconut-Gingersnap Sweet Potato Pie opens in a new tab.
Mushrooms and garlic go naturally together, as mushrooms infuse with the flavor of their cooking partners. These Garlic Mushrooms in Wine Sauce opens in a new tab are excellent on their own or as a topper for steak or pasta.
If you like spice, grab some cauliflower the next time you’ve got curry on the brain. Cooked cauliflower is creamy and mild, and can help temper any spicy recipe. Our Creamy Curried Cauliflower Soup opens in a new tab is the perfect thing for warming up on autumn nights.
We can’t forget about winter squash! From acorn to butternut to kabocha, sweet winter squashes are excellent in any recipe that would typically use potato. Nutty Parmesan cheese balances the sweetness – try a few shavings on top of Classic Butternut Squash Soup opens in a new tab or Golden Glazed Acorn Squash opens in a new tab.
Are you inspired to try new twists on autumn flavors? How do you turn the fall harvest into something special? I’d love to hear your recipe suggestions for perfect pairings in the comments.
