18 Delicious Ways to Cook with Summer Produce
Ah, summer… Sun-kissed days, warm temperatures, and the abundance of delicious summer fruits and vegetables waiting to be transformed into tasty meals. Suppose you're the lucky owner of a garden plot. In that case, you know this anxious feeling to get your hands on those tomatoes and cucumbers, almost ripe and ready to be turned into salads, sides, or consumed as is.
If you're not into gardening, summer is a perfect time to hit farmers markets. There, you can find a galore of fresh seasonal vegetables—aromatic and juicy, begging to be devoured.
Whatever the source of your summer produce, we rounded up a collection of fantastic recipes to turn those fruits and vegetables into delicious masterpieces. These recipes are easy to make, even for beginners.
Blueberry Clafoutis
If you have many fresh blueberries and don't know what to make with them, this Blueberry Clafoutis is the answer. It's Julia Child's adaptation of a classic French dessert that is so easy to whip up. In fact, you can make the batter in a blender.
This clafoutis is loaded with fresh blueberries, making it a perfect summer dessert for weekend baking or a special occasion.
Get the Recipe: Blueberry Clafoutis
Asian-style Beet Salad
You've never tried beets prepared this way before. This delicious Asian-style beet salad is packed with flavor. Even beet skeptics won't get enough of this yummy recipe.
It starts with roasting beets that are then marinated in a few flavorful ingredients. This simple beet salad recipe is incredibly delicious, healthy, and perfect for any time of the year.
Get the Recipe: Asian-Style Beet Salad
Cherry Chocolate Oatmeal
There are so many ways to use fresh cherries. You can eat them straight, make them into a dessert, jam, or, as in our case, bake them into oatmeal.
This chocolate cherry-baked oatmeal recipe is a healthy way to enjoy the classic breakfast dish. Its texture is between baked oatmeal and cake, and the rich chocolate flavor is enhanced by fresh cherries and walnuts.
Get the Recipe: Chocolate Cherry Baked Oatmeal
Cucumber and Red Onion Salad
We love cucumbers, and this cucumber red onion salad is a refreshing and perfect side dish that takes only about five minutes to make.
Fitting healthy, homemade food into our busy schedules can be difficult, but this easy salad recipe is a great solution. You can prep it quickly, and it’s a great way to incorporate more fresh vegetables and herbs into your diet. Plus, kids love it too!
Get the Recipe: Cucumber and Red Onion Salad
Eggplant Gratin
Eggplant Gratin is a classic French dish. Prebaked eggplant slices are layered with a rich tomato sauce and some basil leaves, drizzled with the secret creamy feta sauce, and topped with gruyere cheese. Then, everything is baked until bubbly perfection.
It is a side dish that is so easy to make. It's festive and cozy for special occasions or Sunday family dinners.
Get the Recipe: Eggplant Gratin
Air Fryer Chicken Sausage And Peppers
If you're looking for a quick and delicious meal that's ready in under 30 minutes, this air fryer sausage and peppers is a good choice.
It's a perfect recipe for busy weeknights, made with colorful bell peppers, onion, and aromatic spices. It's a healthy and satisfying meal with minimal effort.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Chicken Sausage And Peppers
Austrian Garlic Soup
Garlic lovers rejoice! Here's a creamy soup that blows all other soups out of the water. Introducing Austrian garlic soup. It's the most aromatic soup you'll ever make. In fact, there's barely any cooking required — the soup is ready in just about 20 minutes.
The texture of the soup is smooth and velvety, and it tastes like it came from an expensive restaurant. Top it with garlicky croutons, and this classic Austrian soup will become a regular in your rotation.
Get the Recipe: Austrian Garlic Soup with Croutons
Watermelon Feta Cucumber Salad
Watermelons are not only for snacking and dessert. This gorgeous watermelon, feta, and cucumber salad is a fantastic way to use those sun-kissed summer watermelons. Brightly colored and beautiful, this salad makes a refreshing side dish.
This Greek-inspired salad requires only four ingredients, while the dressing only requires three. It's a quick and easy side dish that anyone can rustle up in just a few minutes. You will love making this recipe for summer cookouts and BBQs!
