Summer

Summer Produce Guide

O summer... Celebrate with us the sweet joys of fruits and the luscious cru...

O summer... Celebrate with us the sweet joys of fruits and the luscious crunch of vegetables.

MIND researchers focused fruit intake solely on berries, all of which are packed with antioxidants. Blueberries’ levels lead the list, appearing to help protect sensitive brain cells from harmful free radicals.

Suggested Intake: At least 2 cups per week

Our Favorite Berry Varieties

The juice, the seedy bits, the heady perfume, and the indigo stains: Bring ...

The juice, the seedy bits, the heady perfume, and the indigo stains: Bring on all the sweet and tart stuff that summer berries give!

Guide to Raspberries

Sweet-tart raspberries are a delicate summer fruit that’s worth the wait.

Guide to Tomatoes

Tomatoes are the poster child for the pick-fresh movement and are the epito...

Tomatoes are the poster child for the pick-fresh movement and are the epitome of summer. Growing your own opens the door to hundreds of varieties and unrivaled flavor.

The best way to cook steel-cut oats during the week? Don't cook them at all. Soak the oats overnight in your milk of choice: The oats will soften and plump in the liquid but remain slightly chewy. Enjoy cold, or heat in the microwave for 30 seconds. Cocoa nibs add a little extra crunch and a wake-up jolt similar to coffee.

Blackberry Recipes

Blackberries are one of the most truly unique summertime treats. Finding fr...

Blackberries are one of the most truly unique summertime treats. Finding fresh blackberries outside their June to August peak season is difficult. Capturing their perfect essence during those prime months is vital. Whether you're picking blackberries from their thorny vines along a shady fence on a hot summer day, or you're just picking up several pints at your local farmers' market, make sure to honor their very essence. Elevate your summer desserts and dishes beyond the normal favorites with these tasty blackberry recipes.

A light, summery salad option for any gathering this season.

Fresh Tomato Recipes

There's so much to love about these seasonal beauties. When summer is here,...

There's so much to love about these seasonal beauties. When summer is here, put down the cans and head to the farmer's market for fresh tomato flavor that can't be beat. From blistered sides to chunky salsas, we can't stop dreaming up new ways to enjoy fresh tomatoes.

Heirloom Tomato Roundup

A visual guide to 12 of our favorite varieties, with recipes to showcase ea...

A visual guide to 12 of our favorite varieties, with recipes to showcase each.

Corn Recipes

Perhaps no other food is as versatile as corn is. Corn can go from quick-an...

Perhaps no other food is as versatile as corn is. Corn can go from quick-and-easy side dish to show-stopping main with ease. Biting into an ear of warm, buttery fresh corn is a luxurious culinary delight. Scooping up a spoonful of delicately sweet corn ice cream is a unique flavor experience. Forking through ooey gooey corn casserole is a picnic must. Our recipes explore every way you can use corn from soups to grilled sides, corn cakes to cheesy soufflés. Enjoy our best recipes for all that sweet, crunchy, peak-season corn.

Guide to Potatoes

From dense, waxy varieties to fluffy, starchy versions—potatoes in all thei...

From dense, waxy varieties to fluffy, starchy versions—potatoes in all their forms are a crowd-pleaser that can be adapted to almost any cooking method.

This dish keeps the classic elements of gumbo but with a fresh identity. Traditional? No. Completely delicious? Yes!

Okra Recipes

Okra polarizes. Some love it, serving it up in all forms: pickled, roasted,...

Okra polarizes. Some love it, serving it up in all forms: pickled, roasted, stewed, grilled, and fried. And others, well, not so much. When handled by an expert, okra can be crunchy, crisp, and far from slimy. The key is to highlight in recipes that you can trust are going to work. We put together our favorite okra recipes, tried and tested by our editors and test kitchen professionals again and again to ensure it won't fail you. Pick one, and make an okra fan out of the pickiest eaters.

Delicious raw, cooked, or pickled—savory cabbages have stunning, deep crinkled leaves that can span a few feet in the garden. Pungent when raw, yet mellow and sweeter when cooked, cabbage is a great vegetable to use throughout the summer months.

First up is Beer-Braised Chicken Tacos with Cabbage Slaw. Cabbage and apple slaw adds a nice crunch. When you pair the slaw with beer-braised chicken, the tacos take on a German flair.

