30 Essential Summer Foods - Recipe Collection

A collection of 30 summer staples to enjoy all summer long—from fresh seasonal berries, fruits, and vegetables to juicy grilled burgers—will keep you on your toes.

Refreshing drinks, desserts, snacks and sauces are a great way to enjoy nature's gifts.

1. Blueberries

Sweet and tart blueberries are traditionally added to summer pies, jams, and fruit salads. July is blueberry season, but nothing stops you from enjoying your favorite berry all summer long.

Recipe: Blueberry Foul

Blackberries add sweet flavor and luxurious texture to breakfasts and desserts.

2. Blackberry

This black-purple berry adds sweet flavor and luxurious texture to warm-season breakfasts and desserts.

Recipe: Blueberry-blackberry pizza

Melon is the star of fruit salads or savory appetizers, where it is wrapped in prosciutto.

3. Cantaloupe

Sweet and aromatic, melon is the star of a wide variety of dishes, from fruit salads to savory appetizers served wrapped in salty prosciutto.

Recipe: Panini with melon, brie and prosciutto

Figs pair well with savory foods like cheese, cured meats, and balsamic vinegar.

4. Figs

Dried figs can be left on the shelf for now. Fresh figs are juicy and round, with sweet flesh and a honeyed flavor; they taste great both raw and cooked. Figs pair well with savory foods like cheese, cured meats, and balsamic vinegar. Their color ranges from deep purple to brown and green, and each variety has its own distinct flavor.

Recipe: Homemade grilled flatbread with figs, blue cheese, and vinaigrette

Lime adds a bright acidity to marinades and vinaigrettes, and enlivens the taste of lime lemonade with ice.

5. Key lime

These limes are smaller than regular limes, about the size of a golf ball, and have a distinctly tart flavor. They're essential to that all-important beach dessert—key lime pie. They also add a vibrant tartness to marinades and vinaigrettes, and liven up the flavor of limeade on the rocks.

Recipe: Frozen Key Lime Pie

Peaches - When these velvety fruits are ripe, with golden, sweet flesh and a floral aroma, slice them and serve

6. Peaches

Summer is peach season, when these velvety fruits are ripe with golden, sweet flesh and a floral aroma. Slice and serve them in fruit tarts and sangria, or use them to make a luscious pie filling.

Recipe: Peach Crisp with Creamy Maple Sauce

Raspberries liven up all types of yogurt, cheesecakes, trifles and any creamy dessert.

7. Raspberry

Ruby-red raspberries are a summer staple. Their distinct tart flavor pairs well with other berries and citrus zest. Raspberries brighten all types of yogurt, cheesecake, trifles, and any creamy dessert with their vibrant color and aroma.

Recipe: Raspberry sour milk sorbet

Strawberries, with their bright red color, elegant shine and sweetness, are the real star of the summer.

8. Strawberries

Strawberries, with their bright red color, sparkle, and sweetness, are a true summer star, perfect for more than just desserts. They freeze well and are easy to use in cold smoothies.

Recipe: Meringue cake with cookies, cream cheese, and strawberries (Mostachonn)

9. Watermelon

Watermelon is a true slice of summer, one of the most refreshing summer fruits. The cool, crisp, sweet flesh quenches your thirst in the summer heat. And while it can be added to salsa, salads, and smoothies, there's nothing better than a slice of watermelon on its own.

Recipe: Grilled Watermelon Salad

Tomatoes are a great addition to any dish and are especially good in caprese salads or cold gazpacho.

10. Tomatoes

Summer officially begins with the arrival of the first ripe and juicy tomatoes. There are many varieties, from cherry and Roma tomatoes to heirloom tomatoes with unique shapes. All of them complement any dish perfectly and are especially delicious in caprese salads or cold gazpacho.

Recipe: Salad of marinated tomatoes with herbs

Avocado adds rich flavor and texture to almost any dish.

11. Avocado

Its silky, delicate texture makes avocado a key ingredient in summer dishes like guacamole and cold toppings for soups, salads, and wraps. Don't underestimate the power of this nutritious fruit: it makes excellent smoothies and desserts. Avocado adds a rich flavor and texture to almost any dish.

Recipe: Guacamole sauce

Lima beans, red and white beans, black-eyed beans, or garden beans are great additions to salads and pastas, and add a delicate texture to soups and sauces.

12. Beans and peas

With the arrival of summer, a wide variety of shelling legumes ripens. Whether it's lima beans, red and white beans, black-eyed beans, or garden beans, they make a wonderful addition to salads and pastas, and add a delicate texture to soups and sauces.

Recipe: Escarole salad with fava beans

13. Cucumbers

Cool, crisp cucumbers serve as a canvas for summer flavors. They're easy to pickle, adding a crisp texture to gazpacho and salads, and balancing out spicy and savory dishes with their fresh flavor. Make a cooling drink by adding a few cucumber slices to water.

Recipe: Cucumber salad with sour cream and labneh

Zucchini is great for grilling and adds a vibrant color to ratatouille or frittata.

14. Zucchini

Zucchini comes in a variety of colors, but both green zucchini and yellow squash pair perfectly with other summer ingredients like tomatoes and onions. They're great for grilling and add a vibrant pop of color to ratatouille or frittata.

Recipe: Grilled zucchini rolls with herbs and cheese

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15. Corn

Corn is a true summer treat; its sweet kernels are best eaten straight from the cob, brushed with butter. Corn also grills well and makes a delicious addition to salsas and salads. Try making creamy corn, or give it a Mexican twist: grill it on skewers and serve with a creamy mixture of butter, mayonnaise, cotija cheese, and spices.

