December seasonal produce and recipes! A guide to what’s in season in December plus vegetarian December recipes.
Hi, Rhubarbarians! Is it beginning to look a lot like Christmas? It's the time for all the cookies and treats. But there is so much good produce to enjoy in December. Let's celebrate all the December seasonal produce!
Did you try any of the November recipes? Or are you already looking for January recipes?
Your CSA bin might be over for the year, but there is still so much December produce to enjoy! All those cozy root veggies, squash, and fall flavors are abundant in December.
Check out our vegetarian fall recipes guide for recipes to try each week of fall!
Jump to:
- What produce is in season in December?
- Belgian endive
- Belgian endive recipes
- Grapefruit
- Grapefruit recipes
- Kale
- Kale recipes
- Pomegranate
- Pomegranate recipes
- Sweet potato
- Sweet potato recipes
- Beetroot
- Beet recipes
- Brussels sprout
- Brussels sprout recipes
- Potato
- Potato recipes
- Portobello mushroom
- Portobello mushroom recipes
- Butternut squash
- Butternut squash recipes
What produce is in season in December?
Brrrr! It's cold out and your farmers markets might be closed, but there are still so many fruits and veggies to eat this month! For this list we are going to focus on Belgian endive, grapefruit, kale, pomegranate, sweet potato, beetroot, brussels sprout, potato, portobello mushroom, and butternut squash.
Fruits:
- Grapefruit
- Pomegranate
- Butternut squash
Vegetables:
- Belgian endive
- Kale
- Sweet potato
- Beetroot
- Brussels sprout
- Potato
- Portobello mushroom
What to cook in December? Enjoy all the root vegetables your heart desires. Plus early citrus and cruciferous veggies.
Belgian endive
Belgian endive is a winter vegetable that is in season from October to April. It's a member of the chicory family and has white and yellow leaves that grow in a torpedo shape. Belgian endive is often served raw like a lettuce in salad, but is also delicious when cooked. The sturdy leaves are perfect for using as a base for bite-sized appetizers.
Learn more about Belgian endive
Belgian endive recipes
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Grapefruit
Grapefruit is a citrus fruit that is in season from December to March. They are similar to oranges but are larger and more on the tart side. Varieties range from pale yellow in color to a bright ruby hue.
Grapefruit recipes
Kale
Kale is a leafy vegetable that is in season from October to April. It's a rough and hearty green that is usually eaten by removing the rib or stem and eating the leaves, although the stem is actually edible. Kale is enjoyed raw or cooked and has been modernly labeled a "superfood."
Kale recipes
Pomegranate
Pomegranates are fruits that are in season from October to January. They have thick, leathery red skin and are filled with juicy pomegranate arils, or juicy coated seeds. The arils can be hard to remove but are delicious eaten as a snack, on a salad, or used to make juice or other sweet or savory dishes.
Pomegranate recipes
Sweet potato
Sweet potatoes are root vegetables that are in season from September to December. They are starchy and similar to potatoes, but have a very sweet flavor. The skin can be russet, tan, cream, light purple, or a red color while the flesh can be orange, yellow, creamy white, or even purple!
Learn more about sweet potatoes
Sweet potato recipes
Beetroot
Beets are root vegetables that are in season from July to December. They have a long growing season and can be stored for long periods of time after the harvest. They grow in a rainbow of colors and are known to have a very earthy flavor. The entire plant is edible and the greens are delicious!
Beet recipes
Brussels sprout
Brussels sprouts are leafy vegetables similar to mini cabbages. They are in season from September to March when the weather is cool. They are grown on large stalks and every part of the vegetable is edible, even the stalk leaves!
Learn more about brussels sprouts
Brussels sprout recipes
Potato
Potatoes are root vegetables that are grown almost all year round. There are so many varieties of potatoes that they can be harvested from early spring to late fall and can be stored for several months after the harvest. Potatoes are the ultimate comfort food when cooked! From mashed to fried, they are the absolutely delicious.
Potato recipes
Portobello mushroom
Portobello mushrooms (also known as portabella mushrooms) are edible mushrooms in the agaricus bisporus (mushroom) family. They are in season from December to March during the cold winter, but are commercially sold year round. They are large, fully grown cremini or baby bella mushrooms.
Learn more about portobello mushrooms
Portobello mushroom recipes
Butternut squash
Butternut squash is a fruit (yep!) that is in season from September to December. It’s very similar to a pumpkin, but has more of a bell shape and thinner, paler, skin. This winter squash is most commonly eaten when cooked and has a very sweet, squash flavor.
Learn more about butternut squash
Butternut squash recipes
That’s a wrap! Hope you enjoy all that great December seasonal produce.
If you make any of these recipes, please let us know on social media or in the comments below! Leave a star rating in your comment or tag us on Instagram with #Rhubarbarians.
Thank you so much for reading and supporting Rhubarbarians and the brands that we recommend. If you’re looking for a group of people cooking vegetarian recipes through the seasons, join us on Facebook in our vegetarian and vegan recipes group!
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