Summer is a time is for outdoor activities, poolside barbecues, and fun with friends and family. After your daily routine is done, you would typically like to enjoy the warm weather during summer evenings. These fast and simple recipe ideas will help you whip up delicious and nutritious meals using seasonal ingredients, which are light, refreshing, and perfect for the hot weather.
Balsamic Grilled Steak Salad with Peaches
Read More »This recipe is sweet and savory, with the peppery bite of arugula. The marinade for the skirt steak consists of balsamic vinegar, garlic and brown sugar. The sliced medium-rare steak complements the lightness of arugula, sliced peaches and feta cheese. A summery dressing of olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper, completes the dish.
Greek Pasta Salad
A light pasta salad with hydrating seasonal vegetables is a great idea for a summer dinner. Farfalle is a light pasta that is not too filling and is the ideal type of pasta for this salad dish. Olives and feta cheese make it quintessentially Greek.
The juicy and flavorful salad of sliced cucumbers, olives, tomatoes, and onions, is combined with the al dente pasta. A light dressing of olive oil, red wine vinegar, oregano, and garlic powder, adds flavor to the pasta. Feta cheese and dill complete the summery feel of the dish.
Hoisin-Glazed Salmon with Broccoli and Sesame Rice
For a Cantonese twist on a summer meal, try this seafood dish. Baked salmon is a light preparation that is perfect for warm weather.
Salmon that is brushed with tangy flavor-packed hoisin sauce is baked with broccoli that tempers the strong flavor. Sesame rice that is flavored with vinegar complements the dish. Packed with nutrients and summery lightness, this fish dish is a great idea for a dinner in warm weather.
Chicken Salad Stuffed Avocados
For a protein-packed meal that is not too dense, and thereby perfect for hot weather, you cannot go wrong with this chicken salad with a creative twist. The buttery creaminess of the salad dressing and the avocado are complemented by the crunch of onions. Mayo and Greek yogurt create a creamy texture, while lemon juice and mustard add a tart pungency. This concoction, mixed with shredded rotisserie chicken and diced avocado is served in avocado halves and garnished with parsley.
Summer Rolls
The name says it all. Shrimp combined with the lightness of fresh herbs and the crunch of fresh vegetables spells summery goodness. Vermicelli noodles and poached shrimp are coated with fish sauce, sugar and vinegar. Crunchy cucumbers, carrots and cabbage complement the softness of the seafood and noodles. Combined with fresh mint, basil, and sesame, the whole mixture is rolled into light, transparent rice paper. Dipped in a thick and flavorful sauce of peanut butter, soy sauce, vinegar, ginger, and garlic, these rolls are a summery treat for the eyes and the palate.
Lobster Bisque
This velvety smooth and satisfyingly thick soup, with chunks of delectable lobster meat, is a meal in itself. It can be prepared in an hour and is a quick and easy light summer recipe. The butter base and heavy cream create a degree of richness. A smooth paste of cooked tomato, garlic, onion, carrot and celery builds more body. Seafood stock, white wine, bay leaf and thyme build a complex flavor profile.
Grilled Chicken Skewers and Kale Caesar
Chicken is a meat that is protein-packet yet light enough to constitute a summer meal. Matched with the classic caesar salad with a twist, grilled chicken skewers make a great idea for an evening of barbecue. Zesty lemon freshens and flavors the chicken after it has been grilled. A kale salad dressed in a creamy, garlicky and lemony egg yolk-mustard mixture, and peppered with crunchy croutons, is a fitting accompaniment to the chicken skewers.
Summer Squash Pizza
Summer squash is a tender summer vegetable that is a powerhouse of vitamins and minerals. Layering it on a loaded pizza makes for a quick and simple summer dinner preparation. Seasoned and grilled squash and zucchini are sliced and layered on a homemade pizza base, with onion and chile for some extra bite. A topping of goat cheese and mixed fresh summer herbs like parsley and mint make the dish all the more flavorful.
Barbecued Chicken with Roasted Corn Pudding
Another summer barbecue recipe, barbecue chicken accompanied by a smoky corn pudding, is a tempting idea for a summer evening meal. A pudding built with creamy egg yolk and heavy cream is accorded a smoky charred flavor by roasted corn kernels cooked with onion. Baked with tarragon, it acquires an additional layer of flavor. The pudding is a well-suited partner for the chicken chunks that are basted with barbecue sauce and grilled.