Get the Recipe: Watermelon Feta Cucumber Salad
Tomato Salad With Garlicky Breadcrumbs
If you have an abundance of fresh tomatoes, this summer tomato salad is a must. I recommend making it with heirloom tomatoes because they have the most flavor, but other tomato varieties are good, too.
What sets this salad apart is the addition of garlic-infused olive oil, which is toasted with the breadcrumbs to create an extra layer of flavor that really makes this salad pop.
Get the Recipe: Tomato Salad With Garlicky Breadcrumbs
Ukrainian Green Borscht
This Ukrainian green borscht is a sibling of a classic red borscht but doesn't contain beets or cabbage. It also cooks much faster. In fact, this borscht is ready to be served in just 30 minutes.
The recipe features zucchini, potatoes, eggs, sour cream, and many herbs, making it a hearty and delicious soup perfect for summer.
Get the Recipe: Ukrainian Green Borscht
Pork Tenderloin With Peaches
If you're looking for a savory recipe to make with summer peaches, try this pork with peaches. It's so flavorful, and it's great for family dinners or when you have guests over.
This pork tenderloin with peaches is juicy, tender, and delicious! A garlic and cilantro marinade infuses the meat with flavor, and a slightly sweet and tangy peach sauce adds a warm and comforting aroma to the dish.
Get the Recipe: Pork Tenderloin with Peaches
Raspberry Crepe Cake
Fruit desserts are the best, and this raspberry crepe cake is proof. This elegant cake, also known as Mille crepe cake, features 18 thin layers of crispy-edged crepes generously filled with a blend of mashed raspberries and Mascarpone cream.
It's a fail-proof recipe that's surprisingly easy to make. We love serving this cake with tea or coffee on a warm summer night.
Get the Recipe: Raspberry Crepe Cake
Chunky Mango Salsa
Never buy salsa again because this chunky mango salsa is so easy and delicious that you'll be making it on repeat. It pairs wonderfully with fish or seafood but is also versatile enough to be enjoyed as a dip or sandwich spread.
This summer salsa recipe is a wonderful dish to make with mangos and other tasty ingredients.
Get the Recipe: Fresh and Easy Chunky Mango Salsa
Tomatillo Chutney (Greedy)
This healthy tomatillo chutney is full of veggies, making it perfectly fine to consume without feeling guilty. It's very easy to make and pairs wonderfully with a protein like pork or chicken. It is perfect to put on top of your favorite foods.
The recipe makes a couple of cans of chutney, so you can enjoy it even when tomatillos are out of season.
Get the Recipe: Tomatillo Chutney
Air Fryer Orka
No more slimy okra. There are many ways to make okra, but the best way to eat this vegetable is to air fry it.
This recipe turns an often-overlooked okra into a crunchy and crispy delight. Seasoned simply but irresistibly, this recipe will have you falling in love with okra! Perfect as a snack or a dinner side dish.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Okra
Goat Cheese Honey Stuffed Plums
Plums and goat cheese pair wonderfully together, and what better way to prove it than by combining them in an appetizer?
These goat cheese honey-stuffed plums are a sweet, cute, and easy summer appetizer or snack. They're ready in five minutes, so you know what to make if a guest shows up unexpectedly at your door.
Get the Recipe: Goat Cheese Honey Stuffed Plums
Strawberry Cheesecake
This delicious strawberry cheesecake is a must-make summer recipe. Strawberry sauce, fresh strawberries for the strawberry topping, a luscious creamy filling, and a buttery, crumbly biscuit base. Simply sensational!
If you've never made cheesecakes before, this recipe is a good place to start. It's straightforward and doesn't require complicated steps. It's also a no-bake cheesecake, so no need to work away with a hot oven — perfect for making in the summer.
Get the Recipe: Strawberry Cheesecake
Blackberry Chia Pudding with Peanut Butter
This healthy blackberry chia pudding makes a fantastic breakfast that keeps you full until lunch. It's loaded with chia seeds, which are loaded with antioxidants and are a good source of Omega-3 fatty acids.
Adding peanut butter boosts the protein content of this pudding, and juicy fresh blackberries add sweetness and tangy flavor. Enjoy this pudding with a cup of coffee, or eat a small amount for a quick snack.
Get the Recipe: Blackberry Chia Pudding with Peanut Butter
