Here in Arizona, we have the luxury of being able to grow fruits and vegetables all year round. Where many states won’t see fresh vegetables grown locally for months to come, our farms are producing and our farmer’s markets are thriving. One of the biggest benefits of this extra long growing season is ongoing access to local produce. The key to being a locavore is to know what is in season at different times of the year and take advantage of the different offerings as they are available.
Here is a 5 day dinner menu featuring some of the best of what’s in season for January. For details on where to get local produce right now, check out this recent post on Winter Farmer’s Markets.
Dinner 1
Start your meal off right with Golden Beet and Pomegranate Salad, a delicious starter featuring two in season vegetables, beets and arugula. For the main course, try a traditional Pot Roast made with Arizona beef. This is a great time saver since the main dish comes with its own sides. Finish the meal off with a mouth-watering slice of Cheri’s Classic Prickly Pear Cheesecake.
Dinner 2
For a taste of Italy, this meal starts with a pot of Classic Minestrone Soup using in season veggies like carrots, celery, and cabbage. Fill your family’s plates with this delicious take on an Italian classic, Sausage and Goat Cheese Lasagna filled with Arizona-raised beef, local eggs, herbs, and goat cheese. Finish off your feast with Chevre Truffles.
Dinner 3
For a vegetable rich, flavorful meal, begin with our recipe for The Farmers Favorite Salad which uses fresh greens and spinach. Prepare Penne with Swiss Chard and Leeks in Cream Sauce as your entrée paired with traditional dish of Beets with Olive Oil, Garlic, and Parsley and get the goodness of January’s Swiss chard, leeks, and beets. A savory dessert of Zucchini Squash Spice Cake rounds out this delicious meal packed full of fresh Arizona vegetables.
Dinner 4
For an Asian flair, start this meal off right with a bowl of Carrot Ginger Soup made from fresh carrots mixed with ginger, one of the most common spices used in Asian cuisine. Fill your plate with a variety of main courses like two different kinds of lettuce wraps, one that uses chicken and one that uses beef. These wraps feature several in season products including lettuce, green onions, Arizona beef and chicken, and celery. To complement the wraps, whip up this family recipe for Egg Foo Yung to complete your Asian meal.
Dinner 5
This dinner is great for entertaining and offers something for everyone. For the first course, offer your fellow diners a choice of Albondigas Meatball Soup or Join the Party Salad. Both dishes feature in season produce like carrots, celery, radishes, or cabbage. Offering a duo of main courses like America’s Favorite Pork Chops and Chicken with Shallots and Cream Sauce helps ensure you can please every palette while also supporting local Arizona ranchers. End the meal with a slice of Cheri’s Classis Prickly Pear Cheesecake for a dessert that is truly local.
- What’s For Dinner Tonight? Something New! (fillyourplate.org)
- AZ Local Ingredients Come Together to Create a Delicious Healthy Hamburger (fillyourplate.org)
- Fall into Autumn with Specialty Soup and Stew Recipes (fillyourplate.org)
