Get ready for tasty and healthy summer dinners! This guide is packed with fresh, flavourful recipes perfect for hot days and warm nights this time of year, including refreshing summer cocktails. From grilled favourites to hearty bowls, crisp salads, and quick pasta dishes to store in your fridge, there’s something for everyone to add to your summer rotation. Plus, a handy FAQ section answers common cooking questions. Let’s dive in!
Grilled Recipes for Summer Dinners
Grilling in summer brings out the best barbecue flavours, from smoky aromas to perfect char. It’s more than cooking—it’s a fun, social experience! Here are some top grilled recipes, including pizza, kebab bowls, and a tasty cod dish.
Grilled Pizza
Grilled pizza
Nothing beats the joy of making your own pizza, especially during those long, balmy summer days for the whole family. Enter grilled pizza — a fun, interactive, and utterly delicious way to revolutionize your home-cooked pizza experience and create a perfect pre-party appetizer.
Start with a basic homemade or store-bought pizza dough and fire up your grill. While the grill heats up, gather your preferred pizza toppings using your favourite app for ideas. From fresh tomatoes, bell peppers, spinach, and caramelized onions to various cheese varieties, the possibilities are endless. Grilling imparts a unique smokiness that pairs incredibly well with most pizza toppings.
Here are a few things to remember about grilling pizzas:
- Prep everything beforehand: This step is crucial. With ingredients at the ready, you won’t have any last-minute hustle, leading to a more relaxed grilling experience.
- Grilled veggies: Consider grilling some of your veggies before putting them on your pizza for an added depth of flavour.
- Use less sauce and cheese than usual: As your pizza will be grilled directly on the grates, it’s advisable not to overload it.
- Watch the heat: A general rule of thumb while grilling pizzas is to keep the heat moderate and the grill lid closed as much as possible to ensure even cooking.
Embrace this smoky spin on traditional pizza and enjoy it as a perfect summer dinner under the warm corn tortillas.
Check out the latest pizza recipes here.
Steak Kebab Bowls
Steak Kebab Bowls
Picture this — succulent cubes of marinated steak, skewered with colourful veggies, all charred to perfection on the grill or in a skillet. Now, imagine these incredibly flavourful kebabs served on a bed of fresh, crunchy salad. Mouthwatering, right? Here’s how you can make your own Steak Kebab Bowls:
Ingredients for Steak Kebabs:
- Beef steak (cubed), Spinach
- Red and Yellow Pepper (chunked) Cherry tomatoes halved
- Onion (chunked) Cucumber (sliced)
- Zucchini (chunked) Feta cheese (crumbled)
- Kebab marinade Garlic tahini dressing
Marinate the steak cubes in the marinade of your choice for a minimum of two hours. Then, skewer these marinated cubes alternately with chunked peppers, onions, and zucchini.
Next, grill them to your liking. Rest the kebabs for a few minutes before serving to allow the juices to settle. Prepare a fresh salad with spinach, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, and crumbled feta cheese, and drizzle it over some tangy tahini garlic dressing.
Lay a generous bed of this salad in a bowl and top it with those succulent chunks of skewered steak and vegetables.
Also check out our Peshawari kebab recipe here.
Grilled Cod With Romesco Sauce
Grilled Cod With Romesco Sauce
If you’re seeking to add a seafood variant to your summer grilling repertoire, look no further than grilled cod with romesco sauce. The beauty of this dish lies in its simplicity and the amazing symphony of flavours it brings to your palate. The flaky texture and light flavour of cod provide the perfect canvas to paint with the rich and robust Romesco sauce.
Start with a good quality fresh cod fillet. Lightly season it with salt, pepper, and a squeeze of fresh lime, and let it rest.
Fetch your grill and heat it to a medium-high flame. While it’s prepping, work on the Romesco sauce. This Spanish sauce is a wonder – it’s made by blending roasted red peppers, almonds, garlic, and olive oil into a smooth, saucy texture. Its smoky-sweet tang flawlessly complements the grilled cod.
Once the grill is ready, neatly place your cod fillet on a greased grill mat or an aluminium foil with holes poked in. Let it grill perfectly on each side, but avoid overcooking to maintain its tender, flaky goodness.
