4,893 summer recipes

Chuck wagon chili with lean ground beef, kidney beans, tomatoes, picante sauce, and cumin. A quick weeknight chili that simmers in under 30 minutes and serves with rice and all the fixings.

Kukul mas is the classic Sri Lankan chicken curry. Chicken rubbed with tamarind, cardamom, and curry powder simmers in thick coconut milk with lemongrass and fenugreek until fall-off-the-bone tender.

A low-fat creamy mushroom soup made with dried oyster, morel, and porcini mushrooms plus fresh portabellos, simmered with leeks and curry in skim milk. Finished with dry sherry and fresh chervil. Ready in 25 minutes.

Ground turkey, corn, diced potatoes, and canned tomatoes simmered into a thick, hearty chowder finished with a swirl of evaporated milk. This filling one-pot soup is comfort in a bowl and ready in under an hour.

Velvety peach butter simmered with brandy, lemon, and fresh spearmint then canned for year-round spreading. A sophisticated twist on a Southern pantry classic that makes a stunning homemade gift.

Masur dal simmered with turmeric, ginger, and garlic, finished with a cumin and crispy onion tadka in ghee. A simple Indian lentil recipe that's warm, comforting, and ready in about 35 minutes.

A super-easy vegetable curry: cauliflower simmered with tomatoes and a bloomed mustard-seed-and-spice base. Vegan, gluten-free, and ready in 30 minutes. Healthy, warming Indian-style comfort in one pot.

A hearty two-meat chili: ground round and hot Italian sausage simmered with pink beans, black beans, peppers, and a cornmeal thickener. Feeds 15, perfect for game day or a freezer stash.

Light vegetarian lasagna with a from-scratch tomato herb sauce simmered two hours, layered with part-skim ricotta, mozzarella, and Parmesan. No meat, no oil in the sauce, still deeply satisfying.

Mapo tofu stir-fries marinated ground pork with hot bean paste, ginger, garlic, and chiles, then simmers cubed tofu in the spicy sauce. Authentic Sichuan classic ready in under an hour.

Spicy lentil-potato stew simmered in tomato juice with carrots, celery, chili powder, and garlic. A vegan one-pot meal that takes 5 minutes to prep and cooks in under an hour.

Hammin di Pesach is a traditional Passover lamb stew with chicken meatballs, spinach, and matzo served as a two-course meal. Braised lamb chops and tiny seasoned chicken dumplings simmer together, then split into a main dish and a matzo soup.

Old-fashioned elderberry grape jelly: foraged elderberries and half-ripe grapes simmered, strained, and boiled with sugar to a sheeting set. No commercial pectin needed thanks to the under-ripe grape skins.

Kakavia is the Greek fisherman's soup built from homemade fish stock, whole fish pieces, lobster tails, and shrimp simmered with tomatoes, leeks, and potatoes. A traditional seafood soup served with crusty bread and lemon wedges.

Curried beef stew with seared round steak, fresh tomatoes, and sweet curry powder simmered until fork-tender. A simple, no-fuss Indian-inspired one-pot meal with red pepper flakes on the side.

Classic lobster bisque made from whole boiled lobsters, simmered shells for rich broth, and finished with scalded cream. Old-school New England elegance in a bowl, ready in 45 minutes.