wellness
Nieuw-West Chefs: Five Summer Recipes Using Fresh Local Produce
Nieuw West residents can build summer meals around zucchini, strawberries and tomatoes sourced from district suppliers this July.
How we reported this
Five seasonal recipes put zucchini, strawberries, tomatoes, corn and fresh herbs from Nieuw West suppliers at the centre of quick weekday dishes.
July marks the height of local harvest cycles, when shorter supply lines cut costs and keep nutrient levels higher than imported alternatives shipped across longer distances.
Regulars at the Thursday market on Osdorpplein and members of the Slotermeer Community Produce Program report steady supplies of these items picked within the past 48 hours.
Prices recorded at the market on 8 July showed strawberries at 3 euros per punnet and zucchini at 1.20 euros per kilo.
Where to source the ingredients
Both the Osdorpplein stalls and the weekly stand run by the Nieuw West Food Collective on Plein '40-'45 stock the listed produce through the end of the month.
Five recipes to try this week
Strawberry spinach salad combines one punnet of local berries with spinach from the same vendors, a drizzle of olive oil and a pinch of salt for a 10-minute lunch.
Zucchini ribbons tossed with halved cherry tomatoes and chopped basil make a no-cook side that serves four for under 5 euros total.
Grilled corn on the cob rubbed with herb butter uses two ears per person and cooks in 12 minutes on a balcony grill.
Berry oat bowls layer overnight-soaked oats with sliced strawberries and a spoon of yoghurt for a breakfast ready in five minutes.
Tomato and herb pasta sauce simmers diced tomatoes with garlic and local thyme for 15 minutes before tossing with spaghetti.
Check the Osdorpplein market before 11 a.m. on Thursdays to secure the best bunches, then adapt the recipes to whatever remains in the fridge by the weekend.