Plate it, spoon over a generous helping of the Romesco sauce, garnish with fresh herbs, and take a trip to flavour town with every bite.
Power Bowls and Salads
Summer calls for light, refreshing meals, and easy summer dinner options like power bowls and salads are perfect! This section features summer roll bowls, blackened shrimp bowls, and strawberry jalapeño chicken salad—packed with crisp veggies like sugar snap peas, lean protein, and flavourful dressings to energise you, including roasted cauliflower for added texture and taste.
Summer Roll Bowls
Summer Roll Bowls
Next are summer roll bowls, a deconstructed version of the much-loved Vietnamese summer rolls. Here, there are no fussy rolls to make, just lots of flavour to relish.
Cook rice noodles according to the package instructions. Then, gather ingredients like shrimp, avocado, thinly sliced veggies, and fresh greens. To elevate the taste, prepare a tangy nước chấm dressing using fish sauce, sugar, water, lime juice, and garlic. The sharp, zesty flavours of this dressing tie all the components together beautifully.
Here are some points to note:
- Variety of ingredients: The beauty of this dish lies in its versatility, including the option to add broccoli or even broiler chicken. Feel free to experiment with different proteins, vegetables, herbs, and dressings.
- Meal Prep Friendly: You can keep the components prepared and assemble them when ready to enjoy. This makes it a great option for meal prep.
- Health Factor: It’s an incredibly healthy choice, full of essential proteins, vitamins, and fibre, crafted to make your summer dinner guilt-free.
So, the next time you’re in a fix about what to make for dinner, why not rustle up a bowl brimming with the deliciousness of these summer roll bowls?
Blackened Shrimp Bowls
Blackened Shrimp Bowls
Let’s embark upon a culinary journey with blackened shrimp bowls – a dish playing with a colourful medley of ingredients.
Ingredients for Grilled Shrimp
- Shrimp Quinoa
- Blackening Spice Cilantro leaves
- Fresh Lime Diced avocado
- Olive Oil Radish slices
- Fresh corn kernels
- Red onion slices
Marinate the shrimp in blackening spice, lime juice, and olive oil, then grill until they acquire a beautiful char and smoky flavour. As for the base, fluffy quinoa serves as the grain of choice. Add fresh diced avocado, thinly sliced radishes, rich corn kernels, and pickled red onion slices. A sprinkle of fresh cilantro leaves adds a refreshing finish.
Together, these components create a bowl that looks as appealing as it tastes. Remember, the joy of these bowls is the flexibility they offer. Substitute the blackened shrimp with grilled chicken or tofu for a tasty alternative. Enjoy this dish on a hot summer night, and let every bite transport you to a seaside café.
Also read: Shrimp salad recipe.
Strawberry Jalapeño Chicken Salad
Strawberry Jalape o Chicken Salad
A salad that stands tall as a main course? Yes, please! Here’s how to whip up an exciting strawberry jalapeño chicken salad.
Season chicken breasts with a spicy dry rub incorporating jalapeño powder. Pan-sear it until golden brown. Then prepare a sauce using strawberry jam and chipotle chilli; smother the cooked chicken in this sweet-spicy glaze.
Next, craft a fresh salsa with strawberries, jalapeño, lime juice, and cilantro. Lay down a mix of fresh greens and top it with slices of the glazed chicken. Sprinkle the prepared strawberry-jalapeño salsa on top and serve.
This perfectly balanced dish boasts a dance between sweet strawberries and spicy jalapeños, further elevated with tender chicken and crunchy greens. Perfect for those who enjoy sweet and spicy notes, this salad will become your go-to summertime delight!
Quick and Easy Summer Pasta Dishes
Pasta is a year-round comfort food, even in summer! These easy, seasonal recipes are perfect for weeknights—stuffed shells with sweet corn and zucchini, Italian Panzanella salad, and grilled zucchini carbonara.
Summer Stuffed Shells
Summer Stuffed Shells
Summer stuffed shells make an inviting, cosy summer dinner. These jumbo pasta shells boast a rich and delicious filling of sweet corn, zucchini, ricotta, and fresh basil.
