Food & Nutrition These Healthy Summer Recipes Let the Season's Best Fruits and Vegetables Shine By Genevieve Ko and Karla Walsh Updated on September 8, 2021 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: IriGri8/Getty Fruits and vegetables are bursting with so much flavor now, and these healthy summer recipes make them the star of your plate. 01 of 09 Smashed Cucumber and Nectarine Salad With Ricotta and Dill-Corn Relish View Recipe Caitlin Bensel If your garden is producing more cucumbers than you can deal with, whip up a big batch of this heathy summer recipe. The lettuce-free salad boasts plenty of cukes, a few nectarines, and an entire ear of corn, all drizzled with a Dijon-white vinegar dressing. For a sweet swap, use peaches instead of nectarines. ( Recipe Ideas for Cucumber Snacks That Are Ridiculously Hydrating 02 of 09 Rosé-Poached Salmon and Plums View Recipe Johnny Miller The favorite sip this time of year makes a flavorful poaching liquid that works beautifully with fish or chicken. When concocting this healthy summer recipe, choose a dry rosé. Then, add some plums, shallots, and spicy chile peppers to it and simmer on the stove for a sweet and savory broth that gives some complexity to a hearty fish like salmon. Best of all, this elegant but easy dish comes together in 20 minutes flat. (Try one of these rosé wines under $20.) 03 of 09 Grilled Sweet Potato Salad with Spinach and Plums View Recipe Caitlin Bensel This healthy summer recipe puts those sad, house salads you typically serve at dinner to shame. The hearty meal is packed with flavor, thanks to the capers, kalamata olives, fresh mint, and earthy spices. The plums and potatoes all rest on a bed of spinach, but if the leafy green isn't your cup of tea, swap it for kale or beet greens. 04 of 09 Seared Scallops with Cucumber-Celery Sauté View Recipe Johnny Miller This healthy summer recipe adds heat to veggies that are traditionally served raw. Just three minutes in a hot skillet gives celery and cucumbers deeper, more distinctive flavors. Finish with a splash of lemon juice for brightness, and serve with seared scallops and couscous. Pro tip: Choose dry-packed scallops, which have a naturally sweet taste. 05 of 09 Escarole Salad with Corn, Peaches and Smoky Croutons View Recipe Johnny Miller A bright summer salad craves some earthiness for balance. Quickly char corn on the grill to give it a slightly smoky flavor, then toss with escarole, radicchio, and peaches. Top with sourdough croutons dusted with smoked paprika for a little extra heat. (This Mediterranean chopped salad is also perfect for summer.) 06 of 09 Sweet Potatoes with Almond Butter and Seeds View Recipe Johnny Miller A nut- and seed-spiked condiment adds richness and protein to a healthy summer recipe, such as this sweet potato and chile pepper dish. Just be sure to taste the peppers beforehand — their heat varies widely, so you may want to use more or less. 07 of 09 Sesame-Gochujang Zucchini Ribbon Skewers with Kimchi Slaw View Recipe Caitlin Bensel When you can't take one more bite of oven-roasted zucchini, turn to this healthy summer recipe. The squash is sliced thin, coated in a gochujang-infused mixture, grilled, and served over a bed of rice with kimchi slaw, peanuts, and scallions. Drooling yet? 08 of 09 Creamy Tahini Pasta with Sweet Corn and Tomatoes View Recipe Caitlin Bensel Cheesy pasta is great and all, but this dairy-free healthy summer recipe deserves to be in your rotation. The dish features Thai rice noodles, roasted corn and tomatoes, and a tahini-based sauce that lends a slightly nutty, earthy flavor. It'll take you a bit longer to put together than other pasta dishes, but trust, it's well worth the 30-minute wait. ( 10 Creative Ways to Use Tahini That Aren't Hummus 09 of 09 Tomato, Peach, and Chickpea Coconut Aguachile View Recipe Caitlin Bensel Vibrant and refreshing, aguachile — a type of Mexican ceviche — is the perfect meal on a warm night. The protein-packed shrimp sits in a bed of bright green, spicy sauce made of cilantro, tomatillo, coconut water, jalapeño, and garlic. But don't worry, the addition of sweet coconut flakes gives this healthy summer recipe the balance it needs. (BTW, if you think cilantro tastes like soap, you can blame genetics.) Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit