31 summer recipes

This is one of those recipes that is more of a guideline—I really encourage you to adapt the amounts and ingredients to your tastes. If you like it chunky, don’t puree it. If you like a thinner soup, add more chicken broth. If you don’t like heat, omit the cayenne.

Summer white bean soup with sauteed celery, swiss chard or kale, a splash of rice vinegar, and a hint of liquid aminos. Light, vegetarian, naturally high in fiber and gentle enough for warm weather.

Fresh California tomato summer soup with diced ripe tomatoes, pasta shells, carrots, celery, onion, and basil in chicken broth. A garden-driven minestrone built for peak tomato season. Topped with Parmesan.

Summer risotto loaded with chicken, prosciutto, mushrooms, peas, sweet peppers, and tomatoes, finished with Romano cheese. A one-pot Italian rice dinner ready in 30 minutes with fresh seasonal flavors.

Summer soup with potato, leek, watercress, and fresh basil in vegetable stock. A light, peppery vegetarian soup that celebrates green flavors without cream or heavy thickeners.

No-cook summer spaghetti with a cold marinated sauce of Roma tomatoes, green olives, capers, garlic, and fresh herbs tossed with hot pasta.

Summer pandowdy layers juicy nectarines and blueberries under a cream biscuit crust, then dowdies the top by pressing it into the bubbling fruit. Old-fashioned New England dessert.

Three beans mingle with zucchini, fresh tomatoes, and banana peppers in this Southwestern-spiced vegetable soup. Red wine and cumin add warmth to this hearty, healthy bowl.

Summer fruit salad with rice, strawberries, kiwi, grapes, banana, and pineapple tossed in a honey-yogurt-pineapple juice dressing. Light, low-fat, and ready in 25 minutes.

Pureed summer squash soup with rosemary and chicken, sauteed in butter and blended smooth. Garnished with paper-thin raw squash slices.

No-bake summer berry pie with fresh raspberries, strawberries, and blueberries set in a strawberry gelatin glaze in a baked pie shell. Topped with whipped cream for a cool, fruity summer dessert.

Quick vegetarian crêpes stuffed with sautéed zucchini, green beans, fresh corn, ricotta, and Monterey Jack cheese. Topped with a tangy chive-lemon sour cream sauce and ready in under 30 minutes.

Brown rice summer salad with tarragon vinaigrette, fresh vegetables, peas, and pimentos. Low-fat, no-mayo, and served cold. A make-ahead side dish for hot weather meals.

Light summer asparagus soup made with fresh asparagus sauteed until golden, simmered in broth, then strained and thickened with egg yolks and milk. A delicate, thin soup built for warm weather when asparagus is cheap and plentiful.

Cool, refreshing big-batch fruit salad with watermelon, cantaloupe, plums, nectarines, and grapes tossed in chilled mint-lime simple syrup. A summer party showstopper.

Mushroom spaghetti in a garlic-butter sauce loosened with a splash of dry red wine, tossed with thin spaghetti and a shower of Parmesan. A simple meatless pasta that comes together fast.