It’s that time of year again when summer begins to come to a close. Everyone is scrambling to endure the school season and prepare for holidays that arise in the fall and winter. The warm weather still runs rampant and calls for summer dishes to enjoy. Here are some summer recipes to try before summer officially ends and fall shenanigans sweep you up.

6 Recipes to Try Before Summer Ends

1. Chickpea Salad

Chickpea salad screams summer with fresh ingredients like summer tomatoes, cucumbers, corn, and avocado. Begin by gathering whatever herbs you prefer to add to your chickpea salad. You can add cilantro or leave it out if you prefer.

Once you have your herbs, add some cherry tomatoes, corn, cucumbers, and avocado. You can use a delicious homemade vinaigrette as your dressing or choose your own. Top off your salad with some feta cheese and you’re done!

2. Homemade Guacamole

What’s better than homemade guacamole in the summertime? Nothing is! Guacamole goes with nearly everything – you could serve it with tortilla chips or with seafood like crab claws or crab legs. Homemade guacamole is relatively easy to make with fresh ingredients, making it perfect for summer festivities.

You will need avocadoes, diced onions, cilantro, Roma or vine tomatoes, limes, and a few common spices you probably already have in your cupboard. Chiles or jalapenos are optional, but you can include them if you want to spice things up.

3. Mint Cucumber Tomato Sandwiches

Mint, cucumber, and tomato complement each other so well that you’ll be astonished at how much they exude the taste of summer. Sourdough bread is perfect for mint cucumber tomato sandwiches.

Spread a few teaspoons of butter onto the sourdough and then top it with tomato, cucumber, and fresh mint leaves. Sprinkle some salt and pepper on top, and viola! You have the perfect sandwich to end your summer that’s simple and delicious.

4. Panzella

Panzella is like a pasta dish made with stale bread instead of pasta in true Tuscany tradition. Olive oil and red wine vinegar provide a light, savory dressing for this outstanding Tuscan dish.

Ripe tomatoes, black olives, anchovies, and sourdough or ciabatta bread create the bulk of Panzella. A finely chopped shallot and a handful of basil leaves make the taste of Tuscany in the summer that you’ll fall head over heels for no matter what season you serve it in.

5. Summer Gazpacho

Summer gazpacho is a soup you can make in the blender and then chill in the refrigerator since it’s best when served cold. Chill the soup for at least an hour before serving. You will need two types of tomatoes for a summer gazpacho and they must be fresh, or you’ll be able to taste the difference.

Cherry tomatoes will garnish the gazpacho, and heirloom tomatoes will be the ones you blend into the soup. Summer gazpacho calls for cucumber, red bell pepper, tomatoes, garlic clove, shallot, red wine vinegar, and olive oil. You can top off this soup with whatever garnish you like, but the vegetables you use for the soup taste best.

6. Shrimp Scampi

Another seafood recipe is coming at you fast. Seafood tastes best on warmer days, right? Shrimp scampi is a crowd pleaser, and perfect for those back-to-school gatherings with fellow teachers or parents. Shrimp scampi is easy to whip up and is another versatile option you can serve with just about anything.

If you buy shrimp already deveined and peeled, you can make shrimp scampi in a flash. All you have to do is sear the shrimp and then coat it with a lemony butter sauce. Dry white wine, butter, extra virgin olive oil, fresh parsley, and pepper flakes create a buttery lemon sauce that goes perfectly on shrimp scampi.

Recipes for the End of Summer

Try these perfect recipes before summer ends and holiday festivities begin. You’ll be pulling out your crockpot and all of your favorite fall recipes before you know it, and you’ll miss these light-tasting treats. Get in the spirit, make these delicious recipes to enjoy the rest of the season, and end your summer with a bang.

You May Also Enjoy

• Smashed Pea & Feta Salad
• Marshmallow Strawberry Shortcake Slice
• Pecan & Pear Green Salad