Summer Side Dishes - Cooking Light

This light salad mixes sweet tomatoes, peppery arugula, and salty Parmesan for a winning combination.

Becky Luigart-Stayner

Cavatappi with Arugula Pesto and Cherry Tomatoes

This light salad mixes sweet tomatoes, peppery arugula, and salty Parmesan for a winning combination. It can be served as either a side to a larger meal or as a refreshingly light lunch entrèe.

View Recipe: Cavatappi with Arugula Pesto and Cherry Tomatoes

These skewers bring lots of color to any summer meal.

Becky Luigart-Stayner

Indian-Spiced Grilled Baby Squash

These skewers bring lots of color to any summer meal. With only a 10-minute cook time, they are quick and easy to prepare, and keep the squash crisp and delicious while adding a smoky flavor, which mixes well with the South Asian flavors of coriander and cumin.

View Recipe: Indian-Spiced Grilled Baby Squash

Randy Mayor

Mexican Succotash

This colorful dish incorporates as much summer produce as we could fit in a pan: lima beans, sweet onion, bell pepper, corn, tomatoes, and cilantro. All their individual flavors are enhances with lemon and lots of garlic for a delicious and easy recipe. It's great for you, too―one 243-calorie serving contains less than three grams of fat and about half a day's fiber.

View Recipe: Mexican Succotash

Southerners are well acquainted with the joys of okra, especially the crunchy-tender combination that results from deep-frying the pods.

Becky Luigart-Stayner

Oven-Fried Okra

Southerners are well acquainted with the joys of okra, especially the crunchy-tender combination that results from deep-frying the pods. But anyone can enjoy this dish, which keeps all the crunch and dispenses with the grease.

View Recipe: Oven-Fried Okra

Photo: Anna Williams

Summer Tomato, Feta, and Basil Galette

Tangy feta, sweet summer onions, fragrant basil: a perfect tart. Pair this summery side with grilled flank steak, chicken, or salmon.

View Recipe: Summer Tomato, Feta, and Basil Galette

Photo: Anna Williams

Fig, Tomato, and Sweet Onion Salad

The ingredient list for this recipe is full of fresh summer flavors that are perfect for a light, yet satisfying, salad. Use any fig variety you like or a combination of varieties.

View Recipe: Fig, Tomato, and Sweet Onion Salad

Photo: Anna Williams

Smoky Baked Beans with Chorizo

These savory baked beans are simply divine. Be sure to use firm, dry-cured Spanish chorizo and not soft, raw Mexican chorizo for this recipe.

View Recipe: Smoky Baked Beans with Chorizo

Photo: Anna Williams

Curried Potato Salad

Madras curry powder adds an extra degree of heat to this fun take on a classic side.

View Recipe: Curried Potato Salad

Photo: Anna Williams

Grilled Corn on the Cob with Roasted Jalapeño Butter

Charring the pepper eases the heat, yielding a versatile, not-too-spicy butter.

View Recipe: Grilled Corn on the Cob with Roasted Jalapeño Butter

Photo: Anna Williams

Stuffed Zucchini with Cheesy Breadcrumbs

Serve these for an unexpected side that will surely impress everyone who is gathered around your table.

View Recipe: Stuffed Zucchini with Cheesy Breadcrumbs

Photo: Anna Williams

Golden Beet Salad with Wheat Berries and Pumpkinseed Vinaigrette

This colorful salad will be a bright addition to any table. It’s light and flavorful, making it perfect for an alfresco dinner on a warm summer day.

View Recipe: Golden Beet Salad with Wheat Berries and Pumpkinseed Vinaigrette

Photo: Anna Williams

Shaved Summer Squash Salad with Prosciutto Crisps

A vegetable peeler turns squash into delicate ribbons, a foil for the salty ham. It's delicious raw when it’s shaved and marinated with a bit of salt.

