Summer Vegetable Recipes for Fresh and Fiber Rich Meals
Summer is here which means it’s time to try new summer vegetable recipes. Whether you grow your own, have a CSA box, shop local at the farmer’s market, or pick up from the grocery store, seasonal veggies make for the most flavorful and delicious dishes! When it comes to working on nutrition goals, I’m a big proponent for adding in nutrient dense foods, not getting rid of the foods you like. You don’t need to replace foods that have a reputation for being “less healthy” for whatever reason. If you enjoy them, keep them! But I think it can be wonderful to add new foods to your plate too! Vegetables add different flavors, textures, micronutrients, antioxidants, and fiber. Using seasonal vegetables ensures that they are more fresh and have better flavor, so you are more likely to enjoy them!
12 Summer Vegetable Recipes to Add to your Routine
Baked Zucchini Fries
Baked zucchini fries are a tasty addition to your zucchini recipe repertoire. We’re not trying to replace french fries here, but instead adding a different way to enjoy the zucchini. The breadcrumb coating gives them a crunchy texture, and the parmesan cheese adds that irresistible flavor!
Baked Zucchini Hash Browns
Another great way to use zucchini! Zucchini hash browns are similar to a veggie fritter, but they’re baked and go perfectly with any meal of the day! My favorite way to enjoy zucchini hash browns is with eggs for breakfast.
Caprese Stuffed Avocado
A caprese stuffed avocado is an impressive and delicious addition to any meal. Avocado is a great source of healthy fat and fiber. Caprese salad is full of summertime flavor and the balsamic glaze brings it all together.
Cucumber Noodle Greek Salad
No need for a spiralizer with this cucumber noodle Greek salad. A veggie peeler will do, to create long flat cucumber noodles. All the classic Greek flavors make this a delicious and fresh salad for summer.
Grilled Vegetable Lasagna
Do you need to replace your lasagna noodles with veggies? No! You could do a hybrid and ADD summer vegetables to your lasagna. But honestly, this Grilled Vegetable Lasagna is a favorite in our house. It is so good, and an easy way to use up your summer squash!
Grilled Veggie Sandwich with Mozzarella and Balsamic Glaze
Balsamic glaze makes everything better, and this Grilled Vegetable Sandwich is no exception. You can really use whatever veggies you want, but zucchini, squash, and eggplant can be sliced in a way that stays put on the bread, making it easier to eat.
Roasted Tomatoes
I don’t think there is anything better than a juicy summer tomato. I usually enjoy them sliced with a little bit of salt and pepper. But they can also make for delicious sauces and side dishes. Like these roasted tomatoes with an herby breadcrumb topping.
Zucchini Crisps
Ok, so these Zucchini Crisps are similar to our zucchini fries, just served as a different shape. Sliced into thin rounds, these will get crispier and make for a tasty snack. If you have a selective eater, changing up the way you introduce foods can help increase the likelihood of them trying it!
Zucchini Pizza Bites
Can you tell we have a lot of zucchini to use up in the summer? We love our zucchini recipes. Zucchini pizza bites is another tasty recipe that makes for a great kid-friendly snack!
Chickpea Tomato Salad
Chickpea Tomato Salad is a fresh and tasty way to use summer tomatoes and cucumbers. It’s herby and delicious and can be eaten alone or alongside your favorite grilled protein.
Panzanella Salad
Panzanella is another way to use those tasty tomatoes and cucumbers. Panzanella is basically a bread salad. Crunchy cubed bread is tossed at the last minute into a flavorful vegetable salad. Serve immediately so the bread stays crunchy!
Mexican Street Corn Salad
Another regular recipe to appear in my household: Mexican Street Corn Salad. This is one of my all time flavor combinations. Smoky chipotle, spicy jalapeno, fresh lime juice, ALL the cilantro, and cool queso fresco. You have to try it!
Summertime eating is fresh and flavorful. It makes me think of gathering with family and friends in the warm sunshine and enjoying delicious meals together. It can be more of an experience than just a meal. Especially in a time when we have experienced so much isolation, getting out in the warm weather and enjoying socially distanced meals can do the soul some good. We hope our summer vegetable recipes have inspired you to add in some tasty summer veggies to your meals!
Looking for more summertime meal ideas? Check out our Vegetarian Grilling Blog for more inspiration!
An award winning recipe developer, Dietitian Kaitlin’s mission is to empower others to reach their health goals by encouraging them to get back into the kitchen. Co-author of Nourished: 10 Ingredients to Happy, Healthy Eating and Cooking with Diabetes.
