I’m gonna miss summer dishes that come together in the time it takes water to boil and pasta to cook. Dishes that only involve a couple chops and stirs. Dishes that are best when left uncomplicated, like this one. I’m not even sure what to call it. Quick Summer Pasta will do. It’s served us well this summer, again and again and again. It’s almost too simple to post. Then again, that’s the beauty of it. (Speaking of beauty, read on for a chance to win a set of two pictured handmade linen dinner napkins from StitchNY.)
I made a huge batch of this for the adults while on vacation with our family. The kids, who had their own pasta, were after it too. It’s a crowd pleaser. And coming together in under 20 minutes, it’s a cook pleaser too. You can serve the raw onion on the side if you wish, but just give it a chance. A little goes a long way. Between a sprinkle of onion and a squeeze of lemon, the acidity balances beautifully with the tomatoes and basil. Bookmark this for dinner tonight, then keep scrolling to enter the prettiest giveaway below.
This pasta dish is summer at its very finest. It comes together as fast as water boils and pasta cooks. Aside from a bit of chopping, leave the vegetables just as they are—uncooked.
Ingredients
Scale
8 oz. pasta
2 tbsp. olive oil
1 tbsp. salted butter
1/2 lemon, juiced
freshly cracked salt and pepper to taste
1 1/2 c. cherry tomatoes
1/4 c. red onion
handful fresh basil
parmesan cheese
Instructions
Boil pasta in heavily salted water according to package instructions.
While pasta cooks, cut tomatoes in half, dice onion, and chiffonade basil.
Drain pasta leaving a tiny bit of water left in the pan (about 2 tablespoons).
Add in olive oil, butter, and lemon. Stir. Add plenty of salt to taste. Taste and adjust accordingly. Finish off with a crack of pepper.
Toss with tomatoes, onion, basil, and parmesan. Serve immediately.
Recipe Card powered by
Giveaway [CLOSED]
It’s not every day that you fall madly, madly (!) in love with dinner napkins. Look at that pop of color. Drool. Blair Moore, the genius behind StitchNY, makes these in her tiny New York apartment. They are crazy beautiful. The picture doesn’t do it justice. She’s given me an extra set of linen dinner napkins to giveaway. You’re lucky I didn’t pocket them for myself.
To enter:
Leave a comment by telling me your favorite quick summer dish.
Fine details:
Giveaway open to all humans. Ends Friday, August 8 at 11:59 pm CST. Winner will be chosen at random and notified by email. Can’t wait? Order from StitchNY now.
This blog is made possible by your support (thank you), select brand partnerships, advertisements, and affiliate links to items I love and use. READ MORE >
If I had to pick a favorite quick Summer Dish, I’d probably go with a fruit salad. Maybe toss in some oranges, clementines, watermelon, & cherries, etc. A few walnuts & a whipped cream topping might go great with it.
My favorite quick summer dish is a pasta salad with rotini pasta, any veggies we have fresh, canned black beans, olive oil, red wine vinegar, lots of herbs, and feta.
Mine this year is Mexican Corn. Corn on the cob with Cojita cheese, pepper, chili powder, cilantro and a squeeze of lime juice! Feels like you’re by the beach even though I’m in landlocked IL!
my favorite summer dish to throw together is typically an appetizer or snack, but I will eat it as a meal sometimes, I love it so much! i like to make a simple caprese by throwing a bunch of grape/cherry tomatoes, fresh basil leaves, and balls or chunks of mozzarella into a bowl and shaking it up with olive oil, coarse salt and some pepper. takes a few minutes to make, tops, and is satisfying and tastes like such a refreshing treat!
I think i’d have to say that one of my favorite summer dishes would be honey mustard chicken with chopped mangos, bell peppers, and slivered almonds over a bed of lettuce or spinach. Scrumptious!
Favorite fast summer dish is VERY similar to this pasta recipe. But another one I like is a made up spinach salad with toasted pine nuts, shredded parmesan, a little cold pasta, italian dressing and dried cranberries. haha. No name, just random !
AS a single mother with 3 kids, I like to make quick and healthy meals and my favorite quick summer dish is Nicole’s Plateful of Love Spaghetti.. I use fresh Roma tomatoes and fresh Garlic for the sauce.. Wheat pasta.. freshly shredded parmesan.. DELICIOUSO!!
My favorite simple and easy Summer dish is my mother’s recipe for South Indian Daal (lentils) but with a twist: Heirloom Tomatos and Arugula a Yellow Lentils with fresh Lemon Brown Rice. So delicious, simple, and healthy!
