1,213 summer recipes

Old-fashioned beef and barley vegetable soup built from meaty soup bones simmered low and slow with pearl barley, carrots, celery, tomatoes, and sweet green peas. The kind of soup that warms you from the inside out.

A bold, smoky BBQ sauce built on strong black coffee, Worcestershire, ketchup, brown sugar, and hot chilis. Simmered for 25 minutes and pureed smooth. The coffee adds a deep, roasted backbone you can't get any other way.

A quick, spicy hot sauce for falafel: tomato paste simmered with vegetable stock, chili paste, cumin, lemon and fresh herbs into a bright, fiery sauce in about five minutes. Drizzle it over falafel, shawarma or grilled veg.

Hot and sour shrimp soup built on a quick homemade broth simmered from the shrimp shells, with tender chayote, mushrooms, fresh lemon juice for the sour bite, and chili paste for the heat. A bright, light take on the takeout classic.

A lighter take on classic stroganoff using canned tuna simmered in chicken broth with tomato sauce, mushrooms, and a creamy swirl of low-fat yogurt. Budget-friendly, low-fat comfort food that's on the table in 45 minutes.

Chopped cooked turkey simmered in a thick tomato-chili sauce with dry mustard and onion, spooned over hamburger buns. This low-calorie, 6-ingredient turkey barbecue is ready in 20 minutes and stretches leftovers into a new meal.

Potato chowder with diced potatoes, grated carrot, and onion simmered in chicken broth, then finished with a creamy skim milk base thickened by a flour slurry. A lighter chowder with all the comfort and none of the heaviness.

Thick seitan steaks baked until firm, then simmered in a savory tamari broth with kombu and fresh ginger for deep umami flavor. Brushed with sauce and broiled until lightly charred, these vegan steaks have real chew and satisfying meatiness.

Oxtail soup simmered until the meat falls off the bone, then finished with potatoes, mixed vegetables, and tomato paste for a rich, hearty bowl. A classic stick-to-your-ribs soup served as is or ladled over white rice.

Easy poached fish gently simmers fillets in a court-bouillon of water, white wine, lemon juice, sliced onion, peppercorns, allspice, and bay leaf. A lean, classic French method that keeps any fish moist and ready for sauces or salads.

New England beans: canned pork and beans dressed up with real maple syrup, ketchup and chunks of ham, then simmered into a sweet-savory side in about 15 minutes. A fast shortcut to classic New England maple baked beans.

My hearty soup starts with a homemade stock simmered low for hours, then strained and skimmed clean before a load of vegetables, pasta, and pulled meat go in. A from-scratch, stick-to-your-ribs bowl made the old-fashioned way.

Tender chicken breast simmered in a light curry broth, then tossed in a silky orange juice and sherry glaze with ginger, crisp celery, and bright bell peppers. Served over fluffy brown rice for a low-cal weeknight dinner that still brings bold flavor.