Cabbage Recipes

This versatile veggie is an early-summer treat in our favorite cabbage reci...

This versatile veggie is an early-summer treat in our favorite cabbage recipes.

Get ready; this will become your new Sunday morning staple. These pancakes are wonderfully hearty, thanks to old-fashioned oats and white whole-wheat flour, yet their texture is still fluffy and light, with a beguiling creaminess in the middle. Instead of dousing this short stack with syrup, we opt instead for a nutty sauce of maple-sweetened almond butter—cutting about 27g added sugars from the typical pancake breakfast. (Feel free to sub any nut butter you have on hand). Soaking the oats first softens them and helps create that creamy interior texture. As they soak, you can make the almond butter sauce and measure out the other ingredients.

Raspberry Recipes

Known for being antioxidant-packed and full of natural flavor, raspberries ...

Known for being antioxidant-packed and full of natural flavor, raspberries are a delicate summer fruit that is worth the wait the rest of the year. Making an appearance in red, gold, black, or purple, raspberries are chock-full of vitamin C, folic acid, fiber, vitamin A, potassium, and calcium. Who knew this tiny treat could be so beneficial for your health? Used in refreshing drinks, decadent desserts, and more, this berry is as powerful in taste as it is in nutritional value.

Green Bean Recipes

Not just a Thanksgiving side dish, enjoy green bean recipes that will compl...

Not just a Thanksgiving side dish, enjoy green bean recipes that will compliment your meals year-round.

Pesticide use on peaches is widespread due to their delicate nature and attraction to pests. According to the EWG’s report, 98% of all conventional peaches contained at least one pesticide residue. Our suggestion: Buy organic.

Our Favorite Peach Recipes

From cobblers to salads and ice cream to soup, fresh peaches are a delight ...

From cobblers to salads and ice cream to soup, fresh peaches are a delight in our favorite recipes.

Guide to Figs

Fresh figs have it all—stunning, sticky flesh rife with seeds and heavy wit...

Fresh figs have it all—stunning, sticky flesh rife with seeds and heavy with syrupy, sweet juice. This sublime fruit needs little embellishment.

Guide to Peppers

Peppers offer a range of flavor—from delightfully sweet to fiery heat.

The meaty texture of fresh cherries holds up in a salsa that goes well with the charred sweet potatoes.

Fantastic Cherry Recipes

Don't miss out on these summertime beauties. Salad, sangria, or sorbet—you'...

Don't miss out on these summertime beauties. Salad, sangria, or sorbet—you're going to love these gorgeous fresh cherry recipes. Anyone who's stood over a sink pitting a bowlful with stained hands can attest to the cherry's dangerous squirtability. Sweet, deep-crimson Bing and peachy-colored Rainier are most abundant—and what we use in our recipes—though you might find yellow or inky purple varieties, too. If you live in an area where sour cherries reign, by all means use those; just be sure to balance the tang with a bit more sweetness.

Want to choose the best? Look for a symmetrical melon heavy for its size and free of blemishes or soft spots. Roll it around and check for the couche (the spot where it rested on the ground while growing). It should be readily identifiable. Don't see one? The melon's not yet mature. Last, find the spot where the stem was attached. Clean indentations should appear on melons that detached naturally from the vine, like watermelons.

All About Melons

From how to choose the best, to using melons in summer-fresh recipes

Guide to Plums

With their puckery-sweet flesh and tart skin, plums offer magical flavor.

Guide to Blackberries

Fat, juicy blackberries are highly sought in summer. Tart and sweet, they b...

Fat, juicy blackberries are highly sought in summer. Tart and sweet, they belong in your basket.

Guide to Garlic

Garlic rewards beginner gardeners with an abundant crop. Flavor varies wide...

Garlic rewards beginner gardeners with an abundant crop. Flavor varies widely by variety.

Blueberries are the hallmark of summer. From breakfast to dinner and everything in between, we have recipes to help you make the most of the season's bounty.

We'll start you off with a delicious sipper, Blueberry Thrill. Sweet blueberries infuse spicy gin for summer’s most refreshing sipper. For a fizzy cocktail, pour gin, cardamom syrup, and lemon juice over crushed ice in a glass; top with chilled club soda.

Blueberry Recipes

These bite-sized morsels deserve to be center stage during summer months. W...

