Hi, I'm Helen. I share easy, nutritious, seasonal, flexitarian recipes, often with a British-Jewish twist. Expect a weekly dose of delicious dinner ideas, news and positivity!
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Easy recipes for the lazy days of Summer
Published 3 months ago • 3 min read
Hello again my friend,
Halfway through August! My, how time flies!
As much as I enjoy cooking, summer is a time for quick and easy recipes. If you've been enjoying fun summer holiday activities, or just ferrying your kids around and clearing up after them, you probably don't want to then spend an hour or more in the kitchen fixing dinner. Simple, fast and tasty is exactly what's called for!
This is when bountiful salads, tasty pasta dishes, and simple but flavourful desserts come into their own. I also love make-ahead dishes, like this new recipe for marinated mushroom salad. Just 15-20 minutes of prep time and then it'll sit in the fridge, happily waiting for its moment to be devoured! These succulent, flavourful mushrooms just need some crusty bread to soak up the dressing, and you're all set.
Below I've gathered together some more of my family's favourite easy summertime recipes, but you can find loads more ideas that take under 30 minutes right here. Some are so quick that you can get several different dishes made in your 30 minutes slot! That's what I call efficient!
Delicious quick and easy summer recipes
All of these tasty, wholesome recipes are ready in 30 minutes or less and require no fancy ingredients or equipment. Just the thing when all you really want to do is put your feet up and enjoy a long cool drink in the summer sunshine!
Heirloom tomato salad with olives, basil and sumac If you grow your own tomatoes, you're probably inundated right now. And if not, then get down to your local market or greengrocer and bag some juicy, ripe and fragrant toms, then enjoy this beautiful salad that tastes like summer in every bite.
Cauliflower with lemon, anchovy and garlic This simple dish is one of our favourite ways to eat cauliflower - tender-crisp, and drenched in deeply savoury anchovy, garlic, lemon and parsley. A great side dish or a simple main with couscous, quinoa or the grain of your choice.
Beetroot carpaccio with feta and mint A scrumptious, sophisticated salad/side dish/starter made with marinated raw beetroots, fresh herbs, and tangy, salty feta cheese.
Oven baked cod with a sun-dried tomato and herb crust Fish is a great choice for a protein-packed, quick to cook dinner. Jazz up some simple cod fillets with a delicious Mediterranean inspired topping, and serve with boiled new potatoes or just some lovely bread and butter.
Quick courgette and cherry tomato pasta Our kitchen garden is overflowing with courgettes and this recipe is a lovely way to enjoy them. Easy, fast and filling, it's packed with fresh summer veggies. Yum!
Cheat's cheese kreplach Crispy, cheesy, savoury, and speedy! These fabulous cheesy pasta dumplings in garlic butter make a quick but special dinner that everyone will love.
Creamy gnocchi with spinach and smoked salmon Gnocchi cook up in just a few minutes, and make a lovely base to soak up luscious creamy sauces like this one with flavoursome spinach and tender smoked salmon.
Cavolo nero, hazelnut and garlic pesto pasta Homemade pesto is a world away from the stuff in a jar and this one, made with Tuscan kale and hazelnuts, is packed with flavour and nutrition.
10 minute halva ice-cream pie My go-to 'dessert in a hurry'. Whip it up when you have 10 minutes spare, then stash in the freezer till needed. Never fails to impress!
Fruit and nut yogurt parfait Enjoy these nutritious layered pots of loveliness as an indulgent healthy breakfast or a fancy dessert! Customise with your favourite fruits, nut butter, or a handful of crunchy granola.
Do you bake your own challah? I was talking to a friend recently and it turned out she was unaware of my 1-hour challah recipe 😳. If you've not tried it either, why not give it a whirl this week? Perfect fluffy and delicious home-baked challah, ready in only 60 minutes. Start the clock as you reach for the flour and an hour later you'll be taking your glorious golden loaves out of the oven 🤩
This week may your challah be fluffy, your food delicious, and your day of rest as relaxing and reviving as you require! Wishing you Shabbat Shalom - Good Shabbos! May it bring peace, comfort, calm, and blessings to us all.
With love, Helen x.
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Hi, I'm Helen. I share easy, nutritious, seasonal, flexitarian recipes, often with a British-Jewish twist. Expect a weekly dose of delicious dinner ideas, news and positivity!
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