Four Savory Summer Vegetable Recipes

Want to get creative with your garden's harvests and make some memorable meals this summer? Try these four excellent recipes that bring out the best in summer produce.

Summer Vegetable Stir-Fry with Couscous

 INGREDIENTS

• 2 cups diced peeled eggplant
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt

• 1 1/2 cups water
• 1 cup couscous
• 2 1/2 tablespoons canola oil
• 2 1/2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
• 1 cup diced peeled carrots
• 1 cup diced zucchini
• 1 cup diced yellow crookneck squash
• 1 cup small broccoli florets
• 1 cup diced red bell pepper
• 1/2 cup diced red onion
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 4 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint
• 2 tablespoons pine nuts, toasted

PREPARATION

Toss eggplant and 1 teaspoon salt in medium bowl; let stand 30 minutes. Rinse and drain eggplant. Pat dry.

Bring 1 1/2 cups water and 1/2 teaspoon salt to boil in large saucepan. Stir in couscous. Remove from heat. Cover; let stand 10 minutes. Uncover; fluff with fork.

Whisk 1 1/2 tablespoons oil and vinegar in small bowl. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in wok or large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add eggplant and carrots; stir-fry 3 minutes. Add zucchini and next 5 ingredients; stir-fry until vegetables are crisp-tender, about 2 minutes. Add couscous and vinegar mixture; stir-fry 1 minute. Stir in basil and mint. Season with salt and pepper. Sprinkle with pine nuts.

Summer Vegetable Succotash

INGREDIENTS

• 1 lb small (1-inch) yellow-fleshed potatoes such as Yukon Gold
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil (preferably corn oil)
• 1/2 stick (1/4 cup) unsalted butter
• 2 cups fresh corn kernels (from 3 ears; preferably yellow and white)
• 8 oz baby pattypan squash, trimmed and quartered
• 8 oz frozen shelled edamame (fresh soybeans) or baby lima beans (1 1/2 cups), cooked according to package directions and cooled
• 1/4 cup finely chopped red onion
• 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh chives

PREPARATION

Cover potatoes with cold salted water by 1 inch in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer until potatoes are just tender, about 20 minutes. Drain and cool, then cut into bite-size pieces.

Heat oil and 1 tablespoon butter in a well-seasoned 10-inch cast-iron skillet over high heat until foam subsides, then sauté potatoes with salt and pepper to taste, turning once or twice, until nicely crusted, 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer to a serving bowl.

Sauté corn and squash in remaining 3 tablespoons butter in skillet over moderately high heat, stirring, until crisp-tender, about 5 minutes. Stir in beans and sauté, stirring, until heated through. Season with salt and pepper and add to potatoes with onion and chives, stirring to combine.

Cold Sesame Noodles with Summer Vegetables

INGREDIENTS

• 1/3 cup unseasoned rice vinegar
• 1/3 cup vegetable oil
• 1 tablespoon Sriracha (hot chili sauce)
• 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
• 8 cups matchstick-size pieces mixed summer vegetables (such as carrots, radishes, cucumbers, and bell peppers; about 1 1/4 pounds)
• Kosher salt, freshly ground pepper
• 8 ounces buckwheat soba (Japanese-style noodles) or vermicelli noodles
• 1 cup (loosely packed) cilantro leaves with tender stems
• 3 scallions, thinly sliced
• 1 tablespoon black or white sesame seeds

PREPARATION

Whisk first four ingredients in a large bowl. Add vegetables; toss to coat. Season with salt and pepper.

Cook noodles in a large pot of boiling salted water, stirring occasionally, until al dente; drain. Run noodles under cold water to cool them; drain well and add to bowl with vegetables. Add cilantro and scallions; season to taste with salt and pepper. Sprinkle sesame seeds over and serve.

Orzo with Grilled Shrimp, Summer Vegetables, and Pesto Vinaigrette

INGREDIENTS

• 8 ounces orzo (about 1 1/3 cups)
• 6 1/2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
• 4 tablespoons red wine vinegar, divided
• 2 medium zucchini or summer squash (about 9 ounces total), cut lengthwise into 1/4-inch-thick slices
• 1 red or yellow bell pepper, quartered
• 3 tablespoons purchased pesto
• 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
• 1 pound uncooked large shrimp, peeled, deveined
• 2 heirloom tomatoes (8 to 10 ounces total), cored, cut into 1/2-inch cubes (about 2 cups)
• 1/2 cup thinly sliced fresh basil leaves plus sprigs for garnish
• 1 8-ounce ball fresh mozzarella cheese, cut into 1/2-inch cubes

 
PREPARATION

Cook orzo in large pot of boiling salted water until tender but still firm to bite, stirring occasionally. Drain. Rinse with cold water; drain well. Transfer to large bowl and toss with 1 tablespoon oil.

Prepare barbecue (medium-high heat). Whisk 2 tablespoons oil and 2 tablespoons vinegar in small bowl. Brush zucchini and bell pepper with oil mixture, then sprinkle with salt and pepper. Whisk pesto, lime juice, remaining 3 1/2 tablespoons oil, and remaining 2 tablespoons vinegar in small bowl for pesto vinaigrette. Place shrimp in medium bowl. Add 2 tablespoons pesto vinaigrette; toss to coat.

Grill zucchini and bell pepper until crisptender, about 3 minutes per side for zucchini and 4 minutes per side for bell pepper. Transfer to work surface. Sprinkle shrimp with salt and pepper; grill until charred and cooked through, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Place shrimp in bowl with orzo. Chop zucchini and bell pepper; add to bowl with orzo. Add remaining vinaigrette, tomatoes, sliced basil, and mozzarella; toss to combine. Season to taste with salt and pepper. DO AHEAD: Can be made 2 hours ahead. Cover; chill.

Garnish with basil sprigs and serve cold or at room temperature.