9 Healthy Warm Weather Dinner Recipes Slideshow
Summertime is all about being outdoors: morning hikes, afternoons at the beach, softball games that stretch into twilight. All the exercise and fun of a summer day can really work up an appetite by the time dinner rolls around.
Summer is the ideal season to take your cooking outside, and not just because the weather is so much warmer. Tossing fish, steak, fresh vegetables, and even fruit on the grill can be a quick, tasty way to get dinner ready in no time flat. If a barbecue isn't in your plans, you can still relish the season by cooking light, flavorful dishes that take minimal time to prepare. We've gathered together some of our best recipes: Try the No-Cook Summer Tomato and Mozzarella Pasta, Mango Turkey Sliders, or the Hazelnut and Bean Burger.
Even if you can't make it outside and your day is spent in an office (complete with a muggy subway ride home), try these fresh, healthy recipes to enjoy a taste of summer on your dinner plate.
Grilled Thai Curry Chicken Skewers With Coconut Peanut Sauce
Skewers are an easy, tasty way to cook dinner after a day spent outdoors. Make sure to soak your bamboo or wooden skewers in water ahead of time, to prevent them from burning over a hot grill. You'll want to drizzle this coconut peanut sauce over everything!
Click here for the recipe for Grilled Thai Curry Chicken Skewers With Coconut Peanut Sauce.
Hazelnut and Bean Burger
Here's a mouthwatering recipe that's meat-free but still chock full of protein. Cumin and nutritional yeast give the burger a savory flavor while keeping it light and healthy.
Grilled Whole Mackerel With Lemon, Oregano, and Olives
Impress your friends and family by grilling whole fish for dinner. Though it can seem intimidating, this recipe is simple to prepare. The final product will not only be mouthwatering but beautiful.
For the Grilled Whole Mackerel With Lemon, Oregano, and Olives recipe, click here.
Thai Grilled Steak Salad
What's perfect after a day spent in the sun? Grilled steak, simply sliced on top of a fresh green salad that's tossed with a spicy Thai dressing.
No-Cook Summer Tomato and Mozzarella Pasta
Try this recipe from Maria Rodale, author of Scratch: Home Cooking for Everyone Made Simple, Fun, and Totally Delicious. It's a great summer pasta dish that utilizes tomatoes and basil when they're in peak season.
Click here for the No-Cook Summer Tomato and Mozzarella Pasta recipe.
Grilled Fish Tacos and Taco Sauce
Fish tacos scream summer, so fire up the backyard grill and pop a beer, because dinner will practically make itself with this recipe. Shredded cabbage and sour cream cool down the chipotle peppers in these quick, tasty tacos.
Click here for the Grilled Fish Tacos and Taco Sauce recipe.
Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad
Improve upon this classic dinner staple by taking it to the grill. Charred romaine lettuce adds a smoky, savory flavor and crunchy texture to this salad.
Mango Turkey Sliders
Blend mango directly into your turkey meat to add sweetness and moisture, and create a healthy, tasty turkey slider. Top with butter lettuce, sliced red onion, and more mango for a tropical, addictive summer dinner.
Grilled Halloumi and Peach Salad
Cheese on a grill? Try it and you'll be hooked. Halloumi is a semi-soft cheese popular in Greek and Turkish cuisine, with a texture that holds up very well to the heat of the grill. Toss it with fresh greens, grilled peaches, and pesto vinaigrette for a light meal that's perfect for long summer evenings.