Make the most of the last summer evenings with meals in the garden.
Eating outdoors is one of the joys of the summer months, and as August comes to a close it’s time to make the most of every opportunity. These are 9 of our favourite recipes for al-fresco dining.
1. Pearl couscous, roasted tomato and asparagus salad
Pearl or ‘giant’ couscous is a brilliant ingredient that can add texture to any salad. You can adapt this recipe with seasonal vegetables (try courgettes) or bulk it up with buffalo mozzarella.
2. Tuna steaks a la niçoise
Simplify the classic salade niçoise by garnishing tuna steaks with olives, capers and cherry tomatoes. Don’t feel constrained to a set recipe: if you don’t like black olives or capers, leave them out or choose your own alternative.
3. Grilled chickpea seekh kebabs
Swap lamb mince for chickpeas in these vegetarian seekh kebabs which take just 10 minutes to cook in the oven. Serve with onions, lettuce and yoghurt in a flatbread.
4. Baked camembert with garlic and rosemary
Warm up as the autumn chill starts to set in with a baked camembert and plenty of French bread. It couldn’t be simpler to prepare: stud the cheese with garlic and rosemary, then pop in the oven for 15 minutes.
5. Sicilian baby aubergine salad
Quality ingredients make this straightforward salad something special. Look for fresh, healthy basil and top-quality olive oil. If you can’t find baby aubergines the full-size version will work just as well.
6. Spaghetti with garlic oil and chilli
A classic Italian dish, this spaghetti recipe takes less than 10 minutes from start to finish. Add a further burst of flavour with anchovy fillets or capers, and adjust the amount of chilli according to your taste.
7. Beef bresaola fattoush
Use up stale sourdough in this hearty salad, flavoured with coriander, parsley, ground sumac and lemon juice. You can leave out the bresaola if you want to make it meat-free.
8. Forget-the-pastry quiche
This pastry-free recipe is a game changer if you’re looking for a quick but impressive weekday dinner. Red onions, cherry tomatoes, Parma ham and crumbled feta add plenty of summer flavour.
9. Roasted romanesco tabbouleh
This beautiful vegetarian salad is centred around sweet and nutty romanesco broccoli, also known as Roman cauliflower. Add parsley, mint and lemon to garnish and dry-fried almonds and pistachios for a little extra crunch.
You might also like:
The best quick and easy courgette recipes