Even I can’t believe that I started working on the Courgette Pasta with Mushrooms recipe over a year ago. I made it once, wasn’t entirely happy so several days later I cooked an improved version of it. I wrote down the recipe, but I was too much in a rush to take photos. So, I had to prepare it again. Except, busy with some other jobs, I didn’t get to it on time – the chanterelle season was over…
This made me realize how I more and more appreciate seasonality of vegetable and fruit. I know for some of you it may be obvious, but it was not always the case for me.
For some time I used to buy e.g. fresh tomatoes or strawberries all year round. I didn’t really enjoy them in winter as they hardly had any taste. But I think it was the fact that I COULD buy them in winter I enjoyed the most. Again, some of you may be surprised that it was such a big deal for me. But it was. Up till I started my university all produce in Poland was seasonal. There was a season for strawberries – May and June, and there was a season for oranges – December. (Just to clarify: oranges don’t grow here, but even in deep communist’s times we had them for Christmas thanks to mercifully ruling party leaders). Thus, when finally, the system in Poland changed, we could experience what people in the West had for ages, e.g. strawberries in winter.
I am sure I wasn’t the only one overwhelmed with the choices and possibilities back then. But nowadays I make better decisions. I know that even though tomatoes are available all year round, in December they will never taste as good as they do in summer. So, I should enjoy them in summer almost to the point I have enough of them.
And the same applies to mushrooms or my favourite chanterelles. Thus, I quickly will share this recipe for Courgette Pasta with Mushrooms so you will have a chance to enjoy this fantastic lighter* dish while chanterelles are still in season.
*This Zucchini Pasta with Mushrooms is lighter than you would expect because I replaced part of the tagliatelle with courgette prepared with spiralizer. If you – just like me – still learn to appreciate zucchini, this is a great way to introduce more of it into your diet.