'Summer, summer, summertime. Time to sit back and unwind.' The Fresh Prince knew what he was talking about. As the temperature increases, we all want to spend less time in the kitchen and more time enjoying the sun. Warmer weather calls for lighter, fresher flavours, and hassle free cooking. Whether you're firing up the barbecue or quickly preparing something in the kitchen to enjoy in the garden, we've chosen the best dinner recipes for hot weather.
Take steak night outside
What's better than a tender, juicy steak? A tender, juicy steak cooked on the barbecue. Lightly charred on the outside, perfectly moist on the inside and with all the smoky flavour of a barbecue, steak is the perfect thing to cook when it's hot outside. Serve with some barbecued veggies or a light salad and you'll have a simple, tasty warm-weather meal.
Recipe: Rib Eye Steak
Fresh and zesty
Fish and lemon go hand-in-hand and they're also classic summer flavours. Buy the freshest fish you can find, cook it quickly and dress it with a zesty, buttery sauce. Add a side of steamed new potatoes and a chilled glass of wine and enjoy your dinner in the garden. Bliss.
Recipe: Lemon Sole with Elderberry Capers
Win friends with salad
Salad isn't just a bit on the side. A hearty salad can make a gorgeous light dinner for those hot days when you just can't face cooking. Salads are super versatile, so dinner can be as easy as throwing together any leftover meats and veggies you have lurking in the fridge. Tear apart a loaf of crusty bread and dinner is served.
Recipe: Beef, Blueberry and Feta Salad
A flavour of Spain
If you've been on holiday in Spain, you've probably tried (or at least seen) huge dishes of vibrant, fragrant rice spiked with meat, vegetables and seafood. For many, paella is a sign of the summer and evokes happy memories of holidays in the sun. Invite your friends over and recreate those memories in your own garden.
Recipe: Seafood Paella
Wrap it up
Barbecuing can require a little multitasking. It can be difficult to plate up while keeping on eye on the rest of the food and trying to keep cool. Make things easy for yourself by cooking something that can be served family-style, and let everyone help themselves. Enter wraps. If it can be served in a wrap, cook it! As an added bonus, wraps can be enjoyed standing up, so they're perfect for those larger gatherings where mingling is the top priority.
Recipe: Crunchy Mackerel Wraps
What do you love to eat during the summer? Do you have a go-to recipe? We'd love to hear about it. Let us know in the comments below or find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. We'd love to hear from you.