Boil the shells as per package instructions. While they cool, whip up the filling — sauté onions, garlic, corn kernels, and diced zucchini till golden and mix in ricotta cheese and chopped basil. Stuff this mixture generously into each shell.
Next, spread a layer of marinara sauce on a baking dish and arrange the stuffed shells on it. Drizzle more sauce on top, sprinkle some shredded mozzarella and bake until golden and bubbly.
Brimming with seasonal produce, this dish hits a comforting note while maintaining the lightness associated with summer dinners. Pair it with a fresh salad or some grilled toast, and you have an irresistible meal.
Panzanella
Panzanella
Panzanella, a Tuscan bread salad, is another delightful summer pasta dish worth trying. Featuring ripe tomatoes and kale, along with bread tossed in an olive oil dressing, this refreshing delicacy is a prime example of Italian culinary brilliance.
Start by toasting cubes of bread until crisp and golden. Mix these with sliced ripe tomatoes, cucumber, onion, fresh basil, and mint peach, then drizzle a simple olive oil and vinegar dressing all over to accompany your flavourful burgers.
Tips for a perfect Panzanella:
- Stale bread: Traditionally, stale bread is used in Panzanella. It soaks up the dressing better and offers a unique texture.
- Ripe tomatoes: The juicier, the better! The juice from ripe tomatoes helps moisten the bread.
- Balance: Balance between bread and vegetables is important. Too much of one can overpower the other.
- Quick Assembly: Assemble it near the time of serving to maintain its freshness.
Irresistibly simple yet flavourful, Panzanella makes a light summer dinner best enjoyed on a warm evening with a glass of white wine.
Grilled Zucchini Carbonara
Grilled Zucchini Carbonara
Pair the creaminess of a classic carbonara with the smoky sweetness of grilled zucchini, and you get an absolute winner!
Ingredients for Grilled Zucchini
- Spaghetti Zucchini
- Egg yolks, Olive oil
- Parmesan cheese Salt and pepper
- Garlic Lemon juice
- Cook the spaghetti al dente. In a separate pan, cook the pancetta until crispy. Remove it from heat and add minced garlic. Combine egg yolks, walnuts, and parmesan in a bowl and pour over the pancetta mix. Toss cooked spaghetti in this sauce.
Cook the spaghetti al dente. In a separate pan, cook the pancetta until crispy. Remove it from heat and add minced garlic. Combine egg yolks, walnuts, and parmesan in a bowl and pour over the pancetta mix. Toss cooked spaghetti in this sauce.
For the zucchini, slice them lengthways, coat them in oil, sprinkle salt and pepper, and grill until tender-crisp. Once done, squeeze some lemon juice and add chopped parsley. Top your creamy pasta with grilled zucchini, and savour the burst of flavours.
Conclusion
Summer dinners should be fresh, simple, and full of flavour without feeling too heavy in the heat. This collection has everything—from grilled favourites and power bowls to crisp salads, comforting pasta, and even delicious summer dinner ideas and desserts. Each recipe is easy to make and perfect for warm evenings. Feel free to experiment with flavours and add your own twist for a more adventurous feast. Most importantly, enjoy the process, savour every bite, and make the most of summer dining!
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s good for dinner in the summer?
Several candidates, including a slow cooker for easy weeknight dinners options like easy dinners such as salads, grilled proteins, fresh seafood, light pasta dishes, and power bowls using seasonal fruits and vegetables that are plentiful, are ideal for summer evening dinners. After all, the last thing you want is to spend too much time cooking. What’s sure is summer dinners should be quick, delightful, and as fresh as possible.
What do you eat for dinner in India during the summer?
In India, summer meals are usually light refreshing and next level. They may include salads with yoghurt dressings, lentil soups, stir-fried vegetables, and dishes utilizing mangoes, watermelons, cucumbers, and various gourds, which help to combat the heat.
What are healthy summer dinners?
Healthy summer dinners are high in lean proteins and complex carbohydrates and full of fresh fruits and vegetables. Think colourful salads, grilled fish or chicken, whole grains like quinoa, bowls with heaps of veggies, and delicious fruit-based desserts—all while keeping them light and nutritious.
