Summer Entrées

1407 Roasted Zucchini and Black Bean Tostadas with Crisp Radish Relish

Photo: Jason Wallis

From grilled chicken with fresh summer salsas to summer pasta dishes, these healthy summer entrées please your tastebuds and beat the heat.

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Shishito and Shrimp Skewers With Chimichurri

Photo: Jennifer Causey

View Recipe: Shishito and Shrimp Skewers With Chimichurri

Ridged shishito peppers are usually pleasantly bitter with mild to medium heat, but watch out: Every so often, you'll get one that packs a fiery punch.

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Grilled Chicken with Fresh Grape Glaze

Grapes are probably the last thing you'd think of to put on grilled chicken, but combined with soy sauce, balsamic vinegar, and rosemary, they really work well here.

Becky Luigart-Stayner

View Recipe: Grilled Chicken with Fresh Grape Glaze

Grapes are probably the last thing you'd think of to put on grilled chicken, but combined with soy sauce, balsamic vinegar, and rosemary, they really work well here. Their natural sugars caramelize during cooking, giving the finished dish the charred crust that makes grilled food great.

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Red Snapper With Chunky Tomato-Watermelon Salsa

Photo: Jennifer Causey

View Recipe: Red Snapper With Chunky Tomato-Watermelon Salsa

The salsa combines sweetness from watermelon; acid from tomatoes and lime; a bit of heat from the chile; and a pop of herbal freshness from cilantro and mint. It pairs particularly well with red snapper and would be lovely with most any mild white fish. To get the fish skin good and crisp, be sure to forgo a nonstick skillet in favor of a stainless-steel or cast-iron one; reach for a 12-inch skillet- (or larger) so the fish doesn't get overcrowded—or cook in 2 batches if using a smaller pan.

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Brown-Sugar Grilled Salmon with Zucchini and Fennel "Noodles"

Photo: Erin Kunkel

View Recipe: Brown-Sugar Grilled Salmon with Zucchini and Fennel "Noodles"

Playing up the contrast—acidic and sweet, crunchy and tender—creates an easy, refreshing entrée that's ready in just 25 minutes.

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Vietnamese Pork Salad

Photo: Erin Kunkel

View Recipe: Vietnamese Pork Salad

Think of this impressive salad as a deconstructed version of a spring roll. Rice noodles cook in just 2 minutes; be sure to drain and rinse promptly with cold water so they don't overcook.

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Yellow Squash Pasta with Caramelized Lemon

Photo: Jennifer Causey

View Recipe: Yellow Squash Pasta with Caramelized Lemon

Look for lemons with thinner skins (smoother, shinier skins are often thinner); you'll get a nice citrus hit with each bite, but charring the slices softens the flavor so it's not overpowering. Serve right after tossing everything together, as the squash will start to wilt.

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Watermelon and Arugula Chicken Salad

Photo: Erin Kunkel

View Recipe: Watermelon and Arugula Chicken Salad

If watermelon wedges are a mainstay at your summer cookouts, try dicing for this instant, gorgeous salad. The sweetness of the fruit pairs beautifully with the smoky rotisserie chicken and fresh mint to create a summertime staple that will keep the family asking for seconds.

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Pasta with Prosciutto, Cherry Tomatoes, and Asiago

Photo: Erin Kunkel

View Recipe: Pasta with Prosciutto, Cherry Tomatoes, and Asiago

This quick pasta toss is all about the play of textures: crispy bits of prosciutto, snappy squash, and blistered cherry tomatoes. Sauté the zucchini for just a minute—you want it to lose its raw bite but not brown. It will be perfectly crispy-tender when the pasta is done.

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Red Wine-Marinated Steak With Balsamic Onions and Slaw

Photo: Jennifer Causey

View Recipe: Red Wine-Marinated Steak With Balsamic Onions and Slaw

Cook this with either hanger or flank steak, whichever you prefer. The onions add a hit of umami, but feel free to omit them.

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Flank Steak Panzanella Salad

Photo: Erin Kunkel

View Recipe: Flank Steak Panzanella Salad

This salad is even better at room temperature once the bread has absorbed some of the dressing. Swap the steak for chicken or shrimp, or omit for a side salad.

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Spiced Chicken with Grilled Peach Salsa

Photo: Jason Varney

View Recipe: Spiced Chicken with Grilled Peach Salsa

Purple scallions have a mild, sweet taste and a beautiful deep color. Substitute green onions if you can't find their purple cousin.

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Minestrone Verde

Photo: Jennifer Causey

View Recipe: Minestrone Verde

Brothy and light, this is a perfect summer soup. A quick and easy pesto adorns each bowl for a burst of herbal freshness. In a pinch, you can use purchased pesto.

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Pork Loin Medallions with Spicy Greens and Provolone

Photo: Jason Varney

View Recipe: Pork Loin Medallions with Spicy Greens and Provolone

We've put a quick and lean spin on Philly's popular slow-roasted pork shoulder Italian hoagie by using tenderloin and turning the dish into a sort of warm salad. Serve with thinly sliced Italian bread, if desired.

