212 refresher recipes

Southern sweet tea done right: sugar dissolved into a warm tea concentrate, steeped just briefly so it never turns bitter, then chilled and poured over ice. Smooth, sweet, and refreshing by the glass.

Cucumber, red onion and watercress salad with thin pickling cucumber slices marinated in seasoned rice vinegar, tossed with oil and arranged on a peppery watercress wreath. A clean, refreshing side for rich meals.

Chilled two-tone melon soup with cantaloupe and honeydew poured side by side for a striking orange-and-green presentation. A refreshing no-cook summer appetizer with sherry, citrus, and fresh mint.

Korean dongchimi made with turnip, scallion, ginger, and garlic in a light salt brine. A refreshing, mild water kimchi that ferments at room temperature and keeps for a week in the fridge.

Old-fashioned blackberry shrub, a sweet-tart fruit syrup mixed with lemon juice. Serve over ice, top with club soda, or float a scoop of sherbet for a colonial-era refreshing drink.

A chilled summer pasta salad of garden vegetable pasta, cooked shrimp, and sweet honeydew melon balls tossed in a tangy vinaigrette. A refreshing, make-ahead sweet-and-savory dish for warm days.

Sherbat is a fragrant Indian lemon cooler with fresh lemon juice, sugar, crushed ice, and rose water. A refreshing, floral drink served in frosty glasses. Ready in 20 minutes with just 5 ingredients.

Cool, green, and refreshing, this avocado aperitif blends ripe avocado with cucumber, fresh parsley, and lemon juice over crushed ice. A silky, savory sip to kick off any meal. Ready in 15 minutes.

Crisp Thai cucumber salad (taeng kwa brio wan) with paper-thin slices in a sweet-sour vinegar dressing with red onion and chile flakes. A cool, refreshing side dish for any Thai meal.

Iced mint green tea spiked with sake and honey, steeped with fresh mint leaves, and finished with a lemongrass stalk stirrer. A refreshing cocktail-style summer drink with an easy non-alcoholic version.

Chilled blueberry buttermilk soup with orange zest and fresh juice, served icy cold with an orange slice and berry garnish. A refreshing Scandinavian-inspired starter or light dessert that's ideal for hot summer days.

Chilled fruit soup with tender apple chunks, plump raisins, and warm cinnamon sticks simmered in apple cider. A splash of brandy and brown sugar add sophistication. Serve cold as a refreshing starter or dessert.

Jewel-like pomegranate seeds and sliced bananas dressed in lime juice and palm sugar. This North Indian fruit salad is a cooling, refreshing side dish built to tame the heat of your spiciest curry.

A refreshing frozen citrus ice made with orange, grapefruit, and lemon juices thickened with gelatin and sweetened with sugar substitute. Light, tangy, and practically guilt-free, this diabetic-friendly dessert is pure frozen sunshine.

Tea and lemon ice made with strong brewed tea, fresh lemon juice, sugar syrup, and a splash of carbonated water for lightness. A refreshing frozen dessert you can make without an ice cream maker.

Sourdough starter from scratch in two days using water, active dry yeast, sugar, and flour. The fast-start version that skips the wild-yeast wait, refresh with flour and water as you use it.