7 recipes to cook in August

August is when many of us embark on holidays abroad, seeking the sunnier climes of the Mediterranean or Caribbean. But with such a vast array of local ingredients in season, keen cooks stay at home to enjoy the best of what the British summer has to offer. With juicy berries, flourishing greens and fresh fish to choose from, we have all we need to create amazing summer dishes.

The arrival of August does nothing to diminish the availability of early summer berries, with UK-grown strawberries, blueberries and raspberries reaching their peak. Furthermore, being closer to autumn means that August is also when we see the first blackberries and elderberries of the year.

August is also the month most synonymous with the classic British barbecue. Don’t just stick to sausages, burgers and chicken drumsticks, though; from mackerel to salmon, it is hard to find a species of fish that isn’t improved with the rich, smoky flavour of being cooked over glowing coals.

During those sometimes elusive hot summer days in the UK, it can be hard to muster the strength to cook a full meal. That’s when the light freshness of salads provides welcome relief. Luckily, August comes hand-in-hand with fresh, vibrant greens including peas, courgettes and broccoli. These simple vegetables can be enhanced with homemade vinaigrettes or dressings, local cheeses, oils and grains, to make the perfect summer salad.

We’ve compiled a collection of our favourite recipes for this month, which embody the best of summer; light, refreshing and energetic. Take a look below for some inspiration this August.

Although often associated with the dark, wintry forests of central Europe, Victoria Glass cleverly reinvents the classic combination of cherries and chocolate to form the perfect summer dessert. Cherries are only in season for a few months in the UK, and August is the perfect opportunity to gorge on one of the most luscious fruits that Britain has to offer.

Robert Thompson’s charred mackerel is the perfect dish to prepare after a relaxing, sun-soaked day as it hits all the notes of summer. The light and refreshing ceviche is the perfect way to enhance the humble tomato, with the lime and coriander providing an added zesty note. Although not obligatory, it is hard to resist firing up the barbecue to grill these melt-in-the-mouth mackerel fillets, which not only adds texture with the crisp skin, but also a smoky flavour to the already exquisite fish.

This simple but delicious salad is ideal for when it’s just too hot to cook. The combination of tomato and watermelon is often seen in cold soups (such as gazpacho) or even in sorbets. Here, however, Danny Kingston combines these sweet and juicy ingredients in a refreshing salad, perfectly complemented by the rich creaminess of goat’s cheese and the crunch of crushed pistachios.