Late summer’s bounty of fresh produce means it’s improv season in the kitchen! Mixed with some pantry staples and a few simple cooking techniques, meals basically season themselves this time of year. Not sure where to start? We’ve pulled together some of our favorite no-recipe recipes with easy-to-master formulas that’ll help you cook off-the-cuff, whenever, wherever.
Viana La Place’s Umbrian Black Olive Panino
Fruity oil-cured black olives star in this simple sandwich from Food52. The soft bread gets a splash of olive oil and a garlic rub before the embellishment of orange zest. Add a slice of mozzarella or prosciutto and a sprinkling of oregano for an Italian flair.
Brown Butter Tomatoes on Toast
This Goodtaste original recipe combines all our favorite things: bread, butter, olive oil, and garlic. But, boy, does it up the flavor by adding the ripest summery tomatoes! The juicier the better in this case, as the acidity of the tomatoes mixes with the savoriness of the base, creating a most satisfying breakfast, lunch, or light dinner.
Fresh Peach, Burrata, and Prosciutto Salad
Fresh peaches with burrata, olive oil, and prosciutto are perfect for a late-summer gathering. The Daley Plate offers an excellent recipe that will be a sure hit. Made with good-quality produce and fresh herbs, sometimes the simplest foods are the best.
Best-Ever Summer Panzanella
Panzanella is one of our summer staples. A juicy, crunchy salad made with croutons and whatever fresh produce you have on hand, it’s an excellent way to clean out that crisper drawer. Once you get the hang of it with this recipe from Delish, you’ll be able to toss one up with confidence.
Cherry Tomato Pasta
A dish that tastes as good as it looks! This colorful pasta from A Couple Cooks is our ideal summer side. The sauce combines cherry tomatoes, tangy balsamic vinegar, and fresh basil. You can follow the recipe the first time around, but you’ll be able to whip this up from memory after that. It’s that simple!
Güero’s Salsa Roja
Salsa is one of the easiest—and most delicious—appetizers to master, and this recipe from Güero’s Taco Bar in Austin makes it even easier, thanks to the use of canned tomatoes. Of course, come summer, we swap in all the fresh tomatoes we can (here’s your chance to use up any misshapen or overripe ones from the garden) and adjust the heat level to our own tastes.
Balsamic Grilled Vegetables
This super-simple marinade from Jessica in the Kitchen is as multipurpose as it gets, elevating everything from garden-grown veggies to grilled meats. Feel free to play with adding in extra ingredients like Dijon mustard or maple syrup, extra garlic, or fresh herbs, then fire up that grill.
Farmers Market Hash
Having a solid hash recipe in your back pocket means you’ll always be able to pull together a killer breakfast. This recipe from Brown Sugar combines heaps of fresh-from-the-farmers-market veggies, but you can absolutely mix and match based on whatever seasonal veggies you currently have on hand
Baked Spaghetti
The easiest way to elevate a basic bowl of pasta? Add cheese and bake (obviously). This recipe from Grandbaby Cakes combines a meaty tomato sauce with spaghetti, ricotta, and mozzarella, but it’s easy enough to adapt to your own tastes. Only have penne in the pantry? No problem! Want to add in garden-grown zucchini and spinach? Do it. Master the basics and then the world of baked pasta (aka the world’s easiest dinner) is yours.
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