Farmer’s market frenzy: 15 recipes to showcase summer’s bounty

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Get ready for a farmer’s market frenzy with 15 recipes that showcase summer’s bounty. These dishes are perfect for enjoying the best of the season, bringing the vibrant colors and fresh picks straight to your table. Whether you’re a veggie lover or just someone who appreciates a good meal, these recipes are sure to impress. It’s all about keeping things light, fun, and oh-so-delicious.

Mediterranean Chopped Salad with crumbled feta cheese, on a yellow plate with flower designs.
Mediterranean Chopped Salad. Photo credit: Dinner by Six.

Air Fryer Sweet Potato Cubes

A white bowl filled with seasoned roasted sweet potato cubes, garnished with chopped herbs, with a metal serving spoon on the side and a printed napkin partially visible.
Air Fryer Sweet Potato Cubes. Photo credit: Cook What You Love.

If you’re after a side dish that brings comfort and a hint of sweetness to your table, Air Fryer Sweet Potato Cubes could be just what you need. It’s a simple, hands-off recipe that makes use of the incredible sweet potatoes you can find at your local farmer’s market. Perfect for busy weeknights, this dish combines ease with nutrition. Plus, using an air fryer means less oil and a crispy finish that’s hard to resist.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Sweet Potato Cubes

Grilled Elote Corn Ribs

Grilled corn on the cob pieces topped with cheese, chili powder, and cilantro, served on a black slate plate with lime wedges on the side.
Grilled Elote Corn Ribs. Photo credit: Grill What You Love.

Eager to add a new twist to your BBQ lineup? Grilled Elote Corn Ribs offer a creative way to serve corn that’s both fun and packed with flavor. This dish has you slicing corn into rib-like pieces, which creates an irresistible char and sweetness after grilling. It’s a playful side that celebrates the peak-season freshness of corn picked fresh from the market.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Elote Corn Ribs

Au Gratin Potato Stacks

Au Gratin Potato Stacks on a white plate.
Au Gratin Potato Stacks. Photo credit: Cook What You Love.

Au Gratin Potato Stacks reinvent a classic comfort dish in a way that’s both elegant and convenient. These individual portions are perfect for serving at gatherings and make use of the creamiest potatoes you’ll find on your market stroll. Layered with cheese and herbs, they bake up to a golden perfection that can complement any main course. Plus, they’re a fantastic method for showcasing a variety of potatoes.
Get the Recipe: Au Gratin Potato Stacks

Brussels Sprouts with Brown Butter & Almonds

Brussels Sprouts with Brown Butter & Almonds in a shallow yellow bowl.
Brussels Sprouts with Brown Butter & Almonds. Photo credit: Cook What You Love.

For a side dish that combines earthy with nutty undertones, Brussels Sprouts with Brown Butter & Almonds is unbeatable. It’s all about fresh Brussels sprouts meeting the rich, toasty flavor of brown butter and the crunch of almonds. This simple combination transforms humble Brussels sprouts into a standout dish. It shows how basic farmers’ market ingredients can become something extraordinary.
Get the Recipe: Brussels Sprouts with Brown Butter & Almonds

Asparagus & Ricotta Quiche

Asparagus & Ricotta Quiche served on a pie dish.
Asparagus & Ricotta Quiche. Photo credit: Dinner by Six.

Asparagus & Ricotta Quiche is your go-to for a dish that feels special without a lot of fuss. Featuring freshly picked asparagus and creamy ricotta, this quiche blends simplicity with elegance. It’s a perfect choice for brunch or a light dinner, showcasing the tender, fresh flavors of spring. Plus, it’s an excellent excuse to buy those large, beautiful bunches of asparagus you’ve been eyeing at the market.
Get the Recipe: Asparagus & Ricotta Quiche

Smoked Spaghetti Squash

Smoked Spaghetti Squash.
Smoked Spaghetti Squash. Photo credit: Cook What You Love.

If you’re curious about alternative ways to enjoy spaghetti squash, Smoked Spaghetti Squash is a revelation. This recipe offers a unique take by introducing a smoky flavor that compliments the squash’s natural sweetness. It’s a lighter alternative to traditional pasta dishes and a great way to use the bounty of squash available during the summer months. It’s proof that sometimes stepping outside the traditional can lead to delicious discoveries.
Get the Recipe: Smoked Spaghetti Squash

Tex-Mex Caesar Salad

An image of Tex-Mex Caesar Salad on a square plate.
Tex-Mex Caesar Salad. Photo credit: Cook What You Love.