Love the napkins! Our favorite quick summer meal is a fried egg on top of a piece of toast spread with pesto. Sprinkle a little Parmesan on top and it feels like a gourmet feast with little effort!
I love summer dishes that come together so quickly! The best part are the fresh ingredients. Nom basil and tomatoes are my favorite in pasta salads. I usually makes this similar salad with mini mozzarella balls. DELICIOUS! 🙂
My favorite summer dinner is REALLY simple. I use a variety of really good cheese (for me this must include some aged cheddar), a slice of fruit (nectarine, pear, apple, whatever you like) and some homemade jam. Occasionally I’ll use some prosciutto. I simply layer these things on top of a cracker and pair the “meal” with a glass of wine.
My favourite summer dish is a leafy green salad with toasted pine nuts, shaved parmesan and a mustard, honey & balsamico vinaigrette. A freshly baked rosemary focaccia to mop up some of the vinaigrette and I am a very happy human.
I love pastas like this! I totally agree, when summer is over I miss the ability to just toss all the amazing ripe things together and call it dinner. Though I do like me a slow-cooked meal once the weather gets cold as well. I think my favorite is either pasta with tomatoes corn and basil or sliced peaches and mozzarella. Ooh, a chilled cantaloupe-yogurt soup whipped up in the blender. And those napkins really are gorgeous. I bet she’ll go big time sooner than later! Hope you’re enjoying exploring your new home!!! 🙂
Yum! That pasta is now part of next weeks dinner, and I the dish towels are lovely. My favorite summer dish is a crostini. Garlic rubbed toasted baguette Homemade ricotta A prosciutto chip Peaches Topped with basil and balsamic reduction.
The pasta looks delicious and those towels are lovely. My favorite summer dish is peaches and homemade ricotta crostini with fresh basil and a prosciutto crisp.
My favorite summer dish is gazpacho…it’s so refreshing on hot days! Plus, it’s easy, versatile and always delicious. I don’t think I’ve ever made it the same way twice!
My favorite quick summer meal is salad with grilled corn, tomatoes, herbs, avocado, and a simple lemon vinaigrette. Maybe with some crusty bread. Yum, now I am hungry!
This summer I decided that sandwiches are my favorite food. They’re so refreshing and satisfying in the summer especially. Those napkins are the prettiest! I’ve been adding a lot of white to the kitchen lately and those would fit just perfectly.
Panzanella! We have a great baker in town that makes a mean polenta bread – perfect for sopping up lemony olive oil with heirloom tomatoes, mozzarella, cucumbers, red onion and plenty of fresh herbs. Those napkins are adorable!
Dishes like this are definitely what summer eating is all about!! Love how simple and fresh it is. For me, a simple caprese salad hits the spot all summer long.
My Idea of a good summer day/night dish would be, homemade bread, cheese plate, olives and sweet tomatoes. Add a cup of tea cold or hot. But to make it extra special I would need your beautiful napkins. hoping to win Thank you
Our sungold tomatoes are starting to come in – I will have to give this a try! I’m usually more of a cooked tomato person – on the spectrum from lightly sauteed to roasted (sun-dried is too intense for me.) My favorite quick summer dish is Smitten Kitchen’s one-pot farro with tomatoes. It takes about 30 minutes to cook, but the active prep is only about 5 minutes. And during tomato/basil in the backyard season, it is really easy to always have all the ingredients on hand.
My favorite summer dish is zucchini noodles with a light pesto sauce. It’s refreshing, and it doesn’t bog me down after I eat it. perfect for the summer!
My favorite quick summer dish is just a simple spinach salad with fresh cucumbers, pecans from my parents’ backyard, and homemade lemon poppyseed vinaigrette! If I have strawberries on hand, it’s pretty much my perfect salad.
I would have to go with a toasted sandwich: fresh sourdough, cultured butter, just-picked heirloom tomato, basil, lettuce, and a fried egg. And some sharp cheddar can’t hurt.
A quick salad with cucumbers, garlic, onions, tomatoes, a can of salmon with olive oil, balsamic and a shake of salt or Penzey’s Greek seasoning. Simple but fabulous.
hard to pick a fav but we recently had a delish fresh thai noodle dish: brown rice angel hair / spicy red curry coconut sauce with courgette and onion / raw carrot noodles / sweet bell pepper / lots of fresh herbs / roasted peanuts. topped with seared steak. yum!!
