These happen in a flash, and are a super pleasant grilled potato, that is surely going to turn some heads.
Green Harissa Recipe
This season my goal is to explore and test dips and sauces. In my kitchen, they have become such a game-changer. Especially in the heart of the season when time is so short, I am always looking for easy ways to make simple meals exciting. Try spooning this untraditional harissa over eggs, smashed fingerling potatoes, or use it to marinate shrimp… the options are endless.
Roasted Tomatoes with Rustic Breadcrumbs Recipe
An amazing way to utilize that half-eaten day-old sourdough loaf you have sitting on your counter. Torn into rough chunk and toasted, the bread becomes the perfect sponge for summer tomatoes picked at their peak. The contrast of lemon zest and anchovies round out the dish and will keep you coming back for more.
Roasted Grapes Recipe
Roasted grapes, not something that you hear about all the time. But I love them. Melissa Clark has a delicious roasted grape and chicken recipe—that’s how I discovered them. And since them being on my radar, come grape season, I love sneaking them into different dishes for a little unexpected surprise. Try folding them into wild rice, or piling them on a seared pork chop, delicious!
Grilled Chicken Wings with Shishito Peppers and Herbs Recipe
A total crowd pleaser! The juicy caramelized wings pair beautifully with the shishito peppers which are perfect for this dish because they grill up beautifully and don’t pack a spicy punch.
Jalapeño Cilantro Yogurt Sauce Recipe
Use this beautiful green sauce as a dip for fritters, or as a dipping side to grilled chicken, or on top of smashed potatoes—the options are endless. An awesome dipping sauce to add contrast to any meal, creamy and citrusy with a kick.
Corn-Jalapeño Fritter Recipe
Eating these delicious hot treats brings back memories of running through the corn patch as a young girl. My momma would send me out to the garden to bring back some ears.
Mango Salsa Recipe
Fresh, bright, and tangy. Great on tacos.
Grilled Cheese with Blackberry Jam Recipe
Ok, calling this a recipe is a stretch. I acknowledge that. But! The contrast of gooey hot swiss cheese, salty bacon, spicy jalapenos, and acidic sweet blackberry jam - it is a killer combination.
Salsa Verde Recipe
I love me a good salsa verde. To me, it walks the perfect balance of tangy and spicy. Especially good on hearty dishes like pork, the brightness of the salsa will elevate your whole dish.
Poached Squash Blossoms Stuffed with Herbed Ricotta Recipe
Ahh, the eye-catching squash blossom, such a stunning golden bloom. Hard to find in the markets because of their delicate nature, however, if you are lucky enough to either have access to a squash patch or a good relationship with your local farmer, you might be able to snag some of these beauties.
Zucchini Pasta with Preserved Lemon Herb Sauce & Squash Blossoms Recipes
Another sharp arrow in your quiver. I am always searching for new ways to use summer squash. The wisdom passed down to me says that you should always plant 4 zucchini plants. One for the crows, two for the squash bugs, and one for yourself. Though they don’t tell you what to do if all 4 survive! Make this pasta from the very talented Bella from the Ful-filled blog, that’s what!
Spaghetti with Cherry Tomatoes, Garlic, Basil, and Chiles Recipe
While short cold days are meant for long-simmered rich tomato sauces, summer, for me, is all about the brightness and vibrancy of barely cooked freshly picked garden goodies. This is one of my favorite summer spaghetti dishes. It could not be simpler and comes together in just over the time it takes to boil pasta.
Tomato Gazpacho Recipe
In the heat of summer, I find myself reluctant to even turn the stove on. This is my go-to summer soup. Served cold, it is so very refreshing. And to me, it is the perfect celebration of the summer goodies like tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers.
Shaved Summer Squash and Melon Salad Recipe
Looking for another sharp arrow in your summer squash quiver? Try this out!
Spicy Cucumbers with Jalapeño Recipe
The perfect dish to brighten the palette. I love these cucumbers served on rice in combination with a hearty umami dish.
Charred Cherry Tomatoes with Yogurt Recipe
The beauty of this dish comes from the exciting contrast of hot and cold. Roasty hot tomatoes and chilly creamy yogurt make for a beautiful pair. Serve with a nice little loaf of focaccia or flatbread and, wah-la, your meal is ready.
Grilled Okra Recipe
If you have written off okra as some gross slimy creature, you are missing out. Look for freshly-picked, small, firm pods. Grilling them whole on a searing hot grill as quickly as possible is the key here.
Seared Peaches and Shishito Peppers Recipe
This might seem like an unlikely match, however, the combination of the ripe sweet caramelized fruit and the peppery thin-walled slightly spicy pepper, topped off with the smokey flavor of a hot sear… it’s a feast for the eyes, as well as the belly.
Okra : a Brief Overview
I have found that the obstacle that people run into with okra is the slime factor. The pods are highly mucilaginous and it is this feature that makes them so wonderful to thicken soups and stews. However, outside of the realm of soup, this quality can gross highly-sensitive-to-texture people out. I get it—AND, there are ways around this if cooked properly. While deep-fried is usually the go-to cooking method, I would love to introduce some other strategies to offset the plant’s slime potential.