These bite-sized morsels deserve to be center stage during summer months. We'll show you how to put them on display in delicious ways.

You may adapt this dessert to your taste by adjusting the blend of berries, the amount of honey, or even the amount of cheese. The idea is luxury in the amount of berries. Fromage blanc is wonderfully subtle; you can sub Greek yogurt, which is tangier.

Blueberry Desserts

These bite-sized berries are full of nutrients but low in calories. The bel...

These bite-sized berries are full of nutrients but low in calories. The beloved blueberry has significant amounts of fiber, vitamin C, vitamin K, and manganese. From pops to pies, here are some of our favorite ways to incorporate this healthy favorite into your favorite sweets.

Guide to Melons

Refreshing watermelon, cantaloupe, and honeydew melon sweeten any dish.

Guide to Peaches

The intoxicating sweet fragrance of fresh peaches is your first introductio...

The intoxicating sweet fragrance of fresh peaches is your first introduction to the succulent flesh that awaits beneath the fuzzy skin.

Guide to Okra

Many folks shy away from okra because they expect a viscous texture. But wh...

Many folks shy away from okra because they expect a viscous texture. But when handled right, okra is crunchy, crisp, and far from slimy.

Guide to Cauliflower

Fresh, raw cauliflower has a lovely crisp texture and mild, neutral charact...

Fresh, raw cauliflower has a lovely crisp texture and mild, neutral character. It sparkles when roasted, yielding a creamy texture and a nutty taste.

Use Your Basil Bounty

The season's most versatile herb enlivens dishes from classic (pesto) to co...

The season's most versatile herb enlivens dishes from classic (pesto) to contemporary (sorbet?!). Use it with abandon.

Guide to Cucumbers

Fresh cucumber imparts a refreshingly crisp coolness to any dish.

For a boost of beta-carotene, potassium, vitamin C, and fiber in a sweet 50-calorie bundle, be sure to bring home apricots from the farmers' market or grocery store. The peak season for this fresh fruit is from May to August. Sandwiches, snacks, jams, salsas, and salads will all be just a bit sweeter and delicious with apricots.

What to Eat Right Now: Apricots

Get the dish on this season's showstopper.

Plum Types

From tart to tropical, you’re bound to find a plum variety that will pique ...

From tart to tropical, you’re bound to find a plum variety that will pique your taste buds.

Fantastic Fig Recipes

Fresh or dried, figs lend a sublime sweetness to all sorts of dishes, from ...

Fresh or dried, figs lend a sublime sweetness to all sorts of dishes, from easy apps to healthful desserts to interesting entrées.

Choice Ingredient: Anaheim Chile Peppers

Combining sweet pepper flavor with a little bit of heat, these chiles are g...

Combining sweet pepper flavor with a little bit of heat, these chiles are great for all sorts of recipes.

Grilling eggplant allows its flavor to really shine, but our four simple toppings take this speedy side to the next level. Top it with Miso Aioli, Sherry Vinaigrette, Creole Salsa, or Creamy Lemon-Garlic Dressing. Be sure to choose smaller eggplants; they'll be easier to slice and easier to handle on the grill.

Guide to Eggplant

This glossy, plump vegetable with its firm, meaty flesh is the perfect base...

This glossy, plump vegetable with its firm, meaty flesh is the perfect base for a host of dishes—pastas, burgers, seafood dishes, and meatless favorites.

These sweet cherries work well in Double-Cherry Upside-Down Cake or as a topping to a summer salad.Shop:

Guide to Cherries

Sweet or tart, fresh cherries are firm but surprisingly syrupy and juicy.

Cooking with Onions

Onions add a welcome kick to any dish and perfect to use in classic, comfor...

Onions add a welcome kick to any dish and perfect to use in classic, comfort-food recipes.

Avocados: Green, Gold, and Glorious

Delicate and velvety, the avocado needs little coaxing to shine in these re...

Delicate and velvety, the avocado needs little coaxing to shine in these recipes.

These zucchini sides couldn't be easier. Simply mix your favorite topping, half the zucchini, and grill. Our Grilled Zucchini with Lemon-Garlic Breadcrumbs uses fresh breadcrumbs from a whole-wheat baguette, while the Grilled Zucchini with Herb Butter boasts fresh chives, basil, and lemon juice. For spicy flavor try our Grilled Zucchini with Chopped Tomato-Basil Salsa, or stay cool with Sweet and Sour Grilled Zucchini.