I’d love to try this pasta with zucchini noodles, because god knows that in a week or so, we’ll all be looking to use up as much of that stuff as we can. That’s also why my favorite summer dish is fresh vegetables, from the garden, straight to the grill. Zucchs, tomatoes, squash, corn; you name it. Along with some grassy olive oil, salt, pepper. The skewer is optional, but somehow always makes everything taste that much better.
This pasta looks great! My favorite quick summer recipe is a kale salad dressed up with feta, avocado and black beans. It takes about ten minutes to put together and I don’t have to turn the oven on.
I love a quick corn salad — slice the corn off the cob, add some cherry tomatoes, a little red onion, basil, sometimes some feta cheese and a quick vinaigrette made with some oil, lemon, dijon mustard and salt and pepper. Quick, easy and delicious.
My favorite summer meal right now is chopped caprese salad with some seared rockfish or snapper…served while sitting out on the balcony watching the sun go down!
Quickest summer dish: a hunk of really good bread, goat cheese, summer tomatoes from the backyard or the farmers market, basil, a drizzle of high quality olive oil and maldon salt. Add a glass of rose and you are set.
<3 my favorite summer meal is probably a quick pizza made with this gluten free crust you can only get in the South East by Sami's Bakery — load it up with tomato sauce, olive oil, heirloom tomatoes, tons of basil, and whatever veg i have around. topped with goat cheese and coarse sea salt. oh yes.
So many favorite summer foods! I love diced zucchini sauteed just a bit with a bit of olive oil, garlic, and red onion, then stir in a ear’s worth of fresh corn right off the cob. Pepper and salt. Yum.
That recipe is my lunch in just a few – and I LOVE those colorful napkins! My favorite quick summer dish is Caprese Salad! I have the most wonderful heirloom tomatoes growing so beautifully this summer, and some sturdy basil plants too – add some nice room temp mozzerella, a drizzle of olive oil, and some salt and cracked pepper, and I’m in heaven! (Ina Garten’s Greek panzenella is pretty awesome too!)
My favorite quick summer meal is a baguette with pesto, cherry tomatoes, onions and basil topped with mozerrella and toasted. Easily we have it for dinner 3 times per week!
For summer I love a nice piece of roasted salmon with thyme, baby tomatoes and fennel with a side of couscous and a glass of white wine. Yum! Thanks for the chance to win these gorgeous napkins!
My favorite summer dish would have to be peach halves stuffed with herb goat cheese and wrapped in prosciutto. Better when the peaches are grilled and then stuffed, but either way they are sweet, salty, and refreshingly light, perfect for summer! I love finishing them with a drizzle of a balsamic reduction too!
My favorite is a salad with tomatoes, cucumbers, red onion, garlic powder and italian seasoning with a balsamic vinegar drizzled on it. So easy and quick 🙂 Thanks for the giveaway!!
My favorite summer dish is grilling — anything grilled! Mostly because my only job is to mix up a quick salad with the baby on my hip while my husband does all the dirty work.
By the way, I owe you an email! Lets get together sometime soon, meanwhile I hope you’re enjoying your first Minnesota summer (Minnesota truly is the best in the summer).
Pasta Al Pomodoro! When you don’t have time to cook in Italy, this is what you make! And … it is just as delicious the next day for lunch!!! Definitely one of my go to summer dishes.
This is lovely and so are those napkins! My favorite quick summer dish is very similar to yours: slow roast some tomatoes, make fresh basil pesto, toss with pasta and some reserved cooking liquid. Serve with freshly grated parmesan. 🙂
Chicken marinaded in Olive Garden salad dressing cooked on the grill with a super colorful salad. Spring mix, baby spinach, matchstick carrots, shredded purple cabbage, red onion, cucumbers, crumbled goat cheese and roasted sunflower seeds. Yum.
Favourite quick summer meal is easily an easy peasy garlic and fresh tomato bruschetta, grilled sea bass and salad with something from the garden. And wine. White. Well chilled. Heaven!
Yum, that pasta looks delicious. After I got a spiralizer last month, zucchini noodles have been my go-to quick summer dish. I usually make a batch of pesto at the beginning of week to use and chop some cherry tomatoes in half to put on top. If I want to go “fancy,” I add some ricotta and mix it in with the pesto.
