# Summer foods! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 6, 2012, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/summer-foods/621031 "2012-05-06T00:20:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![nashiitashii](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7c8e57/32.png) [@nashiitashii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nashiitashii)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2012, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/summer-foods/621031/1 "2012-05-06T00:20:24Z")
In South Florida, we’re already experiencing the full swing of summertime heat. Today it was 84 around 4pm, and hotter toward the middle of the day; it definitely switched my food cravings from “soups and hot food sound awesome” to “I need stuff that’s not going to make me sweat in hot weather”. All my food cravings for the past three or four days have been: salad, tacos, burger with giant salad on the side, salad, and more salad. What are your favorite salad ingredients, and do you guys have some good recipes or suggestions for summer foods? I’m always looking to increase my recipe collection. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2012, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/summer-foods/621031/2 "2012-05-06T00:24:04Z")
I usually make a salad when I go food shopping! My ingredients: Lettuce Cherry tomato Cucumber Red onion Broccoli Carrot Feta Grilled Chix. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2012, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/summer-foods/621031/3 "2012-05-06T00:26:48Z")
I had a great salad in New Orleans, and they gave me their dressing recipe when I emailed them. (The recipe is posted somewhere. Search for ‘Shaved beef salad’.) _Shaved_ roast beef. Not just thinly-sliced. Shaved. As in, it falls apart if you’re not careful. Arrange some beef to cover the bottom of a plate. Cover with Spring greens. Add the mayo/horseradish/Creole mustard/hot sauce dressing, and top with French’s fried onions. Very tasty and refreshing. ---
**Author:** ![nashiitashii](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7c8e57/32.png) [@nashiitashii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nashiitashii)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2012, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/summer-foods/621031/4 "2012-05-06T00:29:46Z")
Wow, that _does_ sound great, **Johhny L.A.**! I’ll have to search for it, as that may end up being in the summer food repertoire. **Etv78** , the only things out of that list that aren’t in my regulars are broccoli and red onion. I do tend to stock up on feta at the grocery store, as it makes for great salad cheese. Mmmmm. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2012, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/summer-foods/621031/5 "2012-05-06T01:00:33Z")
> [@nashiitashii](#): > > Wow, that _does_ sound great, **Johhny L.A.**! I’ll have to search for it, as that may end up being in the summer food repertoire. I found it. > [@Shaved beef salad](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shaved-beef-salad/583866/1): > > **Ivorybill** popped into the New Orleans thread, and I was reminded that he treated me to lunch at Herbsaint when I was in The Big Sleazy. I had the shaved beef salad and liked it so much that I asked for the recipe. Everyone who has eaten this salad when I’ve made it has liked it. If you can’t get to The Crescent City, you can make it yourself: > > **Herbsaint Shaved Beef Salad** > > **Horseradish dressing** > 1 ½ cups mayonnaise > 3 tablespoons creole mustard (or whole grain mustard) > 4 tablespoons prepared horseradish > 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar > 1 tablespoon hot sauce (we use Louisiana brand hot sauce) > 2 tablespoons cane syrup (this is a Louisiana product, and may not be available – you can substitute a mild molasses) > 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce > > Yield: about 2 cups > > **Directions** > Mix it all together. > > I can’t get cane syrup here, so the first time I made it I made simple syrup and molasses. Now I just use a little Karo corn syrup and light molasses. I use Zatarain’s mustard and Louisiana brand hot sauce. > > **The beef** > Most supermarkets will have packets of thinly-sliced roast beef. I prefer Trader Joe’s because I think it tastes better than the beef slices at the local supermarkets. It’s also cheaper. > > **The salad** > You can make your own salad, but I find it easier to use the bagged mixed Spring greens. > > **Assembly** > Use three or four slices of thinly-sliced roast beef. Tear it into bite-sized bits (no more than a couple of inches square) and arrange them on a large plate. Pile on the greens. Add as much dressing as you desire. Top with French’s fried onions. ETA: It’s really better if you get shaved beef (though TJ’s is quite acceptable). Recently I’ve been getting Boar’s Head from the supermarket, and having them shave it on their finest setting. . ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2012, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/summer-foods/621031/6 "2012-05-06T01:05:32Z")
