9 ways to hold onto that summer vibe

Summer may be on the way out, but that doesn't mean that its delicious food has to go with it.

Source: Headline / Jean Cazals

Here are 9 ways to preserve that summer vibe.

1. Mango Pickle

Synonymous with summer, the return of mangoes on fruit shop shelves brings great excitement in December, followed by great despair when they disappear in February. Hold onto that unmistakable mango flavour with this easy to make and long-lasting Indian mango pickle.

Source: Alan Benson

2. Jamaican avocado ice-cream

As every avo lover knows, this glorious and versatile fruit (let's not argue on this one!) doesn't stay fresh for long. Get around this problem, and enjoy avocados into autumn, by taking a leaf from Jamaica's book, and making this avocado ice-cream. It's blissfully creamy, and very easy to make. If you really want to sound like an expert, start calling them 'alligator pears', as the Jamaicans do.

Source: Feast magazine

3. Rockmelon, bay leaf and white pepper jam

Have you ever thought of making jam from rockmelon? This recipe from Silvia Colloca makes a great gift, or simply a way to continue enjoying this marvellous melon. The bay leaf and white pepper make this a sweet-savoury jam, perfect to serve with cheese.

Rockmelon, bay leaf and white pepper jam. Source: Silvia's Italian Masterclass

4. Tomato passata

Autumn's arrival doesn't mean that you should have to say goodbye to fresh tomato sauce. Bottle up this versatile passata and enjoy summer's best 'fregetable' well into the cooler weeks with your favourite pasta, or a classic eggplant parmigiana. We've got a number of ones to try out, including this recipe from our Gourmet Farmer, Matthew Evans, or this one that gathers a depth of flavour from rosemary and garlic.

Tomato passata Source: Petrina Tinslay

5. Banana ice-cream with muscovado meringues and rum sauce

Seeing the fruit bowl filled with soft, sweet bananas is one of the best things about the summer months. Make the most of it by blending some of the season's beauties into this fancy ice-cream. It will take some time to make, but it will be well worth it, because, well ... bananas!

Banana ice-cream with muscovado meringues and rum sauce Source: Feast Magazine

6. Green tomato chutney

There is always a time when the summer is gone, most of the tomatoes have ripened beautifully, but a few have decided to stay green. Enter this delicious chutney. Serve it alongside almost anything, and get creative experimenting with this malleable recipe.

Source: Headline / Jean Cazals

7. Low-sugar strawberry jam

The flavour of summer's king berry is allowed shine through in this tasty jam recipe that won't blow your caloric intake before you've even left for work. If you move quickly, you might even be able to pick the last of this season's strawberries fresh from a grower's farm to make your jam before we're forced to wait until next summer.

Source: Headline / Jean Cazals

8. Indian plum chutney

Keep the love for summer stone fruit with this versatile plum chutney that can be used with hot dishes, pungent dishes, or ones that benefit from a touch of sweetness.

Indian plum chutney. Source: Hardie Grant Books / Jana Liebenstein

9. Matcha-avocado popsicles

Grab the last of the summer's fresh avos from the shelf and put together these indulgent icy poles. They're slow to melt, which makes them perfect for that last picnic you want to squeeze in before the cloudless skies and warm breezes take their blessings up north.

Source: Leanne Kitchen