My fave quick summer dish has been a peach and arugula salad with just a drizzle of really great olive oil and a yummy balsamic vinegar. Then I’ll add whatever else is in the fridge. Sometimes it is leftover grilled portobello or chicken, sometimes it is blue cheese or burrata. It really doesn’t matter as long as there is peaches and arugula. 🙂
This salad looks wonderful especially on a hot summer day like today when I don’t feel like standing in the kitchen for too long. Actually, I think I found my favorite quick summer dish today: grilled watermelon salad! So good. Blair’s napkins are amazing; I’ve been stalking her on Etsy 😉
My favorite quick summer dish is more of a side… fresh tomatoes from my garden with basil and balsalmic vinegar. Can’t wait to try today’s pasta recipe!
We have been doing a lot of tapas-style-grab-stuff-out-of-the-fridge-and-SNACKS-FOR-DINNER because it’s so hot in FL we’re lazy. I think this pasta is the way to go!!
Roasted fennel with shallots combine with blanched green beans. This can be prepared ahead of time & reheated together with a little olive oil on cooktop
We just made it last night. It’s angel hair pasta with fresh tomatoes, garlic, basil, fresh mozzarella, olive oil, lemon, and basil. Sometimes we had grilled shrimp and red pepper flakes. I’ll have to try yours above. Looks delicious!
My favorite summer dish is fresh corn with salt and butter with sausages and a kale salad on the side with beefsteak tomatoes – it’s the perfect summer meal and reminds me of growing up on the farm.
This looks like the perfect summer pasta! Simple really is the best. Cold navy bean salad is my absolute favorite summer dish. Simple, so yummy, and goes great with anything on the grill. And those napkins, love them. They are my team colors. Go Blue!
Favourite quick summer dish is a curry made from all the fresh veggies available right now. Tomatoes, yellow squash, zucchini, sweet capsicums, and anything else on hand to include. Thanks.
If I had to pick a favorite quick Summer Dish, I’d probably go with a fruit salad. Maybe toss in some oranges, clementines, watermelon, & cherries, etc. A few walnuts & a whipped cream topping might go great with it.
I love some good homemade Shepard pie made with veggies fresh from the garden… so good.
spaghetti and garlic bread.
fast,easy and yummy.
I love homemade potato salad during summertime!
I like making salad out of whatever is in the fridge from this week’s trip to the farmers market. I’ll add cheese, boiled eggs, chicken, and I’m done.
Pesto pasta with fresh picked green beans and zucchini from my veggie garden!
My favorite quick summer dish is a pasta salad with rotini pasta, any veggies we have fresh, canned black beans, olive oil, red wine vinegar, lots of herbs, and feta.
I would have to go with a nice fresh fruit salad with raspberry dressing.
I like to make a watermelon and lime salad with lemonade in the summer. I don’t like eating heavy foods, especially in the summer.
I love my garden onions, tomatoes, and cucumbers in vinegar, oil, and sugar, with a touch of salt.
Summer is for BBQ – ribs, brisket, chicken, sausage, and veggies!
We have a “summer pasta” that we love as well — http://www.recipe.com/avocado-basil-pasta/
Yum!
Mine this year is Mexican Corn. Corn on the cob with Cojita cheese, pepper, chili powder, cilantro and a squeeze of lime juice! Feels like you’re by the beach even though I’m in landlocked IL!
My favorite quick summer dish is a tri-color pasta salad with mozzarella cheese, pepperoni, green onions, cherry tomatoes, cauliflower and carrots.
I love a nice summer salad
My favorite summer dish is broccoli cooked on the grill then lightly dipped in ranch dressing.
so cute!
my favorite summer dish to throw together is typically an appetizer or snack, but I will eat it as a meal sometimes, I love it so much! i like to make a simple caprese by throwing a bunch of grape/cherry tomatoes, fresh basil leaves, and balls or chunks of mozzarella into a bowl and shaking it up with olive oil, coarse salt and some pepper. takes a few minutes to make, tops, and is satisfying and tastes like such a refreshing treat!
I think i’d have to say that one of my favorite summer dishes would be honey mustard chicken with chopped mangos, bell peppers, and slivered almonds over a bed of lettuce or spinach. Scrumptious!
My favorite quick summer dish is chicken cabbage and mint salad!
Thank You
My favorite summer dish is a tri-colored cold pasta salad.
My favorite quick summer dish is grilled zucchini and summer squash!
mattschmunk at gmail dot com
My favorite dish is some fresh BBQ fish and some cold pasta salad with veggies and watermelon for desert, simple and delicious.
