The key to perfect summer food is not to overthink it.
Christine ByrnePublished on June 30, 2016
Design by Jenny Chang / BuzzFeed
1. The perfect CHEESEBURGER. Victor Tatum / buzzfeed.com
The secret to perfect patties? Plenty of salt and pepper, really good beef, and nothing else. As for the bread, nothing beats a potato bun.
Recipe: The World's Best Cheeseburger
2. A BLUEBERRY PIE with filling that isn't too thin or too thick. James Ransom / food52.com
There are so many smart things about this recipe. It's open-faced, which means that the fresh blueberries don't get overpowered by massive amounts of crust. And, fresh blueberries are cooked with water, cornstarch, lemon juice, and sugar on the stovetop before they're poured into a blind-baked crust, which means the blueberries get really sweet and soft, and extra moisture gets cooked out before it sogs up the crust.
Recipe: Rose Levy Beranbaum's Open-Faced Fresh Blueberry Pie
3. A MARGARITA made with freshly squeezed lime juice. foodnetwork.com
Anyone who's tasted a proper, shaken margarita made with fresh lime juice knows that bottled sour mix is basically a crime against your taste buds and also all of humanity. In addition to fresh lime juice, use good quality orange liqueur — I love Cointreau, which is what this recipe suggests — and silver tequila. If you find that it's too sweet for you with the liqueur and the extra sugar, go ahead try one with just tequila and agave .
Recipe: Perfect Margaritas
4. A creamy POTATO SALAD. foodnetwork.com
The combination of mayonnaise and tender white potatoes is undeniably delicious, but potato salad can go wrong when things get too complicated or, worse, over-dressed. For best results: peel the potatoes and cook them perfectly, then cut them big enough to give the salad texture but small enough so that there's plenty of surface area for the dressing to cling to.
Recipe: Potato Salad
5. A VINEGAR-BASED POTATO SALAD, for everyone who "doesn't like mayonnaise". seriouseats.com
Mayo haters abound, so there's definitely room (and need) on your summer table for a salty, tangy, mayo-free potato salad. The rules are similar — cook the potatoes perfectly, cut them in big enough pieces, etc. — but the dressing should be a little more abrasive, and the potato skins are best left intact.
Recipe: German Potato Salad
6. Perfectly crunchy COLESLAW. 7. A no-frills PEACH COBBLER. seriouseats.com
Summer peaches are something worth looking forward to all year, so why mess with them more than you need to. A little extra sugar, a simple biscuit topping, and maybe some ice cream is all they need.
Recipe: Classic Biscuit-Topped Peach Cobbler
8. A simple GAZPACHO. foodnetwork.com
Removing the peels and seeds of the tomatoes before blending leads to a perfect texture and deep flavor.
Recipe: Gazpacho
9. A foolproof STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE 10. Citrusy FISH TACOS with just the right amount of spice. 11. Tender, messy, saucy BABY BACK RIBS. Marcus Nilsson / bonappetit.com
The goal of baby back ribs is to cook the meat so that it falls of the bone when you bite into it, not when you pick a rib up off of the serving platter. Also, there should be plenty of barbecue sauce but not so much that the ribs are drowning.
Recipe: Best-Ever Barbecued Ribs
12. Rich, buttery CORNBREAD. 13. Beautifully grilled CORN ON THE COB. Peden and Munk / bonappetit.com
When you start with fresh, sweet summer corn, it's actually pretty hard to go wrong with corn on the cob. Grilling the corn in the husk makes for beautiful presentation and less work for the cook, and you can still get perfectly caramelized kernels.
Recipe: Whole Corn On The Grill
14. Basic SALSA. foodnetwork.com
Alton Brown's salsa recipe calls for no fancy ingredients and no cooking. Let the salsa sit in the fridge overnight before serving, so that the flavors really have a chance to shine.
Recipe: Salsa
15. GRILLED CHICKEN good enough to compete with burgers and steaks. Peden Munk / bonappetit.com
Bland, boring grilled chicken stands no chance against summer grilling favorites like burgers, dogs, and big ol' cuts of meat. But chicken can be delicious in its own right, if you do it up properly, with enough flavor to compliment the meat but not overpower it, and enough wherewithal not to overcook it.
Recipe: Grilled Citrus Chicken
16. A next-level PASTA SALAD. 17. A classic Old Bay SHRIMP BOIL. 18. Freshly brewed SWEET TEA. 19. A pared-down CUCUMBER SALAD. Todd Coleman / saveur.com
Cucumber salad is meant to be a side, not a star. The best cucumber salad is one that's crunchy, tangy, and just slightly pickled, and it's best served alongside ribs or another kind of barbecued meat.
Recipe: Cucumber Salad
20. BAKED BEANS from scratch. foodiecrush.com
Canned beans are... well, fine. But making your own baked beans with bacon (and rendered BACON FAT), aromatic vegetables, barbecue sauce, and brown sugar is so much better. Truly, you'll forget what the canned version even tastes like after you've tried the homemade kind.
Recipe: The Best BBQ Baked Beans
21. A CAPRESE SALAD with truly great ingredients.
22. A quick and easy SANGRIA. The best sangria is a perfect balance of red wine, brandy, orange juice, and chopped fresh fruit. Any other strong ingredients or substitutions change things pretty dramatically, and why mess with a good thing?
