15 vegetarian recipes using October produce

Because fall belongs to “Gilmore Girls,” we drew some comparisons between seasonal produce and the show’s primary characters. We’ve also curated some recipes for when when you don’t have the money for Chinese takeout, or if you need something to serve at tense Friday night dinners with your estranged family.

All of our shopping and nutrition info comes from the USDA website.

Tomatoes

Like Lorelai Gilmore, this versatile fruit defies categorization; tomatoes are both sweet and acidic. Store them at room temperature; they contain an enzyme that breaks down in the cold and ruins their texture. Use tomatoes within five days of purchase.

• Caprese Risotto with Roasted Tomatoes (Cravings Journal). Summery and wintery at the same time.
• Easy Tomato Salad (Two Peas and Their Pod). This flexible recipe comes together quickly.
• Tomato Soup (Feel Good Foodie). Five ingredients, minimal prep.

Winter Squash

Like Rory Gilmore, winter squash is rich, but not in a flashy way. Acorn, butternut, spaghetti, delicata, and kabocha squash are all winter squashes. Choose one that feels heavy for its size and has a tan, dry stem. Avoid ones with soft spots.

• Coconut & Chile Braised Winter Squash (Food 52). Getting a good char on the squash is key to this dish’s flavor.
• Spaghetti Squash Pho (Forks over Knives). This plant-based remix of the Vietnamese original uses shiitake mushrooms, soy-marinated tofu, and warming spices to keep things savory.
• Winter Squash Pancakes with Sage and Brown Butter (Smitten Kitchen). Double the recipe, and freeze half for later.

Pumpkins

OK technically a pumpkin is ALSO a winter squash, but it’s an October icon, so it gets its own section. Like all-purpose father figure Luke Danes, it’s a comfort food with real staying power. Don’t forget to use the seeds; they are edible, delicious, and nutritious, with lots of fiber, protein, and antioxidants.

• Pumpkin Empanadas (Laylita’s Recipes). This sweet pockets of autumnal goodness call for piloncillo, a type of unrefined cane sugar. Food & Wine has a good piloncillo primer on what it is and how to use it; you can also substitute dark brown sugar, muscovado sugar, or jaggery if need be.
• Vegetarian Pumpkin Chili (Sally’s Baking Addiction). Feel free to make swaps on the types of beans you use and a few other ingredients if the spirit moves you. It’s chili; it’s meant to be flexible and customizable. Think of the recipe as a starting point.
• Vegan Scrambled Eggs (It Doesn’t Taste Like Chicken). Boil pumpkin seeds and blend them with seasonings to make an easy breakfast that keeps in the fridge for a week.

Apples

Like Sookie St. James, apples can be a comforting and protective presence in your life; they’re full of polyphenols, plant compounds that shield cells from stress and damage. Apples are also a source of soluble (prevents cholesterol buildup) and insoluble (provides bulk in intestines) fiber. To get the most fiber out of your apples, eat them with the skin on.

• Baked Apples (Sally’s Baking Addiction). This dessert is gluten-free (and delicious enough that anyone would enjoy it).
• Fancy Apple Spinach Cranberry Salad (The Fancy Navajo). Salads don’t need to be boring; this one is full of crunch and texture.
• Smoked Apple Veggie Burger (It Doesn’t Taste Like Chicken). Invest in some liquid smoke for when you want fast barbeque flavor without firing up the grill.

Onions

Onions are sharp and pungent, just like Jess Mariano, but they will become sweet if you give them some attention and care. If you cry while cutting onions, it’s because of the sulphur compounds that their cells naturally contain. To cut down on tears, chill your onions in the refrigerator for 30 minutes (or 10 minutes in the freezer) before slicing.

• Creamy Cucumber Salad (Feel Good Foodie). If you are missing summer a bit, this dish will take you back.
• Potato-Onion Pizza (Forks over Knives). A puree of cannellini beans and roasted garlic keep the toppings in place.
• Vegetarian Taco Skillet (Two Peas and Their Pod). This one-pan meal is great on weeknights.