These amazingly healthy vegetarian and vegan recipes use summer ingredients, like corn, watermelon, peaches, cherries, berries & more.
The supermarket shelves are stocked with corn, watermelon, peaches, cherries, nectarines and fresh berries. That can only mean one thing– it’s summer!
Since summer is a busy time, I’m sharing simple recipes that utilize the best of summer produce that are perfect for a party. Not to mention every recipe is vegetarian (or vegan) and healthy.
Before you know it, there will be fall races, pumpkin and apple picking, and maple desserts, so be sure to get your fill of these delicious summer recipes before the season passes.
Main Dishes
This plant-based veggie burger tastes as good as it looks. If you’ve never tried tempeh before, it’s a fermented soybean that is a bit chewy. [Related: 14 Protein-Packed Tempeh Recipes]
It blends perfectly into the base for this burger and melds together with delicious veggies. All you need is a food processor to turn tempeh into a summer BBQ treat.
This summer pizza is topped with fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, multi-color zucchini and garlic. And it’s made in the air fryer in 11-minutes flat.
Hosting a party and don’t have a ton of time for prep? Whip up this air fryer pizza to impress your guests. No one has to know how quickly it came together!
3. Ricotta Stuffed Zucchini Boats
Zucchini is an abundant summer fruit (yes, it’s a fruit). But on it’s own, zucchini can be a bit bland. That’s why I’ve spiced it up with a ricotta and sun-dried tomato filling and a zesty walnut crumble on top.
This stuffed zucchini boat will not disappoint! It may even become a staple in your weeknight dinner repertoire.
4. Spiced Chickpea Veggie Burger
If tempeh isn’t your thing, this Spiced Chickpea Burger may be right up your alley. It’s a vegetarian burger that is actually full of flavor!
The original recipe calls for an egg, but you can sub in a flax egg to make it entirely plant-based.
Soup may not seem like a summer food, but this version utilizes fresh summer corn and it’s completely vegan. This hearty one-pot meal is sweet and savory, making it the perfect side or starter for a small dinner party.
Salads
6. Butter Lettuce & Corn Salad with Tofu Croutons & Lime Vinaigrette
Replace the traditional croutons with a higher protein version– tofu croutons! This salad combines butter lettuce, corn, peppers, tofu croutons and a lime vinaigrette.
It’s crispy, refreshing and bright. Not only does it look good, but it also tastes amazing.
This Panzanella– aka “bread salad”– combines fresh peaches with crusty bread, herbs, onions and more. It’s a delicious untraditional take on a salad.
The bread takes in all the juices from the peaches and is incredibly flavorful. Plus, it looks like a real show stopper!
Technically, strawberries are at their peak in May, but they are still delicious all summer long. This salad combines lettuce, strawberries, chickpeas, avocado, basil, pistachios and feta cheese.
It’s time to upgrade the boring garden side salad. Impress all your guests with these simple ingredients combined in one tasty salad.
Desserts
9. Cherry Coconut Yogurt Bites
There’s nothing better than a make-ahead dessert, and these frozen cherry yogurt bites fit the bill. Combine fresh cherries with Greek yogurt, blend and sprinkle with shredded coconut.
Freeze them and enjoy them on the hottest summer nights.
10. No-Bake Cherry Cacao Energy Balls
Another way to use summer cherries is in these simple energy bites. The cocoa nibs bring out the flavors of the cherry and vice versa. Each bite is a chocolatey cherry delicious morself.
As an added bonus, store the leftovers for a pre-workout snack.
11. Frozen Yogurt Bark Two Ways
This healthy high-protein dessert utilizes a staple that is probably already in your fridge– Greek yogurt. This recipe provides two options, either chocolate and strawberry or peanut butter and berries.
There’s nothing better than a no-bake frozen dessert on a hot summer night.
12. No Bake Frozen Blueberry Bars
These vegan frozen blueberry bars with a date and almond crust are truly one of my favorite recipes. The bar is made in layers, with a no-bake chewy date crust, then a creamy blended cashew layer, topped with a frozen blueberry layer.
If you’ve got 5-minutes, you’ve got time to make this healthier “cheesecake” dip. It combines fresh blueberries with yogurt and sugar to create a simple crowd-pleasing desert.
Try dipping fresh apple slices, pita chips, pretzel sticks or graham crackers into it!
Drinks
Ready to upgrade your cocktail game? This homemade mojito uses fresh muddled blueberries and less sugar than the traditional drink. It’s easy to make and thirst-quenching on a hot summer day.
These simple make-ahead ice cubes are a great way to add flavor to water or seltzer. Just combine fresh watermelon and lime juice in a blender, puree and freeze for later!
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