Ready to shake up your salad routine? Tex-Mex Caesar Salad blends classic Caesar elements with bold Tex-Mex ingredients, creating a salad that’s anything but ordinary. It’s a crunchy, creamy, and slightly spicy dish that pulls together in minutes. Perfect for hot summer days, this salad is a vibrant companion to any meal and makes great use of fresh produce from the farmers market.
Get the Recipe: Tex-Mex Caesar Salad

Creamed Corn

Smoked Creamed Corn in a black skillet.
Creamed Corn. Photo credit: Cook What You Love.

Creamed Corn is a creamy, comforting side dish that turns fresh corn kernels into the star of your dinner table. By using corn at its peak of freshness, you get a sweetness and texture that canned versions can’t match. It’s a versatile dish that pairs beautifully with nearly anything grilled, making it a summer must-have. This is a classic example of how simple preparation can highlight the exceptional quality of farmers market produce.
Get the Recipe: Creamed Corn

Grilled Veggies

Grilled vegetables on a white platter.
Grilled Veggies. Photo credit: Keto Cooking Wins.

When you crave something light yet filling, Grilled Veggies are the answer. This mix-and-match approach lets you choose from the best of what’s in season, ensuring a colorful and nutritious side that complements any meal. It’s the perfect excuse to experiment with vegetables you might not usually try, discovering new favorites along the way. Plus, grilling vegetables brings out their natural sugars and adds a smoky depth of flavor.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Veggies

Texas Corn Succotash

Texas Corn Succotash in a black bowl.
Texas Corn Succotash. Photo credit: Cook What You Love.

For a dish that encapsulates the vibrant heart of summer, Texas Corn Succotash is a clear winner. It combines fresh corn with a medley of other garden vegetables in a way that feels both traditional and new. This succotash is a celebration of texture and color, making it a visually appealing addition to your dining table. It’s a reminder of how simple ingredients can come together to create something unexpectedly wonderful.
Get the Recipe: Texas Corn Succotash

Southern Green Beans

Green beans with sausage on a white plate.
Southern Green Beans. Photo credit: Keto Cooking Wins.

Southern Green Beans are all about slow-cooked flavor and the comforting essence of home-cooked meals. This dish takes the humble green bean and upgrades it with a cooking process that allows all of the flavors to meld beautifully. It’s a side dish that demands very little yet offers so much, especially when you start with the freshest green beans from the farmer’s market. It pairs wonderfully with everything.
Get the Recipe: Southern Green Beans

Spring Salad with Asparagus, Peas & Potatoes

Spring salad with asparagus and potatoes on a white plate.
Spring Salad with Asparagus, Peas & Potatoes. Photo credit: Dinner by Six.

If you’re looking for a dish that’s as beautiful as it is nutritious, Spring Salad with Asparagus, Peas & Potatoes is a fantastic choice. This salad is a crisp, colorful celebration of spring’s bounty, combining tender vegetables with a light, refreshing dressing. It’s a great way to showcase the fresh produce you’ve picked up and works perfectly as a side or a light main dish. This is a dish that proves salads can be as filling as they are fresh.
Get the Recipe: Spring Salad with Asparagus, Peas & Potatoes

Creamed Spinach with Mascarpone

Creamed Spinach with Mascarpone in a black dish.
Creamed Spinach with Mascarpone. Photo credit: Cook What You Love.

For those who love their greens with a bit of luxury, Creamed Spinach with Mascarpone is a decadent yet easy side. This recipe transforms spinach into a creamy, dreamy dish with the addition of rich mascarpone. It’s a sophisticated take on spinach that’s still simple to prepare, perfect for making an ordinary dinner feel a bit more special. It’s a delicious excuse to indulge in the goodness of greens.
Get the Recipe: Creamed Spinach with Mascarpone

Mediterranean Chopped Salad

Mediterranean Chopped Salad with crumbled feta cheese, on a yellow plate with flower designs.
Mediterranean Chopped Salad. Photo credit: Dinner by Six.

Mediterranean Chopped Salad is all about bringing bright, crisp flavors to your table. This salad is a colorful mix of produce that you can likely find at your community farmers market, offering a fresh alternative to the usual greens. It’s a dish that pairs well with any Mediterranean-inspired meal or stands out on its own as a hearty lunch. This salad is a reminder that sometimes, the simplest combinations are the most fulfilling.
Get the Recipe: Mediterranean Chopped Salad

Baked Acorn Squash with Maple Sryup

Two halves of Baked Acorn Squash with Maple Sryup on a white plate.
Baked Acorn Squash with Maple Sryup. Photo credit: Cook What You Love.

Embrace the sweetness of fall with Baked Acorn Squash with Maple Syrup. This dish showcases the rich, buttery texture of acorn squash enhanced by a hint of maple sweetness. It’s an easy way to introduce a flavor of autumn to your table, perfect for those cooler evenings. Plus, it’s a beautiful dish that looks as good as it tastes, proving comfort food can be both simple and elegant.
Get the Recipe: Baked Acorn Squash with Maple Sryup

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