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Lemon-Herb Chicken Skewers with Blueberry-Balsamic Salsa

Photo: Jason Varney

View Recipe: Lemon-Herb Chicken Skewers with Blueberry-Balsamic Salsa

Blueberries are the standout ingredient for the sweet and sour sauce that accompanies these grilled kebabs. We used cilantro, basil, and parsley, but you can omit the cilantro. You can also serve this salsa on small toasts spread with creamy Camembert or tangy goat cheese.

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Grilled Red Curry Chicken and Bell Peppers

Photo: Jennifer Causey

View Recipe: Grilled Red Curry Chicken and Bell Peppers

We use a combination of peppers for different flavor notes—mini bell peppers for sweetness and Fresnos for moderate spice. Fresnos look like red jalapeños but are less spicy; use the latter if you want more heat.

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Pan-Seared Lake Trout with Bacon and Cranberry Bean Succotash

Photo: Jason Varney

View Recipe: Pan-Seared Lake Trout with Bacon and Cranberry Bean Succotash

Mottled pink cranberry beans lose their vibrant color once cooked, but no matter; their creamy texture and mild taste are the stars of the dish. You can substitute lima beans if you can't find cranberry beans. Just-picked corn is a must: Check for a fresh, moist stem.

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Chicago Char Dog with Fresh Cucumber Relish

Photo: Jason Varney

View Recipe: Chicago Char Dog with Fresh Cucumber Relish

Classic Chicago dogs are served in poppy seed buns. If you can't find them, lightly brush buns with egg white and sprinkle with poppy seeds. Toast in the oven at 350° for 2 to 3 minutes.

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Banh Mi Hot Dog

Photo: Jason Varney

View Recipe: Banh Mi Hot Dog

Pickled veggies, jalapeño, and cilantro top these Vietnamese-inspired dogs.

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Mexican Hot Dog

Photo: Jason Varney

View Recipe: Mexican Hot Dog

Lime-marinated cabbage and sliced avocado give Mexican flair to this grilled frank.

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Grilled Lamb Chops with Wheat Berry, Strawberry, and Lacinato Kale Salad

Photo: Jason Varney

View Recipe: Grilled Lamb Chops with Wheat Berry, Strawberry, and Lacinato Kale Salad

Lacinato kale, often called dinosaur kale because of its crinkled, bumpy texture, grows year-round in the Pacific Northwest. Massaging the leaves with your hands tenderizes them and tones down their bitter edge, which is a little more pronounced with summer harvests.

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Cheesesteak Burgers with Pickled Peppers, Onions, and Cucumber

Photo: Jason Varney

View Recipe: Cheesesteak Burgers with Pickled Peppers, Onions, and Cucumber

Quick pickles add tangy crunch to our fresh riff on the cheesesteak sandwich. Avoid overworking the meat when you mix and shape the patties; you run the risk of making them tough.

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Mango Rice Salad with Grilled Shrimp

This grilled entree packs a lot of flavor for your summer table.

Becky Luigart-Stayner

View Recipe: Mango Rice Salad with Grilled Shrimp

Asian influences are rather uncommon at the summer table, but with curry-marinated shrimp, coconut-tinged rice, crunchy vegetables, and distinctively flavored mango, this dish will change that, and fast.

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Lobster Rolls

Randy Mayor

View Recipe: Lobster Rolls

Lobster isn't just for the white-tablecloth set. These classic New England sandwiches are decidedly down-to-earth, and affordable to boot―just one pound of lobster feeds eight. The unbeatable flavor of fresh dill is excellent, and the dressing is extra tangy (and lower in fat) thanks to the addition of Greek yogurt.

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Pulled Chicken Sandwiches

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

View Recipe: Pulled Chicken Sandwiches

Most of us don't have the time or equipment to slow-smoke meats at home. Thankfully, this recipe captures all of the smoke and spice of barbecue in only 20 minutes on the grill. Slap on a sweet-spicy sauce and the requisite pickles and bun, and you're in for a treat.

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Grill-Braised Clams and Chorizo in Tomato-Saffron Broth

Photo: Anna Williams

View Recipe: Grill-Braised Clams and Chorizo in Tomato-Saffron Broth

Spanish flavors inspire this simple but intense summery braise. Saffron gives the tomato broth a nutty complexity, while the spice and heat of chorizo liven up the clams.

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Orecchiette with Peas, Shrimp, and Buttermilk-Herb Dressing

Photo: Anna Williams

View Recipe: Orecchiette with Peas, Shrimp, and Buttermilk-Herb Dressing

This herby pasta salad is perfect for a picnic or potluck gathering; you can easily double the recipe to serve a crowd. Can't find orecchiette? Medium shell-shaped pasta will also work in its place.

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Tequila-Glazed Grilled Chicken Thighs

Photo: Anna Williams

View Recipe: Tequila-Glazed Grilled Chicken Thighs

If you would rather not use tequila, you can substitute 1/3 cup pineapple juice. Start the grilling over direct heat to get good grill marks and charred bits, and then move to indirect heat to gently finish the cooking.

