Vegetable

Grilled nectarines add an unexpected sweetness to this summer dish. The smoky, buttery scallops and caramelized fruit give farmers’ market corn and tomatoes a new way to shine. And it gets a kick from piment d’Espelette, a French hot red chile ground into a powder, and available at specialty foods stores; but chili powder is a fine alternative.

Bring the vibrant colors and fresh flavors of this Spanish dish to your table in under an hour. Spicy chorizo, fresh shrimp, roasted peppers, and tangy artichoke hearts melt together on a bed of saffron-infused rice in an easy dish, ideal for summer sharing. Personalize your paella by adding a favorite shellfish or throwing in some cooked onions.

The crisp beans and potatoes can be cooked an hour ahead and kept at room temperature, but toss the potatoes with the dressing while they are still warm. To soak up any extra herbed garlicky goodness, serve with the Garlic Bruschetta.

Arrabbiata (Italian for “angry”) sauce is a heated-up version of your classic marinara, made from garlic, tomatoes, red chiles, and olive oil. What makes this a “faux” arrabbiata is the ever-so-slightly unorthodox addition of basil, lemon, and balsamic vinegar, which add sweetness to the sauce. Cookbook author and Epicurious member Serena Bass notes, “Mince the lemon with a sharp knife rather than grate, as it is nice to get little pieces of zest to bite on. And don’t be tempted to cook this for longer than 10 minutes, as it will lose its fresh TKO punch. I like this sauce with penne or spaghettini.”

When the heat is on, there’s no better way to cool down than with a bowl of chilled noodles. To make this truly vegetarian and vegan friendly, seek out a ponzu sauce without dashi, an ingredient made with dried fish. Two brands worth considering are Marukan and Wan Ja Shan. For die-hard meat eaters, add some thin slices of cold beef.

Served cold or at room temperature, this colorful orzo is picnic and party ready. Save yourself some time—and effort—by buying peeled and deveined shrimp, and look for bocconcini, which are tiny mozzarella balls, usually sold in water. With precut veggies, this salad is a snap.

With just 2 minutes on the grill, crisp romaine develops a smoky, charred flavor without wilting. Add a garlicky anchovy dressing, freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano, and grill-toasted croutons, and you have a whole new way to enjoy classic Caesar salad. The salad pairs with all your barbecue favorites, but a hearty steak is its perfect match. Prep the dressing in advance—store it in the refrigerator and give it a good shake before using—and grill the romaine while your meat rests.

Watermelon and heirloom tomatoes work together to create a juicy and flavorful arrangement that is sweet and tangy. Use different-colored watermelon with tomatoes for a stunning presentation. Heaping the salad over a crunchy base of fresh arugula keeps the various flavors in check.

These versatile small tartlets can take top billing for a light lunch or play appetizer to a lazy weekend brunch. A creamy custard forms the backdrop for three fillings: goat cheese and tomato; crab and tarragon; and pea, onion, and pancetta. The empty pastry shells can be baked up to a day in advance, then filled and finished when you’re ready to eat. Pack them for a picnic—they’ll easily travel!

After tasting this Mediterranean and Middle Eastern delight, even avowed zucchini haters will sing the vegetable’s praises. If you don’t have—or you dislike—dill, use other herbs such as basil, chives, and mint, and try French or Bulgarian feta for a milder and less salty alternative to the Greek cheese. Serve these zucchini patties with traditional meze dishes such as tzatziki, labaneh, tabbouleh, fattoush, olives, dolma, hummus, and kibbeh, for an array of appetizers.

Fiery adobo sauce is the secret ingredient in this classic first course. Chopped cucumber, crunchy celery, and silky avocado help round out the spicy sauce, making it hearty enough for a quick and easy light lunch and perfect for a hot summer afternoon.

Attention, parents: If you’re looking for a veggie-packed, kid-pleasing recipe—one that children as young as two can help you prepare—this is it. Set up a workstation with the ingredients, parchment paper for easy cleanup, and a pastry brush, and let the kids “paint” the lettuce leaves with peanut sauce.

This recipe is a great way to use the extra zucchini from the garden or farmers’ market and is chockfull of healthy ingredients. For an even more nutritious version, substitute the same amount of applesauce for the butter, and brown sugar instead of white.

Epicurious member Uhlemann may have thought of one of the best pastry workarounds since the frozen pie shell. This recipe uses phyllo dough, and, once you get the hang of working with it, it’s easy, fast, and leakproof. Great for a brunch, this quiche can be made ahead and reheats perfectly.

This carrot cake from Becky Guyton, a home cook in Ohio, is one of our most beloved recipes, perhaps because it achieves the perfect balance of tangy and sweet, spongy and creamy, dense and light. Originally appearing in a 1994 Bon Appétit column, it’s almost as moist as bread pudding. To cut back on the sweetness, just reduce the amount of sugar in the icing to three cups.

Here’s a gluten-free ice cream from Epicurious member Lorelei Lee of Philadelphia, complete with the taste of carrot cake. A cooling treat, this dish is perfect for a sunny day. Cream cheese, sugar, and milk provide the backbone for the simple dish, while cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and shredded carrot give it that carrot cake feel. Like most homemade ice creams, this dessert should be eaten within a few days.

Chicken salad sandwiches aren’t always exciting, but with the simple addition of shallot and tarragon, plus a bit of crunch from smoked almonds, this rises above the ordinary. It’s great served over greens and sprinkled with the addictive nuts. For a healthier sandwich use whole-wheat bread and substitute low-fat Greek yogurt for some or all the mayonnaise; with such a flavorpacked base, you won’t miss the fat.

The classic tuna sandwich gets a healthy makeover with this Italian-style recipe that replaces mayo with a luscious cannellini bean spread. The garlicky mixture, when layered with watercress, gives the flaked tuna an unexpectedly delicious taste. Adjust the lemon juice and garlic that go into the beans to your taste and then spoon onto a crusty piece of rustic Italian bread or a panini roll.

Good looking and versatile, this colorful salad features a winning trio of beans—edamame, black-eyed peas, and black beans—bathed in a citrus- and spice-infused dressing that’s all kinds of satisfying. Vary the taste effect by adding crumbled feta or tossing in some garbanzo beans.