Favorite fast summer dish is VERY similar to this pasta recipe. But another one I like is a made up spinach salad with toasted pine nuts, shredded parmesan, a little cold pasta, italian dressing and dried cranberries. haha. No name, just random !
I love fresh pasta tossed with veggies!
My favorite quick summer dish would be peppered fish fillets over white rice with steamed veggies.
a chicken and veggie stir fry
My favorite quick summer dish is buttered corn on the cob.
In the summer I make a lot of sauteed squash with onions and butter and garlic powder.
I know I’m not alone in this, but good tomatoes on toast is my favorite summer dish!
AS a single mother with 3 kids, I like to make quick and healthy meals and my favorite quick summer dish is Nicole’s Plateful of Love Spaghetti.. I use fresh Roma tomatoes and fresh Garlic for the sauce.. Wheat pasta.. freshly shredded parmesan.. DELICIOUSO!!
I like burgers on the grill
I think my favorite is lentil salad with fresh herbs and greens.
My favorite simple and easy Summer dish is my mother’s recipe for South Indian Daal (lentils) but with a twist: Heirloom Tomatos and Arugula a Yellow Lentils with fresh Lemon Brown Rice. So delicious, simple, and healthy!
I love tomato omelets!
Love the napkins! Our favorite quick summer meal is a fried egg on top of a piece of toast spread with pesto. Sprinkle a little Parmesan on top and it feels like a gourmet feast with little effort!
My favorite summer dish is homemade pesto with basil from my garden served on grilled salmon! Yum!
I love summer dishes that come together so quickly! The best part are the fresh ingredients. Nom basil and tomatoes are my favorite in pasta salads. I usually makes this similar salad with mini mozzarella balls. DELICIOUS! 🙂
My favorite quick summer dish is a huge salad full of colorful fruits and vegetables!
My favorite summer dinner is REALLY simple. I use a variety of really good cheese (for me this must include some aged cheddar), a slice of fruit (nectarine, pear, apple, whatever you like) and some homemade jam. Occasionally I’ll use some prosciutto. I simply layer these things on top of a cracker and pair the “meal” with a glass of wine.
My summer go-tos are salads of all kinds!
I’m a summer greens salad gal!
Oven roasted salmon and asparagus. Some evoo, salt, pepper, and lemon– you’re good. 🙂
Anything with pasta!
My favorite summer dish is fish tacos made with chipotle aoli, halibut, cabbage slaw, and fresh salsa on warm corn tortillas
My favorite quick summer dish is similar, just olive oil, tomatoes, basil, and feta with penne pasta. Simple and delish!
Favorite quick summer dish, guacamole! Avocados, onion, lime juice, tomatoes, cilantro
My favourite summer dish is a leafy green salad with toasted pine nuts, shaved parmesan and a mustard, honey & balsamico vinaigrette. A freshly baked rosemary focaccia to mop up some of the vinaigrette and I am a very happy human.
Tortellini salad
I love pastas like this! I totally agree, when summer is over I miss the ability to just toss all the amazing ripe things together and call it dinner. Though I do like me a slow-cooked meal once the weather gets cold as well. I think my favorite is either pasta with tomatoes corn and basil or sliced peaches and mozzarella. Ooh, a chilled cantaloupe-yogurt soup whipped up in the blender. And those napkins really are gorgeous. I bet she’ll go big time sooner than later! Hope you’re enjoying exploring your new home!!! 🙂
Yum! That pasta is now part of next weeks dinner, and I the dish towels are lovely.
My favorite summer dish is a crostini.
Garlic rubbed toasted baguette
Homemade ricotta
A prosciutto chip
Peaches
Topped with basil and balsamic reduction.
The pasta looks delicious and those towels are lovely. My favorite summer dish is peaches and homemade ricotta crostini with fresh basil and a prosciutto crisp.
My fav summer dish is a big fruit salad and a tuna sandwich !
My favorite summer dish is gazpacho…it’s so refreshing on hot days! Plus, it’s easy, versatile and always delicious. I don’t think I’ve ever made it the same way twice!
My favorite quick summer meal is salad with grilled corn, tomatoes, herbs, avocado, and a simple lemon vinaigrette. Maybe with some crusty bread. Yum, now I am hungry!
bowtie pasta with bacon, avocado, basil and lemon juice/olive oil drizzle. 🙂
Love those napkins! For quick summer dishes, I love throwing anything I can on the grill – fruit, veggies, chicken, steak – whatever is in my fridge!