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Grilled Char with Yukon Golds and Tomato-Red Onion Relish

Photo: Anna Williams

View Recipe: Grilled Char with Yukon Golds and Tomato–Red Onion Relish

Sweet heirloom tomatoes are the crowning glory on this grilled meal. Soaking the onions in cool water removes some of their harsh bite.

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Grilled Pizza with Prosciutto, Arugula, and Lemon

Photo: Anna Williams

View Recipe: Grilled Pizza with Prosciutto, Arugula, and Lemon

Grilled flatbreads are a delicious base for a light, summery salad. The dough develops a yeastier, more complex flavor from a 24-hour resting period in the refrigerator. You can also use store-bought dough and begin with step 3 in the directions.

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Yakitori

Photo: Anna Williams

View Recipe: Yakitori

A teriyaki-like sauce adds tons of flavor to chicken. Serve with rice or rice noodles and steamed baby bok choy.

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Curry Chicken Wraps with Nectarine Chutney

Photo: Anna Williams

View Recipe: Curry Chicken Wraps with Nectarine Chutney

Indian spices pair well with tangy nectarines but you can also use peaches, if you prefer.

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Burgers with Blue Cheese Mayo and Sherry Vidalia Onions

Photo: Anna Williams

View Recipe: Burgers with Blue Cheese Mayo and Sherry Vidalia Onions

A basic burger gets revamped thanks to a few choice ingredients that pack lots of flavor. Watch out, this will be the hit at your next barbecue.

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Corn Bread Shortcake with Ham and Fresh Peach Salsa

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

View Recipe: Corn Bread Shortcake with Ham and Fresh Peach Salsa

This recipe elevates the down-home Southern flavor of corn bread and smoked ham into haute cuisine with a sweet-savory salsa. Impress your guests with an elegant plate presentation, but keep some extra salsa for yourself to eat with any kind of grilled meat, or, heck, plain old tortilla chips.

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Cumin, Honey, and Mint-Marinated Lamb Chops

The marinade brings together sweet, sour, and spice for flavor you'll want to try over and over.

Becky Luigart-Stayner

View Recipe: Cumin, Honey, and Mint-Marinated Lamb Chops

Among its myriad benefits, grilling yields superfast results: After marinating, these lamb chops need only about eight minutes and they're ready to eat. The mélange of ingredients in the marinade brings together sweet, sour, and spice for flavor you'll want to try over and over.

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Fiery Flank Steak with Tomato Jam

In this recipe, we marinate flank steak with jalapeo peppers, then grill it and top with a jam made from tomatoes.

View Recipe: Fiery Flanks Steak with Tomato Jam

In this recipe, we marinate flank steak with jalapeño peppers, then grill it and top with a jam made from tomatoes and even more jalapeños―a spicy-food lover's dream. If you've got a big crop of backyard tomatoes, make some extra jam to serve with cheese and crackers for a quick appetizer.

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Arugula Salad with Chicken and Apricots

Randy Mayor

View Recipe: Arugula Salad with Chicken and Apricots

Pounding the chicken breasts flat ensures tenderness and cuts cooking time―a great combination―while fresh herbs add great taste. The finished salad has lots of flavors, too: bitter arugula, sweet and juicy apricot, pungent raw onion, and tart white-wine vinaigrette. This 10-minute recipe's perfect for a weekend lunch with guests.

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Shishito and Shrimp Skewers With Chimichurri

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Grilled Chicken with Fresh Grape Glaze

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Red Snapper With Chunky Tomato-Watermelon Salsa

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Brown-Sugar Grilled Salmon with Zucchini and Fennel "Noodles"

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Vietnamese Pork Salad

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Yellow Squash Pasta with Caramelized Lemon

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Watermelon and Arugula Chicken Salad

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Pasta with Prosciutto, Cherry Tomatoes, and Asiago

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Red Wine-Marinated Steak With Balsamic Onions and Slaw

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Flank Steak Panzanella Salad

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Spiced Chicken with Grilled Peach Salsa

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Minestrone Verde

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Pork Loin Medallions with Spicy Greens and Provolone

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Lemon-Herb Chicken Skewers with Blueberry-Balsamic Salsa

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Grilled Red Curry Chicken and Bell Peppers

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Pan-Seared Lake Trout with Bacon and Cranberry Bean Succotash

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Chicago Char Dog with Fresh Cucumber Relish

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Banh Mi Hot Dog

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Mexican Hot Dog

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Grilled Lamb Chops with Wheat Berry, Strawberry, and Lacinato Kale Salad

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Cheesesteak Burgers with Pickled Peppers, Onions, and Cucumber

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Mango Rice Salad with Grilled Shrimp

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Lobster Rolls

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Pulled Chicken Sandwiches

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Grill-Braised Clams and Chorizo in Tomato-Saffron Broth

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Orecchiette with Peas, Shrimp, and Buttermilk-Herb Dressing

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