Seasonal Archives | Page 7 of 36

Jun, 2023

Explore 11 Summer Squash Recipes

Delicious Dishes to Cook with the Season's Bounty

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Discover the vibrant allure of summer squash. Its radiant colors and tender flesh invite you to indulge in a culinary adventure. From sautéing to spiralizing, this versatile vegetable can be transformed into a variety of delightful dishes. Let its mellow nature harmonize with herbs, spices, and tangy sauces to create culinary symphonies. Embrace the magic of summer with the enchanting summer squash, and explore a world of delicious possibilities in your kitchen.

Summer squash is low in calories and high in nutrients. It is an excellent source of vitamin C, vitamin A, potassium, and dietary fiber. It also contains antioxidants that help protect the body against free radicals.

Summer squash can be cooked in a variety of ways, including grilling, roasting, sautéing, and baking. It can be used as a side dish, added to salads, or used as a main ingredient in casseroles, soups, and stews. Zucchini noodles have become a popular alternative to traditional pasta, and summer squash can also be used to make delicious bread and muffins.

French Ratatouille

This classic French dish combines summer squash with eggplant, tomatoes, onions, and bell peppers. Saute the vegetables in olive oil until tender and season with herbs like thyme and basil. Serve it as a side dish or as a main course with crusty bread.

Tortilla with Persian Flavor

Slice the summer squash and sauté it with onions and bell peppers. Beat eggs with milk or cream, season with salt, pepper, and herbs, then pour the mixture over the sautéed vegetables. Cook in the oven until the eggs are set and the top is golden brown. Or follow our recipe for Persian kuku kadoo.

Creamy Summer Soup

Make a creamy summer squash soup by sautéing diced squash with onions and garlic until softened. Add vegetable broth and simmer until the squash is tender. Puree the mixture until smooth, then stir in some cream or coconut milk. Season with salt, pepper, and herbs like dill or parsley. Or use our cucumber soup recipe with a unique herb blend.

Baked a la Shakshuka or Stuffed with Lahmacun

Cut the summer squash in half and scoop out the seeds to create a hollow. Fill the hollow with a shakshuka sauce and topped with an egg. Or fill it with the lahmacun meat mixture. Bake until the squash is tender and the filling is heated through.

Grilled Summer Squash

Slice the squash into long, thin strips and brush them with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Grill the strips until they are tender and slightly charred. Serve as a side dish or as a topping for salads and sandwiches.

Recipes to Swap out the Veggies

French Quiche

Gregorian Roll Ups

Italian Lasagne

Turkish Stuffings

Greek Pie

Indian Veggie Balls

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Jun, 2023

Balkan Ćevapčići with Đuveč

Balkan
Plate

Balkan Ćevapčići Sausages with Đuveč Rice

These small, finger-shaped grilled sausages with a smooth and springy texture are bursting with flavor. Serve them in bread or with some traditional sides.

Đuveč Spice Blend

Hungarian paprika, green and red bell pepper, black pepper, marjoram, savory, fenugreek, celery seeds

Ajvar

1. Roast

Preheat OVEN to 400°F.

Roast one or more whole bell pepper for 30-40 minutes until they are tender and slightly burnt. Turn them every 10 to 15 minutes.

Let them cool. Remove the stem and seeds, and peel them.

2. Blend

In a FOOD PROCESSOR, blend the bell pepper until it turns into a smooth paste.

3. Cook

In a small POT, add 2 tbsp oil for the first bell pepper, and add 1 tbsp for each additional bell pepper. Heat to sizzling hot.

Careful of splatters, add bell pepper paste.

Optionally, add grated garlic and/or chilies to taste.

Cover. Cook over low heat for 1 hour.

Add a pinch of sugar (optional) and salt to taste.

Optionally, add vinegar to taste.

Continue to cook until all oil disappeared and the sauce has a consistency like a dip or spread. Stir frequently to avoid burning.

