The Prudent Pantry: In Season Cooking with this Summer Southwest Salad Recipe

One of my favorite things about summer is the easy, fast, and delicious meals that can be made with in-season produce. Of course, I try to cook in-season all year, but the soups and roasts and stews and casseroles of winter are more time-consuming and hardy, while summer's salads and grilled foods are quick and refreshing.

Buying local, in-season foods is great for many reasons. It's cheaper because it takes fewer resources to bring the food to the markets, and it's good for the environment because it uses fewer resources. And I have to tell you: fresh, local, organic produce tastes better. It really does.

Last week I promised to share another favorite salad, and I aim to deliver! Nearly everything is in season or can be found in your pantry.

Southwest Salad

1 cup corn (I cook corn in the husk on the grill, and just throw on a couple extras)
1/2 cup diced jicama (I confess, I have no idea if this is in season)
1/2 cup diced green bell pepper
1/2 cup diced red bell pepper
1/4 cup diced red onion
1 whole zucchini, diced

(All amounts are estimates, and substitutions are absolutely allowed. Use what you have!)

For the dressing:

2 cloves garlic
6-8 springs cilantro
1 jalapeno
Juice of large lime
2 tablespoons cider vinegar
1 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon Beau Monde*
1/4 cup olive oil

Combine sauce ingredients in food processor or by hand with mortar and pestle. Toss with vegetables and salt to taste.

* I didn't have Beau Monde in my pantry, and in fact had never heard of it when my friend Cassie first shared this recipe with me. I went to trusty old Google, determined not to dip unnecessarily into my food budget, and managed to put together a reasonable facsimile with spices I had on hand. I used this Beau Monde recipe, simply omitting anything I didn't have.

What in-season dishes are you looking forward to this summer? Share your favorites in the comments!

Annika Barranti is a writer living in Los Angeles and blogging at Through the Looking Glass. She and her husband are raising two children and trying to eat well on a tiny budget.