Summer lunch - quick and easy recipes - page 3

This alternative to basil and pine nut pesto is great on pizza, pasta, or straight from a spoon.

Polenta, writes Chez Panisse’s Cal Peternell in Twelve Recipes, is “more ratio than recipe.” The standard is 4 parts water to 1 part polenta, simmered for 30 minutes. Be careful to add the polenta to the boiling water in a slow, steady stream with one hand as you whisk with the other—this will prevent lumps from forming. (If you end up with a few lumps despite your best efforts, don’t sweat it; it’ll still taste delicious.) Enriching it at the end with butter and cheese isn’t strictly necessary.

For this quick and easy chicken pho recipe, you’ll need rice vermicelli noodles, shredded meat from a rotisserie chicken, chicken broth, ginger, Asian fish sauce, basil, cilantro, mung bean sprouts, hoisin sauce, and Sriracha.

A classic baked oyster recipe from Jennifer Puccio, executive chef of Marlowe, The Cavalier, and Park Tavern in San Francisco.

A classic French vinaigrette with red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, shallot, lemon juice, and olive oil is one of the most versatile sauces in the kitchen. Use it to dress a simple green salad or an elaborate composed one, employ it as a quick marinade for raw meats or a casual accompaniment for grilled ones.

Penne pasta cooked al dente combines with sautéed spinach, crumbled feta, crème fraîche, and yogurt in this easy vegetarian baked pasta dish.

For this fresh, healthy summer salad recipe that balances sweet, tart, and salty, grilled watermelon, combines with feta, and mint.

This easy, spicy lime and jalapeño coleslaw recipe adapted from Bon Appétit is perfect with fish tacos, or next to a burger. This recipe is featured on our Summer of Clean Eating channel.

Sweet, ripe mango and aromatic fresh dill are the surprises in this easy shrimp salad adapted from Epicurious. It’s an elegant first course for a warm-weather dinner party or a summer luncheon outside on the terrace.

In this super-easy slow cooker summer squash recipe, sliced zucchini, yellow squash, onion, and a touch of olive oil cook for 2 hours, until soft and tender.

Lightly poached cold halibut sits atop an avocado-chickpea salad in this healthy recipe adapted from Real Simple.

You may not think Indian flavors and queso go together, but this dip from The Homesick Texan‘s new cookbook proves it’s a brilliant idea. Processed cheese really does melt perfectly, and combines seamlessly with the spices here: cumin (which regularly shows up in both Indian and Mexican cuisine), paprika, and cayenne. The spicy chutney is heavy on garlic, cilantro, and jalapeño, with a hint of ginger and unsweetened flaked coconut, plus lime juice for brightness.

The crunchy deep-fried cabbage is dressed in an umami-rich sauce with sweet, sour, and spicy notes from pineapple juice, lemon juice, honey, and chili vinegar, then topped with freshly shucked oysters for a briny, minerally contrast. The furikake garnish is a traditional Japanese mix of sesame seeds, seaweed, salt, and sugar, as well as some sort of dried fish, often bonito, which is sprinkled over rice, vegetables, and other dishes for an extra boost of sweet-savory flavor.

His easy chickpea salad is one of our favorite salads. I love how quick and simple it is. Eat this straight out of the bowl or use it to top salad greens. We love the combination of lemon and dill, but the salad is just as delicious with other fresh herbs

The bowls are loaded with juicy chipotle seasoned chicken over a bed of cilantro lime rice and topped with avocado, corn, cheese and sour cream.

A creamy chicken Alfredo with sun dried tomato, spinach and bacon, you'll love how the shredded chicken acts like a mop for the luxurious Alfredo sauce!