Garden-Inspired Summer Recipes
Turn to your garden for the freshest, most nutritious way to eat the rainbow! The season's most interesting dishes feature fresh flowers and herbs. These recipes, such as herb pesto sauces and viola tea time sandwiches, are a feast for the eyes and the taste buds.
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Marjoram-Scented Corn-Tomato Salad
If you can’t find marjoram, a slightly more floral cousin of oregano, try basil or parsley in this grilled corn salad. This low-calorie starter salad is like a BLT in a bowl!
- Start to Finish:
- 35 mins
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Viola Tea Sandwiches
Put fresh herbs (lemon thyme or chives) and edible flowers (violas) in the spotlight on petite open-face tea sandwiches. This pretty appetizer will steal the show at any summer party.
- Start to Finish:
- 40 mins
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Roasted Salmon with Broccoli and Tomatoes
Basil and parsley add garden-fresh flavors to the citrusy pesto drizzled over pan-roasted salmon and veggies. This low-fuss dinner recipe is perfect to serve to guests with special diets: It’s low in calories, light on carbs, gluten-free, and Paleo-friendly.
- Start to Finish:
- 35 mins
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Chickpea and Parsley Salad
When your garden is overflowing with parsley, toss together this vegetarian salad recipe. It calls for 2 cups of the vibrant fresh herb! For more protein to keep you full and fueled, add grilled chicken, salmon, or steak.
- Start to Finish:
- 40 mins
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Peach Cobbler with Thyme Biscuits
Herbs in dessert? You bet. A sprinkle of fresh thyme in this peach cobbler biscuit topping adds a subtle earthy flavor and scent that balances the sweetness of the fruit filling.
- Start to Finish:
- 55 mins
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Roasted Carrots with Carrot-Top Pesto
Combine a couple handfuls of basil with the leaves from the carrots you’re roasting (yes, the part you’d normally toss!) for a no-waste side-dish recipe that makes vegetables a treat to eat. Mix any leftover pesto into scrambled eggs for a breakfast upgrade the next day.
- Start to Finish:
- 1 hr 5 mins
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Heirloom Tomato Salad
The simple preparation of this arranged fresh tomato salad allows summer's best ingredients to steal the show. Dill and cilantro play nicely with a platter of heirloom tomato slices dressed with lemon juice, olive oil, and toasted peanuts.
- Start to Finish:
- 20 mins
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Cucumber-Mint Smoothies
Sweet honeydew plus refreshing cucumber and mint disguise the cauliflower hiding in this super-powered smoothie recipe.
- Start to Finish:
- 20 mins
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Classic Tabbouleh
This whole grain salad, brightened up with parsley and mint, could be a meal on its own when topped with falafel. We also love it paired with our endlessly customizable souvlaki.
- Start to Finish:
- 4 hrs 25 mins
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Mashed Yukon Golds with Parsley Butter
Plain butter melted over creamy mashed potatoes is good. But butter infused with garlic, leeks, and parsley melted over creamy mashed potatoes is even better in this summer side-dish recipe.
- Start to Finish:
- 45 mins
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Peachy Chicken Pasta Salad
Here's proof that pasta salad can be more than a mayo-coated carbfest. Fresh basil and sweet peaches ensure that this grilled chicken and pasta salad is light but full of flavor.
- Start to Finish:
- 30 mins
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Lavender Lemonade
Dress up your vodka lemonade cocktail with a few lavender buds for a light floral infusion that balances the sweetness of the simple homemade lemonade recipe. Top each serving with a splash of sparkling water for a fizzy finish.
- Start to Finish:
- 5 hrs 25 mins
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Spicy Watermelon Salad
Bull's-eye! A half cup of mint leaves marks the flavor center of this beautiful watermelon-cucumber salad. Add a few—or a bunch—of serrano chile slices to spice things up.
- Start to Finish:
- 25 mins
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Fast Pho
For a fresh counterpoint to the savory pho broth, top each bowl of soup with a blend of basil, cilantro, and mint.
- Start to Finish:
- 30 mins
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Fruity Ice Cubes
Never sip on a watered-down drink again. Rather than diluting your juice, punch, or cocktail, these fruit and herb cubes add to the complexity.
- Start to Finish:
- 15 mins
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Pink Peppercorn-Viola Shortbread
Classic shortbread can feel a bit plain as part of a dessert spread. So before baking, bring this sweet treat into bloom by topping each cookie with an edible viola.
- Start to Finish:
- 45 mins
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Next Slideshow Delicious Asparagus Recipes
Delicious Asparagus Recipes
Whether grilled, roasted, or baked, asparagus adds flavor and nutrients to any meal. Here are our favorite asparagus recipes, including roasted asparagus, grilled asparagus, and baked asparagus. These dishes will change the way you think about this versatile green vegetable.Begin Slideshow »