Recipe: Easy Traditional Red Sangria
23. A great STEAK, grilled to exactly the temperature you want it. More Tasty Guides More Tasty Guides See all
FAQs
17 Dishes Every Home Cook Should Know How to Make, According to Chefs
01 of 17. Eggs. Victor Protasio. ... 02 of 17. Rice. Diana Chistruga. ... 03 of 17. Roast Chicken. Julia Hartbeck. ... 04 of 17. Bolognese. Photo and Styling by Julia Gartland. ... 05 of 17. Baked Fish. Maxwell Cozzi. ... 06 of 17. Fresh Pasta. ... 07 of 17. Steak. ... 08 of 17. French Fries.
What lunch to eat on a hot day? ›
16 Cool And Refreshing Recipes To Make When It's Too Hot Outside
Chicken Salad Wraps. ... Fiery Cold Sichuan Sesame Noodles. ... Veggie-Packed Buddha Bowl. ... BLTA Chicken Salad Lettuce Wraps. ... Spring Roll Bowls With Sweet Garlic Lime Sauce. ... Shrimp Spring Rolls With Peanut Dipping Sauce. ... Philly Style Italian Hoagies.
What is a good dinner that everyone would like? ›
27 Quick And Easy Dinners Your Whole Family Will Love
One-Pot Cheeseburger Pasta. tasty.co. ... Garlic Broccoli Shrimp Stir-Fry. tasty.co. ... 3-Ingredient Teriyaki Chicken. tasty.co. ... Grilled Salmon with Avocado Salsa. ... Taco Soup. ... One-Pot Chicken and Mushroom Pasta. ... One-Pan Garlic Butter Salmon. ... 20-Minute Beef and Broccoli Noodle Stir-Fry.
What foods to avoid in summer? ›
Foods to Avoid:
Spicy and fried foods. Spicy and fried foods should be avoided during hot weather as they increase body temperature and cause dehydration. ... Alcohol. Alcohol should be avoided as it dehydrates the body and increases body temperature. ... Coffee. ... Red meat. ... Sugary drinks.
What is the most refreshing summer food? ›
Chill Out: 10 Refreshing Foods to Beat the Summer Heat
Mint - The Zesty Refresher. ... Berries - Bursting with Antioxidants. ... Citrus Fruits - Vitamin C Boosters. ... Yogurt - A Cool Creamy Delight. ... Cilantro - Flavorful and Fresh. ... Tomatoes - Juicy and Nourishing. ... Leafy Greens - Light and Nutritious.
What are the five summer foods? ›
12 Best Summer Foods To Keep Your Body Cool
Cucumber. Melons. Leafy Greens. Buttermilk. Mango. Lemon. Curd And Yoghurt. Fish.
What food to cook in hot weather? ›
Easy summer recipes
Roast new potatoes & radishes. A star rating of 4.7 out of 5. ... Mint & basil griddled peach salad. ... Halloumi & quinoa fattoush. ... App onlySpiced spinach & potato pasty pies. ... Sweetcorn fritters with eggs & black bean salsa. ... Roasted summer vegetables. ... Stuffed rainbow baguette. ... Smashed cannellini bean tartine.
What is eaten a lot in summer? ›
Drink a lot of water every day a minimum of 2-3 liters including coconut water, lemon water, chaas, lassi, etc. Eat lots of fruits & vegetables with high water content Eg. WaterMelon, musk melon, cucumber, etc. Consume dishes and drinks which contain mint, tulsi, onions. Eat light, nutritious and non-fatty meals.
What to eat when its 100 degrees outside? ›
Eat fruits and vegetables . Experts recommend eating produce with high water content, such as berries, watermelon, cucumbers, tomatoes, celery and bell peppers.
Which food is cold for stomach? ›
Superb Cooling Foods to Beat Stomach Heat
Cucumber. Cucumbers are incredibly hydrating and have a natural cooling effect on the body. ... Watermelon. This juicy fruit is a summertime favourite for a reason. ... Coconut Water. ... Fennel Seeds. ... Cold Milk. ... Mint. ... Yogurt.
Sandwiches, chilled soups, salads and dips with a select few accompaniments are all winners when the mercury's off the dial, and will save your food-prepping life. I promise. I also like a platter of fresh prawns, accompanied by a spicy dipping sauce and fresh papaya salad.
Do you think everyone should know how do you cook? ›
Cooking improves your health There is a whole lotta truth to this statement. Consider that by learning to cook you are not only in control of your calorie intake, but you're also building healthier habits, and the healthier you eat, the more energy you'll have to keep cooking.
Why should everyone know how do you cook? ›
Preparing fresh foods will put necessary nutrition into your diet and increase your energy and quality of health in the short and long run . You will learn proper planning and preparation skills to see a task through while contributing in a positive way to the health of your family and friends.
How many meals does the average person know how do you cook? ›
Foodie survey: Average person knows 15 recipes by heart, eats 10 home-cooked meals weekly .
Can everyone learn how do you cook? ›
A common misconception is that cooking is a natural talent. But nobody is born a chef, and everyone can learn to cook with practice . It's not that you either can or can't cook. It's that you do or don't cook.
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