Three recipes to celebrate late-harvest fruits and veggies

summer_harvestThe late summer harvest offers some of the season’s tastiest fruits and vegetables — especially when they’re farm fresh and locally grown.

As well as being packed full of flavour, seasonal produce provides greater nutritional value and also comes with environmental and economical benefits.

Sourcing local produce not only reduces your carbon footprint but also saves you money on grocery bills while supporting the farmers who feed you.

The following three recipes are easy to prepare, are delicious and feature seasonal foods you should be eating right now.

Tomato gazpacho

Enjoying summer’s bounty of tomatoes is easy with this classic chilled soup to cool you down on a hot day!

Coarsely chop the following ingredients, and then blend into a smooth purée:

3 large ripe tomatoes

1 green bell pepper

1 English cucumber

1/2 a Spanish onion

1 clove garlic

Transfer the purée into a bowl, and then add the following:

2 cups tomato juice

4 tbsp. olive oil

3 tbsp. red wine vinegar

Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

Cover and refrigerate. Serve chilled and with a dollop of Tofutti Sour Supreme and fresh parsley as garnish.

Mexican street corn

This is a dairy-free take on a simple dish sold by street vendors in Mexico. It pairs perfectly with grilled corn on the cob.

In a blender, combine the following ingredients:

1 cup of Tofutti Sour Supreme

1/2 cup cilantro, chopped

1 garlic clove

2 tbsp. fresh lime juice

1/2 tsp. chili powder

Salt and pepper to taste

Blend until smooth. To serve, spread the mixture on the grilled corn and garnish with fresh cilantro and lime wedges.

Grilled peaches

Grilled peaches are a healthy way to cap off a great meal, and are a sweet treat the whole family will love!

Cut peaches in half, and discard the pits. Brush with vegetable oil, and place on a grill — cut side facing down — for about three to four minutes. Flip the peaches, sprinkle the cut side with brown sugar and cinnamon, and then grill for about 10 minutes. Serve with a scoop of vanilla Tofutti Premium non-dairy frozen dessert and garnish with fresh mint. Enjoy!