I had intended to post this at the beginning of summer but things got messy and I went overseas. As we are more or less in the middle of Summer now, and with all these recipes containing seasonal produce I thought I would share it now.
In summer I embrace stone fruit with ardent fervour and fire up my Big Green Egg to grill whenever I can. I drench everything in vibrant dressings laced with lemon and herbs and I crave bright, light and crunchy dishes.
Seafood becomes a top priority and I daydream about poke bowls, ceviche and abundant salads with a multitude of textures. I long for picnics and long dinner parties on my patio with frangipane flowers raining down. I loathe the extremely hot days we can experience in Cape Town, but I love the food. Here are a few of my favourite recipes for summer.
slow-roasted tomatoes with mozzarella and basil
Piedmontese Peppers
This just smacks of summer and I’m not afraid to admit that I regularly daydream about them and I love to make extra to keep for sandwiches and salads. On the link to this recipe, you will find a few other cool summer recipes including a cucumber and gin grapefruit spritzer, watermelon and goat cheese salad with a vodka vinaigrette, peaches roasted in dessert wine with thyme, baby calamari pan-fried with chorizo and red pepper, lamb kebabs with a spicy yoghurt marinade and a few other things.
This is one of the most versatile salads that goes with everything.
The best whipped feta with roasted tomatoes and garlic
Salad nachos with zesty salsa
This is a slightly healthier take on nachos and where I pile on all the salady things to brighten it up. I love the textural crunch of the corn chips, vibrant salsa and the creamy avocado. You can add whatever you fancy. I’ve included a recipe for my own homemade preserved salsa which I love to have on hand. Alternatively, a store-bought option makes this effortless.
Here the crunchy fennel and radish contrast the smokey new potatoes perfectly and I adore this salad.
You can check out my round up for my favourite salads for a braai or BBQ.
Mexican esquites
These are great as a snack with drinks (especially beer) but are a lovely side dish with any Mexican feast or BBQ / Braai.
This is a delicious summer starter or side dish for a BBQ. It could also rock a brunch set-up too.
Thai green papaya salad
This classic spicy Thai salad is vibrant and fresh if you are lucky enough to find green papaya. My local Asian supermarket in Sea Point called Asian Spice Supermarket often stocks it.
Kale ‘Caesar salad’ with roast chicken
I love to make this healthier twist on a Caesar dressing using basil, lemon and yoghurt. Even though it seems to be such a departure from a classic Caesars dressing it somehow works and is so delicious. I’ve used Kale and rotisserie chicken to bulk it up and turn it into a quick and easy healthy weeknight supper.
This is just the most delicious dressing you can make for a fruit salad in summer. it takes it to the next level and makes you question why you never dressed your fruit salads before.
This makes a delightful summer supper that is easy to DIY and will make you feel like it’s a little more than a salad. I use yoghurt instead of mayonnaise when I want to lighten it up.
I constantly crave these vibrant Mediterranean flavours in summer and literally cannot get enough of this pasta with fresh lemon, basil, capers, olives, anchovies and tomatoes. Delicious!
A delicious caponata recipe
Shaved asparagus and mint frittata with parma ham
This is a light and summery frittata that is excellent for brunch or lunch. It can be eaten warm or cold too.
Salmon poke
I adore poke and this is a great way to entertain. Make all the bits separately on the side and get people to DIY their own bowls.
Raw Norwegian salmon salad with goat cheese
This is one of my all-time favourite protein salads that comes from a restaurant that sadly no longer exists in Cape Town. At least I have this memory and can always make it whenever I want.
Sticky chipotle BBQ ribs
This is a small labour of love as the ribs need to spend the night bonding with the delicious coffee rub. before being slowly roasted to fall off the bone tender.
A super healthy salmorejo / gazpacho
My best BLT pasta salad
Jamie Olivers grilled nectarine (apricot) salad with mozzarella, pink peppercorns and prosciutto
Chimichurri
I love to slather any grilled meat or fish with chimichurri and it’s a condiment I always have on hand in my fridge.
I literally eat this every week that I can in summer. It’s perfect with fish and chicken too.
Mango, passionfruit and yoghurt brûlée
This dessert could not be easier and simply involves topping wedges of in-season summer mangoes with granadilla and then topping that with Greek yoghurt. A generous sprinkle of grated palm sugar adorns the yoghurt which then gets quickly torched to caramelise it. Utterly simple and delicious as a dessert or for a fancy brunch. I mean we all could do with a little dessert in the morning, right?
The perfect easy apricot torte & my easiest 8 minute small-batch apricot jam.
I obviously want to eat ALL the ice cream and here are my 12 best ice cream recipes
Summer is about picnics, parties, eating al fresco and generally snacking. These recipes are excellent for that
Roasted zucchini hummus
This is a lovely twist on a classic hummus that lightens it up.
Roast beetroot hummus
I make this using either roast beetroot or roast butternut and both are great. I also use my new go-to method to soften the garlic in hummus and it’s a winner.
I could actually go on forever because my site has well over a thousand recipes since I have been blogging for over 10 years.
My 10 best vegan recipes
