Summer is just around the corner, with temperatures already starting to rise. According to a survey, 25 percent of Americans look forward to the season of sunshine and lazy afternoons. However, the recent medical crises that have clamped down on the world may make the usual methods of celebrating the season impractical and dangerous.
Community lockdowns and similar ordinances have closed down public beaches and swimming pools due to the risk of contagion. Traveling abroad also contains significantly higher risks. But you can still enjoy summerfrom the safety of your home by making amazing meals.
If you’re tired of eating low-carb pasta but want to keep eating healthy, here are three delicious summertime recipes you can whip up. Each recipe is perfect for both hot noon lunchtimes or for cooling down in the evening.
The Best Summer Salad
Salads don’t have to be bland or uninspired, as this recipe for the best summer salad will show you. This recipe is perfect for outdoor lunches on covered patios as you open a bottle of great wine, walk around in your versatile, comfortable Dockers shoes and listen to some relaxing music.
Ingredients
For the salad
- 6 heritage tomatoes
- 1 cucumber
- 2 medium red onions,
- 7 radishes
- 2 avocados
- ½ cup of crumbled feta cheese
- ½ cup black beans
- 4 cups of baby spinach leaves
- 1 mango
For the dressing
- 2 teaspoons honey
- 2 tablespoons vinegar
- 1/3 cup olive oil
- Mint leaves
- Coriander leaves
- Basil leaves
- 1 green chili chopped
- 1 clove of garlic
- 2 whole limes
Make the dressing beforehand so the ingredients can steep. Pour the liquid ingredients into a food processor and blend. Add the whole ingredients for the dressing a handful at a time until your have a very smooth and fragrant sauce. This will be tasty for up to 24 hours after you make it. Set aside.
For the salad, cut the heritage tomatoes into quarters and lay them down the bottom of a large salad bowl. Slice the cucumber in half along its length. Use a spoon to carve out its seeds. Slice the cucumber at an angle to get very thin but crispy slices. Layer on top of the tomatoes. Thinly slice both the onion and the radishes before sprinkling atop the cucumber. Pit the avocados, cube the flesh and add them on top of the salad. Roughly chop the spinach leaves and dice the mango. Top the salad with crumbled feta and drained black beans before drizzling with the dressing.
Refreshing Pasta
Pasta makes such a great main course during the summer because it can have a lot of zest and boldness in a single bite. This refreshing pasta recipes uses few ingredients and yet still manages to make your mouth water every time.
Ingredients
½ pound of any pasta of your choice, cooked
For the sauce
- 1 head of garlic
- 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 60 cherry tomatoes
- ¼ cup of basil
- Salt and pepper
Preheat your oven to 325 Fahrenheit. Peel each clove of garlic and smash them open with one hit from a pestle. Cut the stems from each of the cherry tomatoes. Get a large rimmed baking sheet and coat it with some olive oil. Arrange the smashed garlic, stemmed tomatoes and basil leaves on the baking sheet. Drench them in olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste. Toss the ingredients by hand to coat them evenly. Put the tray in the oven for up to 50 minutes, stirring occasionally. Put the cooked pasta in a large serving dish and cover liberally with the contents of the baking sheet.
You can top the pasta and tomato combination with a sprinkle of finely grated parmesan or serve as is.
Gin and Tonic Ice Pops
No summer night is complete without a refreshing dessert or a cold drink in one hand. But why not indulge both at the same time? This alcoholic dessert is perfect for lazy afternoons in your porch or for watching the fireflies come out at night.
Ingredients
- Slices of cucumber
- A handful of mint leaves
- 6 tablespoons of gin
- 1 cup of tonic
- 4 tablespoons of fine sugar
You can mix these up in an ice cube tray or in popsicle molds. Push a slice of cucumber and a leaf of mint into each tray slot or popsicle mold. In a shaker, pour the liquid ingredients and sugar. Shake until the sugar has been completely dissolved. Pour the mixture into the tray or molds and affix popsicle sticks. Freeze for 4 hours or overnight.
Summer is the time to go outdoors, but if you can’t do so safely, you can at least feel the summer vibes through the flavors brought out by these recipes. Try them out today and experience some refreshing summer memories.