> [@etv78](#): > > I usually make a salad when I go food shopping! My ingredients: > > Lettuce > Cherry tomato > Cucumber > Red onion > Broccoli > Carrot > Feta > Grilled Chix. I usually add Bell pepper as well, and I use italian dressing BTW. ---
**Author:** ![araminty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b5e925/32.png) [@araminty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/araminty)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2012, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/summer-foods/621031/7 "2012-05-06T03:21:30Z")
I LOVE Thai salads when it’s hot. Here’s a recipe for [Thai beef salad](http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/11/dining/113mrex.html?_r=1), which is just amazingly good, and surprisingly easy to make. If you like the flavours in that one, you could try more salads from the region, like _larb,_ or green papaya salad, mmm, yummy. That one really needs an Asian grocery nearby, though, unless you have a papaya tree… ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2012, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/summer-foods/621031/8 "2012-05-06T03:41:27Z")
The Russian “holodnik” (here is one [recipe](http://foodcomas.com/2010/06/02/holodnik-russian-cold-soup/)) is heaven-sent for hot days. There is nothing better. ---
**Author:** ![nashiitashii](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7c8e57/32.png) [@nashiitashii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nashiitashii)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2012, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/summer-foods/621031/9 "2012-05-06T12:36:15Z")
> [@araminty](#): > > That one really needs an Asian grocery nearby, though, unless you have a papaya tree… In South Florida, every grocery store carries papaya. 😃 I can get that and a bunch of other stuff easily. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2012, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/summer-foods/621031/10 "2012-05-06T13:37:04Z")
My favorite summertime dish (which is deceptively easy to make) is a fruit trifle. [Something like this.](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1KCndzVY0Hc/TBPo-drOxhI/AAAAAAAABlE/0rRGzkP8K24/s1600/berry+trifle-3.jpg) Of course you need a proper trifle bowl to make it right. Other than that, a simple [fruit salad](http://simplyrecipes.com/photos/stone-fruit-blueberry-salad.jpg) will do; it’s what I had for breakfast not ten minutes ago. mmm ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2012, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/summer-foods/621031/11 "2012-05-06T14:15:43Z")
Chilled watermelon, feta cheese and ouzo with ice water. Take a bite of the first, a bite of the second and a sip of the third. Repeat until you achieve bliss. ---
**Author:** ![araminty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b5e925/32.png) [@araminty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/araminty)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2012, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/summer-foods/621031/12 "2012-05-06T14:26:38Z")
> [@nashiitashii](#): > > In South Florida, every grocery store carries papaya. 😃 I can get that and a bunch of other stuff easily. Oh, but it has to be unripe. Not just a bit green, but actively crunchy! ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2012, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/summer-foods/621031/13 "2012-05-06T18:29:04Z")
No mention of Caprese salad yet? ---
**Author:** ![nashiitashii](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7c8e57/32.png) [@nashiitashii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nashiitashii)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2012, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/summer-foods/621031/14 "2012-05-06T19:11:30Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > No mention of Caprese salad yet? I thought that’d be too obvious. We’re no longer in Florida tomato season, but one can still easily get tomatoes, mozzarella, and fresh basil in the grocery store. I also like to make an Asian fusion type salad with kimchi, avocado, and cucumber. Thoroughly chop the last two ingredients (sans peels), then mix with kimchi. The fat and sweet from the avocado and cucumber meld pretty nicely with the kimchi. If you’re not a fan of kimchi, using the avocado and cucumber, then mixing in a bit of mirin and sesame seeds works just as well. ---
**Author:** ![limegreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/82dd89/32.png) [@limegreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/limegreen)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2012, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/summer-foods/621031/15 "2012-05-06T19:17:41Z")
I can’t wait till my cukes and tomatoes come on. We slice cukes and sweet onions and put them in a big gallon jar with a brine of 1/2 water and 1/2 vinegar stirred together with enough sugar to take the whang off. Marinate for a few hours. I just keep topping the jar up all summer long. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2012, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/summer-foods/621031/16 "2012-05-06T22:11:44Z")