Balkan Ćevapčići with Đuveč

SpiceBreeze

Ćevapčići is a popular dish from the Balkans, particularly enjoyed in countries like Croatia, Serbia, Macedonia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. These small, finger-shaped grilled sausages with a smooth and springy texture are bursting with flavor and are perfect for a casual gathering or a delicious weeknight dinner. Đuveč is a versatile and comforting one-pot meal that can be enjoyed on its own (see option 2 in the directions) or as a side dish.

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hands-on time 30

Course Main Course

Cuisine Balkan

Servings

Ingredients

Sausages

1 lb ground meat [1]
2 cloves garlic finely chopped (optional)
1/2 tsp baking soda

Balkan Rice

1 onion finely chopped
2 cloves garlic finely chopped
1 tomato chopped
1/2 cup peas (fresh or frozen)
1 cup rice thoroughly rinsed
4-5 cups vegetable or chicken broth [2]
oil
salt & pepper

Đuveč Culinary Spice Kit

Hungarian paprika, green and red bell pepper, black pepper, marjoram, savory, fenugreek, celery seeds

Suggested Sides

French fries or baked potatoes
sour cream or plain yogurt
ajvar paste
cabbage salad

Instructions

Balkan Sausages

In a BOWL, mix meat with baking soda, 2 oz water, garlic, salt & pepper to taste.
Knead for about 20 minutes.
Wet your hands with a little water. Form small sausages, with a diameter of a thumb and no more than 2 inches in length.
Place sausages in a large BAKING PAN.
If you make a bigger batch, place BAKING PAPER or ALUMINUM FOIL between each layer.
Cover the BAKING PAN.
Let them rest in the fridge for 12-24 hours.
Grill the sausages over medium heat Occasionally, brush sausages with the broth.
Alternatively, fry the sausages in a PAN with oil over medium heat, turning frequently.

Balkan Rice - Option 1: as a Side [2]

In a POT, heat oil over medium heat.
Fry onions and garlic over low heat until translucent.
Add tomatoes, peas, Đuveč spices, and salt & pepper to taste.
Add the rice. Mix well.
Add 2 cups broth or more until all is covered.
Cover. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low.
Cook until the rice is done and all liquid has been absorbed, about 20-25 minutes.

Balkan Rice - Option 2: as a Complete Meal [2]

Modify the directions for Balkan Rice - Option 1, as following:
Before adding onions to the POT, fry 8 oz chicken (1/2 inch sized pieces) over high heat for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Return heat to medium and continue with the onions.
After the onions are done, add 1 chopped bell pepper (red or green or mixed). Fry the bell peppers for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Continue with adding the tomatoes, ...

Serve Options

1. Serve sausages with rice (as a side) and any fresh green salad with a light dressing (no mayo or cream) [3]. Optionally, add mustard or our Apple Beer Grill Sauce.
2a). Serve sausages in bread:
Brush the inside of the bread with broth and spread it with sour cream or yogurt or with ajvar.
Fill the bread with chopped onions and 2 to 5 sausages.
2b) Prepare Balkan rice as a complete meal.
Optionally, serve it with any fresh green salad with a light dressing (no mayo or cream) [3].
3) Make it a complex Balkan meal:
Serve sausages with rice (as a side), add cabbage salad and ajvar. Optionally, add French fries.

Notes

[1] Recommended: 70-80% beef, mixed with lamb or 100% beef or veal. Any other meat combinations works too.

[2] Optionally, for authentic red color:

Plan for about 1 cup more broth.
When adding the broth, add 1/2 cup more of the broth and 1 tbsp tomato paste.
During the last cooking step, check after 15 and 20 minutes if there is still any liquid left to complete the rice cooking process without burning it. If necessary, add 1/4 cup of boiling hot broth. But don't stir!

[3] See inspirations for leaf green salads in our culinary building blocks.

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Jun, 2023

Cambodian Pahut

SpiceBreeze

These delightful Cambodian fish patties are crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. Finely ground fish and an assortment of aromatic spices result in a flavor-packed treat. The combination of lemongrass, galangal, and lime flavors lends a distinctive Cambodian touch to the dish. If desired, add some heat with fresh chilies or replace the fish with poultry or meat.

Pin Print

hands-on time 30

Course Main Course

Cuisine Californian

Servings