June recipes

A collage of mint sauce, aubergine chilli and courgette curry

Strawberry cupcakes

These dainty cupcakes stay beautifully moist thanks to the chopped up strawberries folded into the sponge. Perfect for afternoon tea or a summer bake sale.

Cupcakes topped with frosting and sliced strawberries

Mint

It thrives in UK gardens but people are often unsure how to use it. As well as this sauce, mint is great as a tea or in any recipe that includes parsley or coriander – just add some chopped mint, too. Discover more mint recipes here.

Mint sauce

Use up mint from the garden in this classic mint sauce – it's essential for roast lamb and only takes five minutes to make.

Cook’s notes

Here are some alternative ideas on how to use this mint sauce:

• Turn this sauce into a dressing by whisking 2 tbsp of extra-virgin olive oil into it and tossing with crunchy green vegetables, such as lettuce and cucumber.
• Try brushing some of the mint sauce onto lamb cutlets before grilling, then toss in a little more when the meat is resting.
• Whisk a few tablespoons of the mint sauce into plain yogurt for a great chicken kebab marinade.

Aubergines

Aubergines are good at soaking up flavours – you’ll find that after they’ve simmered in all of the spices they’ll be bursting with flavour, especially after giving them a good char at the beginning. Taste a bit before serving – you want them to be meltingly soft. Take your pick from our aubergine recipes.

Smoky aubergine chilli

Charred aubergines give this vegan chilli a delicious, smoky depth, making it a great family midweek meat alternative.

two bowls of veggie chilli with sour cream and lime, and a side of rice

Courgettes

Also known as zucchini, courgettes are an extremely versatile vegetable. They work well with diverse cuisines and flavours – eaten raw thinly sliced in salads, fried until crisp, or gently simmered in a soup or stew until tender. Find more of our courgette recipes here.