This summer I decided that sandwiches are my favorite food. They’re so refreshing and satisfying in the summer especially. Those napkins are the prettiest! I’ve been adding a lot of white to the kitchen lately and those would fit just perfectly.
These dinner napkins are beautiful! My favorite summer dish is a watermelon salad with zucchini and feta cheese. So good!
My favorite summer dish is pizza on the grill. It cooks fast and is a good way to use up produce!
My favorite quick summer dish is a purple cabbage slaw with peas, edamame, cranberries, golden raisins, sunflower seeds and a honey-laced french vinaigrette. It’s great to make in a big batch for weekday lunches too! http://carlydefilippo.com/blog/2012/07/11/recipe-purple-cabbage-summer-slaw
Last night, we made sweet corn and bacon pizza and let me tell you, it was so delicious. For now, definitely my favorite summer meal.
Great recipe and gorgeous linen!
My favorite summer dish is Gaspachio soup made of lots of fresh vegetables and served with spicy croutons.
My favorite summer dish are BLTs with fresh, amazing tomatoes!
I make a quick and delicious orzo salad with peas, feta, and mint (and lots of garlic). YUM. Thanks for the giveaway!
Panzanella! We have a great baker in town that makes a mean polenta bread – perfect for sopping up lemony olive oil with heirloom tomatoes, mozzarella, cucumbers, red onion and plenty of fresh herbs. Those napkins are adorable!
Caprese salad is my go to!
Dishes like this are definitely what summer eating is all about!! Love how simple and fresh it is. For me, a simple caprese salad hits the spot all summer long.
My Idea of a good summer day/night dish would be, homemade bread, cheese plate, olives and sweet tomatoes. Add a cup of tea cold or hot. But to make it extra special I would need your beautiful napkins. hoping to win Thank you
My favorite quick summer dish is whole wheat pasta, a lot of arugula, fresh shaved Parmesan and sundried tomatoes with a little olive oil, s&p!
watermelon
BLTs with fresh tomatoes! Or caprese salad both are yum!
I love anything with fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, and herbs!
I love to put sliced grilled chicken on avocado toast, with plenty of sea salt and maybe a drizzle of reduced balsamic vinegar. Quick and delicious!
spaghetti alla caprese
Our favorite summer dish is a simple strawberry salad with mixed greens, strawberries, candied walnuts, bleu cheese and strawberry vinaigrette.
Our sungold tomatoes are starting to come in – I will have to give this a try! I’m usually more of a cooked tomato person – on the spectrum from lightly sauteed to roasted (sun-dried is too intense for me.) My favorite quick summer dish is Smitten Kitchen’s one-pot farro with tomatoes. It takes about 30 minutes to cook, but the active prep is only about 5 minutes. And during tomato/basil in the backyard season, it is really easy to always have all the ingredients on hand.
Grilled vegetable salad with a drizzle of lemon juice,,olive oil and sea salt. Some feta too. Add a grilled meat or fish and dinner is served.
My favorite quick summer dish will probably have to be a caprese salad!
My favorite summer dish is zucchini noodles with a light pesto sauce. It’s refreshing, and it doesn’t bog me down after I eat it. perfect for the summer!
Quick and easy orzo salad with fresh tomatoes, corn, salami, and basil.
Caprese salad and greek salad are our go-to summer dishes. Both are so good with fresh-from-the-garden produce that we never get sick of them!
Texas Caviar is one of my favorite summer dishes! 🙂
Grilled veggie kabobs!!
Anything + tomatoes!
My favorite quick summer dish is just a simple spinach salad with fresh cucumbers, pecans from my parents’ backyard, and homemade lemon poppyseed vinaigrette! If I have strawberries on hand, it’s pretty much my perfect salad.
I would have to go with a toasted sandwich: fresh sourdough, cultured butter, just-picked heirloom tomato, basil, lettuce, and a fried egg. And some sharp cheddar can’t hurt.
Love making homemade pizza. Sometimes I cheat with a pita bread.
Spinach & Strawberry Salad
Tomato-cucumber salad!
A quick salad with cucumbers, garlic, onions, tomatoes, a can of salmon with olive oil, balsamic and a shake of salt or Penzey’s Greek seasoning. Simple but fabulous.
hard to pick a fav but we recently had a delish fresh thai noodle dish: brown rice angel hair / spicy red curry coconut sauce with courgette and onion / raw carrot noodles / sweet bell pepper / lots of fresh herbs / roasted peanuts. topped with seared steak. yum!!
My go-to summer meal is a slightly charred corn taco with avocado and topped with lots of vegetables, cilantro and tomatoes.
I’d love to try this pasta with zucchini noodles, because god knows that in a week or so, we’ll all be looking to use up as much of that stuff as we can. That’s also why my favorite summer dish is fresh vegetables, from the garden, straight to the grill. Zucchs, tomatoes, squash, corn; you name it. Along with some grassy olive oil, salt, pepper. The skewer is optional, but somehow always makes everything taste that much better.
I like to make a quick dish from an old Mr. Food Cookbook called Pasta Pedro.
This pasta looks great! My favorite quick summer recipe is a kale salad dressed up with feta, avocado and black beans. It takes about ten minutes to put together and I don’t have to turn the oven on.
a quick summer dish i like to make is hotdogs its super quick and i love hotdogs
I love a quick corn salad — slice the corn off the cob, add some cherry tomatoes, a little red onion, basil, sometimes some feta cheese and a quick vinaigrette made with some oil, lemon, dijon mustard and salt and pepper. Quick, easy and delicious.
My favorite summer meal right now is chopped caprese salad with some seared rockfish or snapper…served while sitting out on the balcony watching the sun go down!
grilled fish + veg!
I love a good refreshing watermelon salad with nuts and feta cheese!
This pasta dish looks simple yet yummy!
Cheers!
Ice
Quickest summer dish: a hunk of really good bread, goat cheese, summer tomatoes from the backyard or the farmers market, basil, a drizzle of high quality olive oil and maldon salt. Add a glass of rose and you are set.
Grilled corn and tomatoes with pesto and mozzarella are my favorite summer foods
My favorite summer dish is Parmesan quinoa salad topped with whatever veggies are in season!
<3 my favorite summer meal is probably a quick pizza made with this gluten free crust you can only get in the South East by Sami's Bakery — load it up with tomato sauce, olive oil, heirloom tomatoes, tons of basil, and whatever veg i have around. topped with goat cheese and coarse sea salt. oh yes.
So many favorite summer foods! I love diced zucchini sauteed just a bit with a bit of olive oil, garlic, and red onion, then stir in a ear’s worth of fresh corn right off the cob. Pepper and salt. Yum.
My favorite quick summer dishes are pasta primavera, with all the veggies from the garden, or basil pesto over pasta with cherry tomatoes. Yum!
I love gazpacho – it’s the perfect summertime soup!
My favorite quick summer dish is a fresh caprese salad with tomatoes and basil from my garden.
Favorite summer quick meal: corn on the cob and BLTs!
Cucumbers squirted with lime juice and sprinkled with salt.
That recipe is my lunch in just a few – and I LOVE those colorful napkins!
My favorite quick summer dish is Caprese Salad! I have the most wonderful heirloom tomatoes growing so beautifully this summer, and some sturdy basil plants too – add some nice room temp mozzerella, a drizzle of olive oil, and some salt and cracked pepper, and I’m in heaven!
(Ina Garten’s Greek panzenella is pretty awesome too!)
My favorite quick summer meal is a baguette with pesto, cherry tomatoes, onions and basil topped with mozerrella and toasted. Easily we have it for dinner 3 times per week!
For summer I love a nice piece of roasted salmon with thyme, baby tomatoes and fennel with a side of couscous and a glass of white wine. Yum! Thanks for the chance to win these gorgeous napkins!
My favorite summer dish would have to be peach halves stuffed with herb goat cheese and wrapped in prosciutto. Better when the peaches are grilled and then stuffed, but either way they are sweet, salty, and refreshingly light, perfect for summer! I love finishing them with a drizzle of a balsamic reduction too!
My favorite is a salad with tomatoes, cucumbers, red onion, garlic powder and italian seasoning with a balsamic vinegar drizzled on it. So easy and quick 🙂 Thanks for the giveaway!!
I’m notorious for making “leftover” salads – toss whatever I made over the weekend with greens and dressing, and dinner is done!
Beautiful pasta, gorgeous napkins! My favorite summer dish is a chickpea zucchini soup that uses up all of the extra zucchini lying around. The recipe comes from Elizabeth Minchillu’s website: http://www.elizabethminchilliinrome.com/2013/08/chickpea-zucchini-soup/
Otherwise I love simple pastas like one with bratwurst or kielbasa and Swiss chard, possibly a few summer tomatoes if I have any laying around.