Guide to Summer Squash

These colorful squash are easy to grow, with the promise of a bumper crop.

Guide to Corn

The first ear of corn heralds the arrival of summer. Enjoy its glorious swe...

The first ear of corn heralds the arrival of summer. Enjoy its glorious sweetness and crisp, juicy texture for as long as the season lasts.

While not Israeli in origin (chermoula is actually a Moroccan condiment), this dish speaks to the many culinary influences of Israel's North African and Middle Eastern neighbors. The sauce is wonderfully complex—bright, herbaceous, and spicy. Israel has a vegetable-centric cuisine (they are eaten at every meal); cooking vegetables over an open flame until deeply charred is a favorite cooking method.

Eggplant Recipes

This shiny, purple veggie is the perfect base for meatless dishes or a welc...

This shiny, purple veggie is the perfect base for meatless dishes or a welcomed addition to burgers, seafood dishes, and pastas. When it's raw, eggplant is spongy and plain, but once it's roasted, grilled, sautéed, or stir-fried, it comes into its full glory: tender, creamy flesh with a satisfying meatiness. That makes it ideal for meatless sandwiches or chicken Parmesan-style dishes. It's equally delicious when grilled and drizzled with a simple vinaigrette for a warm side salad or slow roasted with a sprinkling of fresh herbs and a squeeze of zesty lemon juice. Pick one up at the farmers' market or grocery store and see how it shines in these recipes.

Perfectly-portioned, and entirely gluten-free, these cheesy bites have less than 25 calories per biscuit. They might be small, but they bring a burst of garlicky-cheddar flavor every time you pop them in your mouth. You can serve them as your “bread basket” before dinner or on a platter for a fun appetizer.

Find more fun, low-calorie recipes in the Cooking Light DIET.

Cauliflower Recipes

Crunchy, white, and packed with vitamin C, we love cauliflower for its pote...

Crunchy, white, and packed with vitamin C, we love cauliflower for its potential cancer-fighting properties and–of course–its taste. When roasted, it’s great for tossing into bowls, curries, and soups. Serve raw with dip or add to a salad. It’s also diverse enough to be included as a creamy addition to alfredo sauce, the base of a pizza crust, and can even be made into bite-size tots or “biscuits.” Here’s a few recipes to start you off cooking with the ever versatile vegetable.

If you're craving extra protein, try cracking two eggs over the cheese just before baking.

Cucumber Recipes

Reach beyond just incorporating this veggie into summer salads with our uni...

Reach beyond just incorporating this veggie into summer salads with our unique cucumber recipes. Cucumbers are a delightful product of summer but must be chosen wisely. If the weather has been hot and dry, some cucumber varieties can become bitter. When in doubt, taste a cucumber before using it in one of our delicious, light recipes. (See our Guide to Cucumbers.)

In Season: Bell Peppers

Enjoy creative ways to serve these sweet gifts from the late-summer garden.

Chiles en nogada is a patriotic dish: It evokes the Mexican flag by drawing on green, white, and red elements. Traditional chiles en nogada use a pork filling, but hibiscus flowers—typically used in a tart drink—make a surprisingly hearty filling. You can find them at Mexican grocers and specialty stores like Trader Joe's. Mexican cooks often use fresh green walnuts, briefly available in autumn, which have a creamier texture and less bitterness; standard walnuts work well, too. We add touch of sugar to the sauce here to balance the slight bitterness of the nuts.

Cooking with Peppers

Allow peppers to assert themselves in a variety of easy-to-make, richly fla...

Allow peppers to assert themselves in a variety of easy-to-make, richly flavorful dishes. Peppers come in a variety of shapes and sizes with varying degrees of hotness. Use the best of the season to add a sweet or spicy kick to these delictable, light, and fresh recipes.

Cooking with Garlic

Whether you grow your own garlic or buy it fresh from a local market, there...

Whether you grow your own garlic or buy it fresh from a local market, there is no denying it's distinctive flavor. It can truly bring life to a dish. From chicken recipes to pastas to veggie cakes, enjoy our collection of garlic recipes that will showcase the variety and levels of flavor that this summer produce has to offer.

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In Season: Watermelon

Make room in the fridge for these fruits that offer a slice of summer.

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