Farmers' market recipes for July

These collections are special.

You see, most monthly lists grab recipes where the main ingredient is in season, but overlook that several supporting ingredients are not. I admit, it drives me crazy! Pull out my hair kind of crazy.

If I am going to take the time to go to the farmers market, I want to make use of everything they have to offer.

So I put together my own collection – recipes you can make this month. These recipes all use ingredients that are in-season for July (or available at high quality year-round, like lemons or limes), and have a creative spin on the ingredients.

Let's start off with some July appetizer recipes

Smashed blackberry and goat cheese toasts - recipe from Wry Toast

Crisp zucchini bites with garlic aioli dip - recipe by Natasha's Kitchen

Spicy harissa shrimp and watermelon bites - recipe by Rhubarbarians

Muhammara (roasted red pepper dip) - recipe by The Mediterranean Dish

Apricot habanero jam - recipe by Prairie Californian

Make this right when hot peppers start showing up in July, which is near the end of apricot season. A great way to use up all of those ripe apricots then enjoy later in the year.

Next up: salads for July

Grilled peach, corn, and zucchini salad with lemon-basil vinaigrette - recipe by The Simple Veganista

Fig and halloumi salad with balsamic fig dressing - recipe by Amuse Your Bouche

Eggplant and caramelized onion grain salad grapes and walnut dressing - recipe by Whole Bite Blog

We tend to think of grapes as a fall crop, but they actually start showing up in June, and last well past the end of eggplant season.

Purple kale, aubergine (eggplant), and blackberry salad - recipe by Green Kitchen Stories

Heirloom tomato salad with green beans and chevre - recipe by Healthy Seasonal Recipes

Kale salad with cherries, pistachios and grilled flank steak - recipe by So Let's Hang Out

Almond-crusted goat cheese, fig and peach salad - recipe by Floating Kitchen

Figs are in season in early summer, and again in early fall, so make this anytime figs are in season.

Arugula salad with summer berries and steak - recipe from Sweet Peas & Saffron

Use an assortment of berries from the farmer's market - if they have it, it's local and in-season. Most summer berries are in season at the same time.

Main courses, some with meat, some without

Orange-herb chicken kabobs with blueberry balsamic sauce - recipe by Plating Pixels

The recipe calls for pickled jalapenos, but if you use fresh ones, you'll want to make this later in summer, when both blueberries and jalapenos are in season, usually around July.

Grilled chicken naan wraps with roasted red pepper tahini sauce - recipe by Tara's Multicultural Table

20-minute beef snow pea skillet - recipe by Nutmeg Nanny

Rosemary roasted pork tenderloin with plum chutney - recipe by Carolina Girl Cooks

Eggplant pomodoro pasta - recipe by Foolproof Living

Eggplant and tomato season overlap very well!

Zucchini alfredo - recipe by Damn Delicious

Garlic basil chicken with tomato butter sauce - recipe by Pinch of Yum

Italian caprese pasta - recipe by Chelsea's Messy Apron

Sweet corn curry - recipe by Yup, it's Vegan!

Mini Italian meatball mac and cheese stuffed peppers - recipe by Half Baked Harvest

BBQ pulled pork sandwiches with raspberry-jalapeno salsa and onion rings - recipe by No Spoon Necessary

Jalapenos are in season when it gets much warmer out, around July - so make these once jalapenos are available, otherwise sub in your favorite hot sauce or dried chilies. The recipe calls for packaged pulled pork - if you are making your own, here's a recipe to try from Stuck on Sweet.

Veggie hummus sandwich - recipe by Cooking Classy

Tomato and cucumber season conveniently overlap. All of the other ingredients are available year-round, so you can really make this anytime cucumbers and tomatoes are both in-season.