View Recipe: Shaved Summer Squash Salad with Prosciutto Crisps

Randy Mayor

Roasted Corn, Pepper, and Tomato Chowder

Next time you grill, throw on some extra bell pepper, corn, and tomato for this dish. The grilled vegetables are pureed, spreading smoky flavor and thick, creamy texture into every spoonful. A sprinkle of blue cheese on top adds even more layers of flavor. Tomato soup won't be just for cold, rainy afternoons anymore after this.

View Recipe: Roasted Corn, Pepper, and Tomato Chowder

This recipe highlights the fresh taste of cherry tomatoes, whether from your garden, a farmers' market, or the store.

Becky Luigart-Stayner

Spiced Marinated Tomatoes

This recipe highlights the fresh taste of cherry tomatoes, whether from your garden, a farmers' market, or the store. As a bonus, it lasts up to two days, so you can serve it at multiple meals. Great with burgers on the grill, or just as a snack on its own.

View Recipe: Spiced Marinated Tomatoes

This dish adds elegance to corn's lovely sweetness.

Becky Luigart-Stayner

Sweet Corn and Parmesan Flans

Everyone loves fresh sweet corn, so it's fun to take it beyond basic. This dish adds elegance to corn's lovely sweetness. Impress company or just add color to a family dinner with this light and airy creation.

View Recipe: Sweet Corn and Parmesan Flans

The cornucopia of vegetables in this slaw give it a rainbow of colors and an array of textures and flavors.

Becky Luigart-Stayner

Thai Summer Slaw

The cornucopia of vegetables in this slaw give it a rainbow of colors and an array of textures and flavors, while the Asian-tinged dressing that brings it all together is bright and fresh with a kick of hot chile paste to keep things interesting. Pair with burgers or barbecue to tweak a traditional summer dinner.

View Recipe: Thai Summer Slaw

Green beans, basil, shallots, tomatoes, and pine nuts are tossed with a dressing that's simultaneously creamy and light for a versatile dish.

Becky Luigart-Stayner

Haricots Verts and Grape Tomato Salad

This salad transforms simple ingredients into something truly elegant. Green beans, basil, shallots, tomatoes, and pine nuts are tossed with a dressing that's simultaneously creamy and light for a versatile dish.

View Recipe: Haricots Verts and Grape Tomato Salad

Randy Mayor

Potato Salad with Herbs and Grilled Summer Squash

With cornichons, tarragon, and a lemon-herb dressing, this is a South-of-France spin on an American classic. We promise you won't miss the mayonnaise. The briefly grilled yellow squash brings a bit of crunch and caramelized flavor to the salad, as well as summery color.

View Recipe: Potato Salad with Herbs and Grilled Summer Squash

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Spelt Salad with Fava Beans

Fresh favas are an early-summer treat that disappear pretty quickly. Take advantage with this hearty salad that packs in all sorts of nutritious elements―from the whole-grain power of spelt to vitamin-rich dried currants and tomatoes.

View Recipe: Spelt Salad with Fava Beans

Photo: Gentl & Hyers

Fig and Lime Jam

We tested this recipe with not-too-sweet Brown Turkey figs; if using sweeter Black Mission figs, you may need to decrease the sugar. The mashed fig mixture can stand as long as overnight.

View Recipe: Fig and Lime Jam

Photo: Gentl & Hyers

Cracked Wheat Salad with Nectarines, Parsley, and Pistachios

Great with grilled chicken, lamb, or salmon, this side-dish salad also packs well for a picnic. Almost any fruit would work well in place of nectarines–try apricots, peaches, or figs.

View Recipe: Cracked Wheat Salad with Nectarines, Parsley, and Pistachios

Photo: Gentl & Hyers

Romano Bean Salad

Also called Italian flat beans or runner beans, this snap bean variety looks like a wide, flat green bean. You can easily substitute an equal amount of regular green beans if you prefer.

View Recipe: Romano Bean Salad

Photo: Gentl & Hyers

Sweet Corn Relish

With our simple refrigerator relish recipe, you can preserve a bumper crop of corn for up to six weeks. Serve with any grilled meat or fish, or spoon over salad greens.