Recipe: Roasted Corn on the Cob

Basil, with its distinct flavor, is a classic addition to green pesto sauces and caprese salads.

16. Basil

This summer green thrives in warm temperatures and abundant sunlight. With its distinct flavor, basil is a classic addition to green pesto sauces and caprese salads.

Recipe: Baked tomatoes stuffed with sausage, celery and basil

Mint leaves are used to decorate cocktails and desserts.

17. Mint

Fight off the summer heat with invigorating mint. Its refreshing flavor pairs well with vegetables in salads and salsas, and adds a vibrant flavor to marinades and curries. Its green leaves also make a garnish for cocktails and desserts.

Recipe: Grilled vegetable salad with feta and mint

Gazpacho is a summer version of the first course: a Spanish cold vegetable soup, often tomato-based

18. Gazpacho

Gazpacho is a summery take on the first course: a Spanish cold vegetable soup, often tomato-based. It's a great way to use seasonal produce like tomatoes, cucumbers, and avocado, along with juicy watermelon, grapes, and fresh herbs. Blend the ingredients together for a parade of summer's harvest in one simple dish.

Recipe: Gazpacho with grilled tomatoes

A classic ice cream cone, popsicle, or cocktail float is a must-have treat in hot weather.

19. Ice cream

Ice cream is a constant treat in hot weather and a true "food for the soul." In the summer heat, you'll surely enjoy this cooling dessert at the beach, a picnic in the park, or a barbecue, whether it's a classic ice cream scoop, a cone, a popsicle, or a cocktail float.

Recipe: Strawberry soda ice cream

20. Iced tea

This traditional drink is refreshing in hot weather, and the best part is that you can brew it using sunlight. Simply place a pitcher of water and tea bags in the sun; over time, the warmth will allow the tea to infuse. Choose your favorite tea and enjoy the sunny flavor.

Recipe: Peach Iced Tea

Lemonade is the sweet and sour cousin of iced tea.

21. Lemonade

Lemonade is the sweet and tart cousin of iced tea. It's like sunshine in a glass, especially when made with freshly squeezed lemon juice. This drink is perfect for picnics and outdoor fairs, and when mixed with iced tea, it creates a classic Arnold Palmer cocktail.

Recipe: Honey Vanilla Lemonade

22. Cold salads

Summer is best served with simple salads, especially those featuring seasonal produce like cabbage and peppers. Cabbage, potato, and pasta salads can be served as cold side dishes, while coleslaw, as a topping, adds a crispy texture to burgers and pulled pork sandwiches. Summer potato salad is easy to make thanks to new potatoes, which don't require peeling. Paired with garden greens, this dish is fresh and filling.

Recipe: Texas Coleslaw

Sangria is an easy and effective way to use fruit in drink form.

23. Sangria

This summer drink, served in a pitcher or punch bowl, is beautiful and refreshing. Take your favorite chilled wine and fill it with a bouquet of fresh seasonal fruits—from peach slices to melon cubes. Then add citrus, a splash of sparkling water, and enjoy. It's an easy and effective way to use fruit in a drink.

Recipe: Peach, Raspberry, and Lime Sangria

24. Grilled burgers

The smell of juicy patties frying on a hot grill is a true summertime symbol. Customize your sandwiches with your choice of ground meat and favorite toppings.

Recipe: The Perfect Beef Burger

A lobster sandwich will help you experience the natural flavor of lobster.

25. Lobster sandwich

Lobsters can be eaten boiled, steamed, grilled, or pan-fried. There are many ways to enjoy them, but one very simple one is a toasted bun sandwich with chunks of hearty lobster, briny with the ocean's hints, and a light lemon-mayo dressing. This beach snack offers nothing to detract from the lobster's natural flavor.

Recipe: Lobster sandwich with white wine sauce

26. Crabs

Cover a picnic table with newspaper and serve a delicious summer crab boilie, steamed with seafood spices. Be sure to bring some mallets to remove the crab meat from the claws, and a side of corn and potatoes—no feast would be complete without them.

Recipe: Boiled crabs and shrimps with spiced potatoes

27. Fried green tomatoes

This classic Southern treat makes use of the last of the summer's tomato harvest. End the season with a bang: serve thick slices of unripe green tomatoes in a golden cornmeal batter, fried until crisp. It's undoubtedly the most delicious way to say goodbye to summer and its bountiful harvest.

Recipe: Fried green tomatoes

28. Pesto sauce

The secret to a great pesto is fresh, seasonal herbs, like traditional basil or parsley and thyme. Grind the herbs into a paste along with garlic, cheese, pine nuts, and olive oil. This incredibly flavorful sauce can be used on pasta, potato salads, or appetizers like crostini.

Recipe: Grilled tuna steak with pesto sauce

29. Blueberry pie

This summer pie features a creamy, flaky crust topped with a thick, gooey fresh blueberry filling that leaves a fragrant trail on your fingers and the table. It's no wonder it's the official dessert of the state of Maine.

Recipe: Blueberry Streusel Pie

30. Cocktails

Escape the heat with a leisurely sip of cool summer cocktails. Crush fresh mint for a mojito or mint julep, or jazz up a margarita with ripe watermelon, raspberries, and seasonal lime.

Recipe: Cocktail “Mojito slush”

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