Favorite quick summer dish is making a quick quinoa salad and adding any fresh veggies from our garden!
These dinner napkins remind me of a breezy summer night. Ahh, perfection. My favorite quick summer dish is watermelon feta salad. Yummers.
Frittata! With quick sautéed tomatoes, zucchini and basil from my garden.
My favorite summer dish is grilling — anything grilled! Mostly because my only job is to mix up a quick salad with the baby on my hip while my husband does all the dirty work.
By the way, I owe you an email! Lets get together sometime soon, meanwhile I hope you’re enjoying your first Minnesota summer (Minnesota truly is the best in the summer).
Pasta Al Pomodoro! When you don’t have time to cook in Italy, this is what you make! And … it is just as delicious the next day for lunch!!! Definitely one of my go to summer dishes.
This is lovely and so are those napkins! My favorite quick summer dish is very similar to yours: slow roast some tomatoes, make fresh basil pesto, toss with pasta and some reserved cooking liquid. Serve with freshly grated parmesan. 🙂
Chicken marinaded in Olive Garden salad dressing cooked on the grill with a super colorful salad. Spring mix, baby spinach, matchstick carrots, shredded purple cabbage, red onion, cucumbers, crumbled goat cheese and roasted sunflower seeds. Yum.
Our favorite summer dish lately has been your amazing soba noodles. 🙂 We also love stir-fried zucchini and some simple paninis.
Favourite quick summer meal is easily an easy peasy garlic and fresh tomato bruschetta, grilled sea bass and salad with something from the garden. And wine. White. Well chilled. Heaven!
BLTs with deep red, juicy tomatoes and chunky peanut butter.
I love simple summer dishes like this! And love the striped napkins, too!
Yum, that pasta looks delicious. After I got a spiralizer last month, zucchini noodles have been my go-to quick summer dish. I usually make a batch of pesto at the beginning of week to use and chop some cherry tomatoes in half to put on top. If I want to go “fancy,” I add some ricotta and mix it in with the pesto.
wow this look so good and easy peasy too! Can’t wait to try it!
My fave quick summer dish has been a peach and arugula salad with just a drizzle of really great olive oil and a yummy balsamic vinegar. Then I’ll add whatever else is in the fridge. Sometimes it is leftover grilled portobello or chicken, sometimes it is blue cheese or burrata. It really doesn’t matter as long as there is peaches and arugula. 🙂
This salad looks wonderful especially on a hot summer day like today when I don’t feel like standing in the kitchen for too long. Actually, I think I found my favorite quick summer dish today: grilled watermelon salad! So good.
Blair’s napkins are amazing; I’ve been stalking her on Etsy 😉
Hope you have a great weekend,
Sini
My favorite quick summer dish is more of a side… fresh tomatoes from my garden with basil and balsalmic vinegar. Can’t wait to try today’s pasta recipe!
*love* the blithe, airy simplicity of this pasta.
My favourite summery dish is fresh berries (any variety!) + sugar + crème fraîche.
A quick salad–greens, tomatoes, mozarella, peaches or nectarine, salt and pepper and a drizzle of olive oil and balsamic!
We have been doing a lot of tapas-style-grab-stuff-out-of-the-fridge-and-SNACKS-FOR-DINNER because it’s so hot in FL we’re lazy. I think this pasta is the way to go!!
Roasted fennel with shallots combine with blanched green beans.
This can be prepared ahead of time & reheated together with a little olive oil on cooktop
Pesto pasta with fresh picked green beans and zucchini from my veggie garden!
We just made it last night. It’s angel hair pasta with fresh tomatoes, garlic, basil, fresh mozzarella, olive oil, lemon, and basil. Sometimes we had grilled shrimp and red pepper flakes. I’ll have to try yours above. Looks delicious!
My favorite summer dish is fresh corn with salt and butter with sausages and a kale salad on the side with beefsteak tomatoes – it’s the perfect summer meal and reminds me of growing up on the farm.
This looks like the perfect summer pasta! Simple really is the best. Cold navy bean salad is my absolute favorite summer dish. Simple, so yummy, and goes great with anything on the grill. And those napkins, love them. They are my team colors. Go Blue!
Favourite quick summer dish is a curry made from all the fresh veggies available right now. Tomatoes, yellow squash, zucchini, sweet capsicums, and anything else on hand to include. Thanks.