Cauliflowers are at their peak during winter, according to Graham Gee, senior buyer at the Happy Apple in Melbourne. They are big, dense, and weighty, making them excellent value. Whole cauliflowers are priced at $3.10 at the Happy Apple, $4.99 at The Good Grocer in Perth, and $3.50 at supermarkets. The best quality comes from southern Australia, particularly the Werribee and Peninsula regions.
Cauliflower Recipes and a Hybrid Option
Gee recommends using cauliflower in a traditional cauliflower cheese, with recipes available from Felicity Cloake. For a whole head, Tom Hunt offers a vibrant orange version with red Leicester cheese, while Meera Sodha presents a vegan option with roasted florets on harissa pilaf. Cauliflower also works well in curries, such as Thomasina Miers' recipe.
Another option is fioretto, also known as caulilini, a hybrid with slender stems and a sweet, mild flavour. It can be eaten from stalk to tip and is ideal for stir-fries or as a side dish. The Happy Apple sells fioretto for $5.99 per kilo.
Pears: A Juicy Winter Treat
New-season pears are now available, including packhams, reds, boscs, and corellas. Prices range from $8.99 to $9.99 per kilo at The Good Grocer, or roughly $2 each. Michael Hsu of Panetta Mercato recommends piqa boo pears, which are smaller, red-tinged, and particularly juicy, selling for $4.99 a kilo.
For a low-effort breakfast, try Anna Jones' porridge with warm spiced pear and maple syrup. For a savoury option, Alice Zaslavsky's parsnip and pear soup with a cheesy gratin top works well with firm pears.
Citrus and Other Vegetables
Mandarins remain a highlight for June, with imperial and afourer varieties in good supply. Prices are $3.99 per kilo at the Happy Apple and Panetta Mercato, and between $4.50 and $5.30 at supermarkets. Honey murcotts, though harder to peel, are sweeter and juicier, according to Joshua Brindle of The Good Grocer. They should arrive in two to three weeks.
Broccoli is also in great supply, with larger sizes and deeper green hues from Western Australia. Prices are $9.99 per kilo at The Good Grocer, $6.30 at the Happy Apple, and about $5 at supermarkets. Use broccoli in pesto or Meera Sodha's one-pot broccoli, fennel, and chickpea stew with orzo.
Butternut pumpkin is in good quality and supply, with crops doing well in Donnybrook. Prices are $2.99 per kilo at The Good Grocer, about $8 each at Panetta Mercato, and between $7 and $7.80 at supermarkets. Alice Zaslavsky offers a two-in-one meal of pumpkin fritters and pumpkin pickles with chickpea couscous.
What to Avoid This Month
Gee advises holding off on hass avocados and strawberries, as southern seasons are ending and northern supply is yet to begin. Avocados are $2 each but prices may drop in coming weeks. Grapes are also to be avoided, as most varieties have finished. Other items to avoid include asparagus (imported), figs, pineapple, and rockmelon, all at the end of their season.
