9 Refreshing Summer Recipes for Your Next Pool Party
Turn Your Garden Harvest into Poolside Summer Recipes
Not only is July National Grilling Month, but it’s also the month for celebrating with picnics and ice cream. So, why not comingle all three gratifying pleasures by hosting an outdoor party full of light bites and refreshing summer sips? We’ve curated some mouthwatering seasonal plates to help you and your guests stay cool by the pool. Gather your garden harvest and dive into these delicious summer recipes.
Harvesting Summer Produce
If you’ve been honing your green thumb in your herb and veggie garden, or if you’re lucky enough to have fruit trees, you’ll likely have some of what’s needed for these summer recipes. However, some delicate herbs and greens like cilantro and lettuces may have already bit the dust from the scorching summer sun. Depending on how much of a respite some of your tender crops receive, you should be able to harvest most of these herbs and vegetables in July:
- Onions, garlic
- Root vegetables: carrots, radishes, turnips
- Legumes: beans, peas
- Tomatoes
- Squashes: zucchini, summer squash
- Peppers: bell peppers, jalapenos, banana peppers, hot peppers
- Melons: cantaloupe, watermelon
- Berries
- Peaches
- Cucumbers
- Sweet corn
- Figs
- Herbs: basil, parsley, tarragon, dill, oregano, rosemary, thyme, mint, chives
Grill Masters, Get Ready
If you’re going to host a pool party, an outdoor kitchen is a convenient cornerstone to the ultimate backyard entertaining space. With today’s customizable, chef-inspired solutions, it’s easy to create the cook station of your dreams. Incorporate a wine fridge to maintain a crisp sauvignon blanc in triple digits. Add a side burner for crab or crawfish boils. And, of course, you’ll want plenty of prep space and storage to create dishes your guests will rave about. So, set out your cutlery, don your favorite apron, and get ready to prepare these succulent summer recipes.
Tomato & Peach Salad with Whipped Goat Cheese
This unexpected summer recipe pairing is bright and juicy with a little crunch and creaminess for the perfect marriage of flavors, colors, and textures.
INGREDIENTS
- 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 tbsp sherry vinegar
- 1 tbsp whole-grain mustard, preferably Maille brand
- ½ tsp fresh lemon zest, plus 2 teaspoons juice
- Kosher salt and black pepper
- ¼ small red onion, very thinly sliced
- 4oz soft goat cheese or feta
- 6 tbsp heavy cream
- 2 large heirloom tomatoes (about 14 ounces total), cored and cut into 1-inch wedges
- 2 medium peaches (about 12 ounces), halved, pitted and cut into ½-inch wedges
- 1 packed cup torn purslane, mâche or watercress (optional)
Mexican Street Corn Salad
To get that straight from the Austin food truck flavor, grill your sweet corn until it has a nice char. Try adding some diced bell pepper for crunch or jalapeño pepper for a zesty kick.
INGREDIENTS
- 4 ears fresh corn, husked
- extra-virgin olive oil, for brushing
- 1½ tbsp Mexican crema, sour cream, or mayo
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- zest and juice of 1 lime
- ⅓ cup chopped scallions
- ¼ cup crumbled Cotija, or feta cheese
- ¼ cup finely chopped fresh cilantro
- ¼ tsp smoked paprika, or chili powder
- ¼ tsp sea salt
- optional: diced jalapeño pepper or bell pepper
Chilled Avocado Apple Soup with Tiger Prawns
This chilled soup and light seafood topper simply screams summer! Unless you have herbs growing indoors, you’ll likely need to procure some cilantro from your local market.
INGREDIENTS
For the Soup
- 6 large green apples
- 1 lime
- 2 ripe avocados
- 3 tbsp coconut cream
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- salt
For the Garnish
- 12 cooked tiger prawns
- 1 avocado
- 1 bunch cilantro
- 1 bunch red radishes
- 2 tbsp coconut cream
Grilled Garlic Cilantro Chicken Skewers
Procure your garden peppers and zucchini to pair with this light but savory skewer to create the perfect poolside protein punch.
INGREDIENTS
- 1/2 cup fresh lime juice
- 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves and stems, plus more chopped leaves, for serving
- 1/3 cup canola oil
- 1 tbsp tequila
- 2 tsp kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
- 2 cloves garlic, chopped
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 3 to 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
- Zucchini, cut into 1/2-inch rounds
- 1 red bell pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 yellow bell pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces
World’s Best Key Lime Pie
We’re excited to try this summer recipe out in the Bonick test kitchen! Chef Andrew Zimmerman searched for the perfect key lime pie recipe and found it from a fireman in Florida. He recommends experimenting with lemons, limes, Meyer lemons, grapefruits, sour oranges, or any extra tart citrus fruit.
INGREDIENTS
Crust
- 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs (8 ounces)
- 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
- pinch of kosher salt
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
Filling
- 1 1/4 cups fresh key lime juice
- two 14-ounce cans sweetened condensed milk
- 8 large egg yolks
- pinch of kosher salt
- whipped cream, for serving
- key lime slices and zest, for garnish (optional)
Strawberry Basil Lemonade Popsicles
An uplifting summer recipe using garden herbs and berries, this fruity treat will delight young and old alike!
INGREDIENTS
- ¼ cup honey
- 1 ½ cups water, divided
- ¼ cup fresh basil leaves
- ⅓ cup lemon juice, freshly squeezed
- 1 cup fresh strawberries, hulled
Mocktails
Mocktails are all the rage these days. Not only are they healthier than alcohol, but there’s no hangover! The secret to the perfect mocktail is serving it in a fancy glass with all the trimmings so you don’t feel like you’re depriving yourself. Try these refreshing beverages for summer.
Cucumber Mint Mocktail
For many, being on a restrictive diet for health reasons has become a way of life. Food blogger Claire shares her delicious discoveries and the joys of mocktails with the world.
INGREDIENTS
- seedless cucumber
- elderflower cordial
- fresh mint leaves
- sparkling water
Spicy Peach Margarita Mocktail
Dry Sips Bottle Shop, East Dallas
This White Rock Lake neighborhood joint has a large selection of non-alcoholic libations. This recipe bottles the essence of Texas summers.
INGREDIENTS
- 1 oz fresh lime juice
- 1 oz jalapeño-infused simple syrup
- 8 oz No & Lo Sparkling Peach AF Wine
- Tahin to rim your glass
- jalapeños & peaches for garnish
Blackberry Mojito Mocktail
Easily turn this recipe from Driscoll’s berries into a mocktail by eliminating the alcohol. Experiment with different flavors of sparkling water to enhance the flavor profile.
INGREDIENTS
- 4 teaspoons sugar or simple syrup
- 1 tbsp. fresh lemon juice
- 1 tbsp. fresh lime juice
- 1/2 cup seltzer or sparkling water
- 12 blackberries
- 12 large mint leaves
- 6 to 8 ice cubes
Be the Hostest with the Mostest
Haven’t taken the plunge and installed that pool yet? Our savvy designers can walk you through every step of the pool design+build process to create a custom swimming pool that suits your space and aesthetic.
Interested in expanding your grill to an outdoor kitchen? From grill islands to complete modular kitchens, our teams can not only design your landscape plan, but they will curate, source, and install the ideal setup tailored to your preferred color scheme, layout, and usability.
Contact us today to plan your dream space so you can serve these summer recipes in your outdoor oasis next year.
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