Here’s my apple salad recipe. It’s very flexible, you can add other kinds of fruit or flavors of yogurt to make it just the way you like it. Raisins, orange segments, drained pineapple chunks, pears…just make sure the fruit is drained well if it’s canned. I semi-peel and core a couple of apples (one crisp and one more tender), sprinkle with lemon juice, and mix with chopped dried apricots, red seedless grapes, walnuts or pecans, and maraschino cherries if I have any. Then I fold in a carton of vanilla or honey yogurt, maybe a spoonful of sour cream if I have any. Sprinkle with a few more nuts, chill, and there you go! ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2012, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/summer-foods/621031/17 "2012-05-07T00:27:16Z")
Mmmm, shrimp marinated in garlic and Sriracha, then stir-fried. Or squid, I’m not picky. Kefta and all the trimmings–tomato salad, tzatziki, hummus, chili sauce, and pita. Chicken skewers and peanut sauce. Spring rolls full of rice vermicelli in sweet vinegary sauce. Ground beef cooked with lime juice and fish sauce, eaten in lettuce leaves. Grain salads. Wheat berries with green onion, tomato, cucumber, and balsamic vinegar. Or tabbouleh. Or bulgur wheat with feta, tomato, and fresh oregano. Or brown rice with black beans, green onion, red peppers, cilantro and lime juice. Or corn, skillet-fried with garlic and onions, then, mixed with black beans, cilantro, red pepper, and mango. A slab of salmon with mustard-sour cream sauce on top of baby greens and sliced radishes, with roasted beets and a dill blossom on the side. Salads with Ranch dressing made from the packet, instead of winter Good Seasons Zesty Italian made from the packet. Cole slaw. Garden tomatoes with just salt. Grilled eggplant rolled up around feta, chili, and mint. Greek salad. Sweet peas pureed with pesto. Fried catfish with hush puppies, cole slaw, and green tomato pickles. Melon balls in prosecco. Caipirinhas. Mojitos. Crystal Light and Franzia. Corona. Fresh strawberries, macerated with sugar, piled on top of pound cake and whipped cream. Cream and wild black raspberry pie. Rhubarb crunch. Tiramisu with macerated plums and apricots instead of coffee and liqueur. I really could go on… ---
**Author:** ![Cub\_Mistress](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea666f/32.png) [@Cub\_Mistress](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cub_Mistress)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2012, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/summer-foods/621031/18 "2012-05-07T03:02:53Z")
Elvis Salad Salad base 2-3 med. zucchini, slice or cubed, steamed until tender but not soggy, 2 cans chickpeas, rinsed and drained 1 cup roasted red pepper, cut up in strips (can use jarred) 4 cloves garlic, minced 1-2 med tomatoes chopped (use canned diced tomatoes if good tomatoes aren’t available fresh) Dressing juice of two large lemons 1/2 cup white vinegar 1/4 cup oil 2 Tbs finely chopped fresh rosemary 1/2 tsp dried basil 1/2 tsp dried oregano 1/4 tsp salt 1/2 tsp black pepper topping 4 oz crumbled feta cheese Put the salad ingredients into a large bowl. Mix the dressing ingredients separately and pour over salad ingredients, mix well and rerigerate for 2-24 hours. To serve, sprinkle crumbled fe ta cheese on individual servings. If using fresh tomatoes, try adding them at the last minute to preserve their flavor unrefrigerated. PS:amounts aren’t critical. Experiment! ---
**Author:** ![voguevixen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5ac83/32.png) [@voguevixen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voguevixen)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2012, 9:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/summer-foods/621031/19 "2012-05-07T09:29:06Z")
Straight up corn on the cob. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2012, 9:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/summer-foods/621031/20 "2012-05-07T09:40:17Z")
Nava’s lazy salad: tomatoes, canned tuna (preferably in vinegar; if it was canned in water I let it “marinate” for a day in white vinegar before using it), hardboiled egg, canned white asparagus ends, green olives. All the seasoning it needs is a bit of olive oil and salt. And gazpacho (no cucumber for me).