Officially this is the last weekend of the summer in the U.S. Here in the Hamptons almost everyone closes up their summerhouse and heads back to work or school. We call the Tuesday after Labor Day “tumbleweed Tuesday”. Out on Dune Road, there are no cars, no people. We love it.
Now is the time to cherish these last weeks of summer fun. Spend time at the beach, lake or pool. Gather with friends to share delicious food and wine. Choose recipes that are simple to make so you can enjoy the fun too.
It’s not necessary to spend a lot of time in the kitchen to make great food.
If possible use your grill instead of turning on the oven. Choose a few raw dishes to keep down the heat.
In this newsletter I am sharing my 10 favorite simple summer dishes that are delicious and satisfying. It is easy to create amazing food with the fresh fruits and vegetables available in the markets. I have chosen recipes that have a minimum number of ingredients and can be made in 30 minutes or less. You can even make them after having a glass of wine, they are that easy
The most abundant vegetables of the season are, zucchini, yellow squash, tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, corn and fresh herbs. I also included peaches and nectarines. These are the ingredients in the recipes that follow. You should have no trouble finding them.
Of course there is still the magical transition season where summer and autumn meet for a brief time and the garden harvest is extra special. After labor day there is still time to enjoy these recipes before the warm weather is gone.
The first few recipes are from some of my favorite food blogs. The last few are my own summer favorites. Chose one or two to make this weekend.
Zucchini Noodles with Roasted Heirloom Tomatoes
You won’t believe how simple this dish is from Tasty Yummies I make it frequently in the summer. In this recipe Beth roasts the tomatoes but I put them on the grill for about 5 minutes, until they begin to soften. The recipe uses a spiralizer but if you don’t have one a julienne tool works nicely.
Zucchini and Grilled Corn Salad
This fuss free, almost raw salad from Love and Lemons is ready in just a few minutes. The grilled corn is mixed with zucchini ribbons, creamy avocado, briny capers and fresh basil. I use lemon and rice wine vinegar and a full bodied olive oil in the dressing.
Grilled Salmon Paprika
Here is a quick and easy salmon dish from Elana’s Pantry, flavored with honey, cumin and smoked paprika. Smoked paprika brings out the flavor of the salmon nicely. It is one of my favorite spices. If you don’t have a grill it can be made in a cast iron pan on the stove.
Three Ingredient Grilled Chicken Kabobs
It doesn’t get much easier than this chicken dish from Pinch of Yum. It is saucy and sticky on the outside and tender, juicy, and loaded with flavor on the inside. Lindsay serves it with a delicious green sauce but you don’t need it to enjoy this dish.
Shrimp Skewers with Prosciutto Nectarines
This dish from Against All Grain is truly sublime It is smoky, savory and a little sweet. Danielle marinates shrimp in a ginger citrus marinade and skewers them with nectarines wrapped in prosciutto. It can also be made with peaches. If you aren’t a fan of prosciutto, leave it out. The nectarines still grill up nicely with the shrimp.
Grilled Romaine with Avocado Lime Dressing
Instead of the usual green salad try this simple to execute side dish of grilled romaine from Kim’s Healthy Eats. The creamy avocado vinaigrette compliments the smoky, charred flavors of the grilled romaine.
Grilled Scallops with Grilled Tomato Sauce
This is my favorite summer seafood recipe. The slightly smoky grilled tomato sauce pairs nicely with the sweet scallops. It is a simple but sophisticated recipe for those summer grilling nights. The grilled tomato sauce can be used on many dishes.
Tomato Peach and Avocado Salad
This fuss-free, raw salad is ready in just a few minutes. There is a lovely crunch from the raw corn and a beautiful peppery bite from arugula that is offset by the sweet peaches and succulent tomatoes. The creamy avocado and marinated onions provide the perfect finishing touch.
Paleo Zucchini Basil Fritters
Perfect for lunch or brunch. These fritters are similar to potato latkes minus the potatoes. An easy dish to take to the beach.
Grilled Miso Eggplant
Here is a simple dish with only 5 ingredients. Topping the eggplant with a sweet and salty miso glaze and grilling it on low heat results in a creamy, melt in your mouth dish with a remarkable umami taste.
Sweet and Spicy Grilled Peaches
Grilling can elevate mediocre peaches to excellence and great ones to sublimity. This recipe for Sweet and Spicy Grilled Peaches is a simple one. The smoked paprika and cinnamon give the peaches a whole new dimension. Serve it with coconut whipped cream.