Gazpacho Soup
The quintessential cold summer soup, gazpacho is refreshing as well as nutritious. Late summer tomatoes are the principal ingredient in this sweet and acidic soup. Tasting the tomatoes beforehand will give you a grasp of how much vinegar needs to be added to balance the sweetness. Cucumbers and red bell peppers increase the variety of subtle earthy flavors in the soup. Pepper, garlic and vinegar add some spice and tartness. Pan-fried crisp bread croutons are the perfect topping, along with basil for a fresh summer herb flavor.
Mussels with Tomatoes and Garlic
A simple Mediterranean dish, it only requires two basic additives to be added to the mussels to complement their natural flavor. A simple broth of tomatoes, white wine and parsley enhance the flavor of the mussels. Onion and garlic cooked in butter add another layer of taste. Crusty bread to sop up the sauce is the perfect accompaniment.
Summer Vegetable Chili
While traditionally, chili is a popular beef dish, substituting protein-loaded summer vegetables for the meat can yield a delicious summer dinner recipe. The main ingredients are meaty pinto beans, mushrooms and corn. Poblano peppers and onion add some heat. Spices like chile powder, cumin powder and pepper also add heat and variety to the flavor profile. Cheese and cilantro make good toppings and tortillas make the best accompaniment to the dish.
Garlic Butter Shrimp and Corn Sheet Pan Dinner
Light and fresh shrimp combined with corn, a summer vegetable, creates a simple and fresh summer dinner recipe. The shrimp and corn are oven-roasted together with fennel for some sharpness and red pepper flakes for heat. The shrimp is dressed in a garlicky, lemony butter dressing and the entire mixture is baked together with tomatoes for some earthy juiciness. Feta cheese and basil form a delicious topping and more lemon juice drizzled on top completes this summery meal.
Steak and Potato Kebabs
The classic combination of steak and potatoes is adapted to summer grilling in the form of kebabs. The bite-sized chunks of meat are skewered with potatoes and asparagus and grilled to earthy perfection. They are then enjoyed with a delectable coating of Worcestershire sauce, steak sauce, mustard, vinegar, and ketchup, to add a complex flavor.
Penne with Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto
Another light pasta preparation, this dish is rendered tangy and summery by the addition of sun-dried tomatoes. The pesto is rich with the flavors of garlic, basil and sun-dried tomatoes. A generous helping of parmesan cheese makes the dish complete. A Mediterranean summer delight, this is a simple and quick summer night dinner recipe.
Tofu Lettuce Wraps
When you need to whip up a light and fresh dinner in a jiffy, you cannot go wrong with wraps. As refreshing as it is healthy and nutritious, lettuce wraps are delicious and ideal for the calorie-conscious. This vegetarian dish combines crunchy summer corn with golden toasted tofu and fresh green onions. Soy sauce and balsamic vinegar add flavor and avocado slices add meaty creaminess. The whole mixture is wrapped in leaves of fresh romaine lettuce.
Chicken Watermelon Tacos
Watermelon is the quintessential summer fruit. It is nutritious and keeps you hydrated in the hot weather. Its sweet flavor creates a sumptuous combination with chicken, tomatillos, jalapenos and red onion that constitute this flavorful Mexican dish. The tart tanginess and heat from these vegetables are concentrated by charring them. The chicken is then cooked in them with the acidity of fresh lime. The complementary flavors of watermelon chunks and chopped cilantro further enhance the dish when they are all wrapped in piping hot tortillas. Onions and jalapenos add heat and avocado and cheese temper the same and add some meatiness to the dish.
Grilled Shrimp and Pineapple Fajitas
Another flavor-packed Mexican dish, this summery fajita combines the sweet tanginess of pineapple with heavily seasoned shrimp and a freshly prepared hot sauce, all served on a base of grilled tortillas. Charred jalapenos and bell peppers bring some earthiness to the dish. Shrimp and pineapple are grilled to enhance their flavors and add smokiness. A creamy sauce of avocado and sour cream, with jalapeno and cilantro added for heat and flavor, forms a tasty accompaniment to the shrimp and pineapple. Grilled tortillas form an earthy base for the preparation.
Summer dishes are easy to prepare, especially if you have seasonal ingredients on hand. They are quick to make, nutritious, light, fresh, not to mention appetizing. With summer ingredients like corn, peaches, and watermelon, combined with fresh summer greens and herbs, and light meats such as seafood and chicken, you can rustle up a finger-licking meal in a pinch.
