The sun may be inconsistent this year, but that doesn’t mean you have to be. Summer is the perfect time to embrace fresh, vibrant ingredients that bring a sense of warmth and sunshine to your meals, no matter the weather. Whether you’re dining al fresco or enjoying a cosy evening indoors, these healthy summer dinners are worth your while.
These 3 healthy summer dinner recipes will help you embrace summer. If you want a more general but value-packed post on healthy eating, check out our post ‘some simple healthy eating tips‘. These recipes are designed to be refreshing, nourishing, and perfect for sharing with your loved ones. Let’s get straight into it.
Grilled Veggie and Quinoa Salad
Ingredients
1 cup quinoa
2 cups vegetable broth
1 courgette (sliced)
1 yellow squash (sliced)
1 red bell pepper (sliced)
1 red onion (sliced)
1 cup cherry tomatoes (halved)
2 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
1 tsp garlic powder
Salt and pepper to taste
Fresh basil leaves (for garnish)
Instructions
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Cook the quinoa
Rinse the quinoa under cold water. In a medium saucepan, bring the vegetable broth to a boil, add the quinoa, reduce heat, and simmer for about 15 minutes, or until the liquid is absorbed. Fluff with a fork and let it cool.
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Grill the vegetables
Preheat the grill to medium-high heat. Toss the courgette, squash, bell pepper, and red onion with olive oil, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
Grill the vegetables for about 4-5 minutes on each side, or until tender and slightly charred.
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Combine and serve
In a large bowl, combine the cooked quinoa, grilled vegetables, and cherry tomatoes.
Drizzle with balsamic vinegar, and toss to mix. Garnish with fresh basil leaves before serving.
Chickpea and Avocado Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
Ingredients
4 medium sweet potatoes
1 can (15 oz) chickpeas (drained and rinsed)
2 ripe avocados (diced)
1 cup cherry tomatoes (halved)
1/4 red onion (finely chopped)
2 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp lime juice
1 tsp cumin
Salt and pepper to taste
Fresh coriander (chopped, for garnish)
Instructions
Bake the sweet potatoes
Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Prick the sweet potatoes with a fork and place them on a baking sheet. Bake for 45-60 minutes, or until tender.
Prepare the filling
In a large bowl, combine chickpeas, avocados, cherry tomatoes, red onion, olive oil, lime juice, cumin, salt, and pepper. Toss gently to mix.
Stuff and serve
Once the sweet potatoes are done, let them cool slightly. Cut them in half lengthwise and gently mash the inside with a fork.
Spoon the chickpea and avocado mixture into each sweet potato half. Garnish with fresh cilantro before serving.
Summer Veggie Tacos with Mango Salsa
Ingredients
1 cup corn kernels (fresh or frozen)
1 courgette (diced)
1 yellow squash (diced)
1 red bell pepper (diced)
1 can (15 oz) black beans (drained and rinsed)
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp chili powder
1 tsp cumin
Salt and pepper to taste
8 small corn tortillas
Mango salsa
1 ripe mango (diced)
1/4 red onion (finely chopped)
1 jalapeño (seeded and finely chopped)
2 tbsp fresh coriander (chopped)
1 tbsp lime juice
Salt to taste
Instructions
Prepare the veggie filling
In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add corn, zucchini, yellow squash, and bell pepper. Sauté for about 5-7 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender.
Add black beans, chili powder, cumin, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine and cook for another 2-3 minutes. Remove from heat.
Make the mango salsa
In a bowl, combine diced mango, red onion, jalapeño, cilantro, lime juice, and salt. Mix well.
Assemble the tacos
Warm the corn tortillas in a dry skillet or microwave.
Spoon the veggie and black bean mixture into each tortilla. Top with a generous amount of mango salsa.
Serve immediately.
Hot tip
Want to make your summer dinners extra special or having guests? There’s so much you can do in your garden or whatever outside space you’re eating to make the evening extra lovely. A lot of these tips can be used indoors too. Check out these tips on hosting a simple dinner in the garden.
Summer mocktails
The popularity of refreshing detox drinks does tend to rise at this time of year. If you’re curious about if these really help, you can check out our post dedicated to the question ‘do detox drinks work?‘.
We love this gut-healthy mixed berry mocktail recipe.
These three recipes are perfect for embracing the energy of summer, and are wholesome and delicious. Whether you’re enjoying a sunny day or bringing a bit of sunshine indoors, these dishes will keep you feeling refreshed and nourished. So, go ahead, try them out, and savour summer in every bite. Happy cooking!