View Recipe: Sweet Corn Relish

Photo: Gentl & Hyers

Cranberry Beans with Parsley Pesto

Fresh-from-the-pod cranberry beans are creamy and delicious, especially when adorned with a mixture of herbs, nuts, and cheese. Serve alongside grilled lamb or pork, or enjoy a larger serving as a vegetarian entrée.

View Recipe: Cranberry Beans with Parsley Pesto

Photo: Gentl & Hyers

Summer Peach and Tomato Salad

Simplicity has never looked so beautiful. A stunning combination of skin-on peaches and heirloom tomatoes of various colors, sizes, and shapes creates a sweet-savory salad that pairs well with grilled pork.

View Recipe: Summer Peach and Tomato Salad

Photo: Gentl & Hyers

Eggplant, Zucchini, and Tomato Tian

Tian, a French word used throughout Provence, refers to both a shallow cooking vessel and the food cooked in it. An 11 x 7-inch glass or ceramic baking dish works well for this recipe, but if you have a 2-quart tian or gratin dish, all the better.

View Recipe: Eggplant, Zucchini, and Tomato Tian

Photo: Gentl & Hyers

Indian Spiced Okra

Even folks who usually don't like okra enjoy the taste and texture of this highly seasoned dish. We left the seeds in the chile for moderate spice. Serve with grilled chicken or lamb.

View Recipe: Indian Spiced Okra

Photo: Gentl & Hyers

Bell Pepper, Tomato, Cucumber, and Grilled Bread Salad

Summer's freshest veggies combine in a colorful side-dish salad. Toss in grilled shrimp or chicken for an easy one-dish dinner.

View Recipe: Bell Pepper, Tomato, Cucumber, and Grilled Bread Salad

Photo: Gentl & Hyers

Roasted Summer Squashes with Caper Gremolata

A traditional gremolata (garnish) features lemon rind, garlic, and parsley. We include briny capers in the mix to add excitement to this side.

View Recipe: Roasted Summer Squashes with Caper Gremolata

Photo: Gentl & Hyers

Herbed Green and Wax Beans

Adding a bundle of herbs (bouquet garni) to the steaming liquid imparts subtle flavor and aroma to the vegetables.

View Recipe: Herbed Green and Wax Beans

Photo: Romulo Yanes

Cabbage Slaw with Tangy Mustard Seed Dressing

Mustard seed, cilantro, and cumin give this coleslaw an Indian spin.

View Recipe: Cabbage Slaw with Tangy Mustard Seed Dressing

Photo: Romulo Yanes

Snap Pea and Pea Shoot Stir-Fry with Gingery Orange Sauce

Asian flavorings elevate a summer veggie side dish. A splash of delicious Gingery Orange Sauce gives just the right amount of tang.

View Recipe: Snap Pea and Pea Shoot Stir-Fry with Gingery Orange Sauce

Photo: Johnny Miller

Chilled Butter Bean Soup with Basil-Corn Relish

You'll need about 1 1/2 pounds of butter bean pods to get 2 cups shelled beans. You can substitute fresh lima beans, if you prefer.

View Recipe: Chilled Butter Bean Soup with Basil-Corn Relish

Photo: Johnny Miller

Roasted Beets with Jalapeño Cream

A creamy jalapeño dressing livens up earthy roasted beets. Seed the pepper for less heat.

View Recipe: Roasted Beets with Jalapeño Cream

Photo: Johnny Miller

Hot Pepper Vinegar

Chop and sprinkle these pickled peppers over salads or on sandwiches. Use the vinegar mixture to kick up salad dressing.

View Recipe: Hot Pepper Vinegar

Photo: Johnny Miller

Grilled Eggplant with Roasted Red Pepper Sauce

If you're working on a charcoal grill set up for indirect heat, mound the coals to one side of the grill.

View Recipe: Grilled Eggplant with Roasted Red Pepper Sauce