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As the official start of summer approaches, we’re already looking forward to all the backyard barbecues and parkside picnics that fill the season—and there’s no better way to ease into warm-weather entertaining than having a little Memorial Day get-together. Even if the May holiday is technically a spring celebration, it’s a great way to open your doors—and your dinner menu—to summer.
44 Simple, Summery Recipes to Make for Memorial Day Weekend
As always, Ina Garten has volunteered her holiday menu as inspiration, and we can’t wait to incorporate some of her suggested recipes into our own cookout. “In honor of Memorial Day, I’m doing a week of classic American dishes, starting with my take on an old-fashioned ‘wedge salad’ -Crunchy Iceberg Salad with Creamy Blue Cheese Dressing,” Garten shared onInstagram. “It’s SO good that you’ll want to make it all the time!”
Garten’s menu also includes a side ofCrusty Baked Potatoes with Whipped Feta, which levels up a standard side with a tangy, cheesy topping and special rub on the skin. Once the potatoes have been vigorously washed and dried, she rolls her potatoes in olive oil and a food-processed mixture of fresh rosemary, fresh thyme, lemon zest and salt.The resultis a crispy, flavorful potato skin with tender, fluffy tater flesh in the middle. She tops the split potatoes with a dollop of whipped feta and a sprinkling of chopped fresh chives.
The main event on Garten’s menu is herGrilled New York Strip Steaks, which she seasons with a coffee-chipotle rub that has our mouths watering. In her post about the steaks, she says she was never totally comfortable grilling steaks until she got some advice from an expert pal of hers. Now, to ensure the best possible steak, she opts for a thick cut—about 1 1/2 inches—and sets her charcoal grill up so that one side is piping hot and the other side is unheated, with no coals warming the grate. She sears the steaks on the hot side of the grill, letting them cook for two minutes on each side. Then she moves the steaks to the cool side, drops the lid on her grill, and lets the steaks cook for an additional eight minutes.
The result, Garten says, is a perfectly cooked rare steak with a red, juicy middle. If you prefer a medium steak, she suggests bumping up the covered cook time to 10 minutes. She transfers the steaks to a cutting board and slices them against the grain, making this recipe delicious on its own or as a part of a flavorful summer salad, like ourGrilled Steak Salad with Corn, Cucumbers & Sweet Onion Dressing.
The final act of Garten’s Memorial Day soiree is aStrawberry Rhubarb Crisp, yet another ofher easy, classic rhubarb sweets. The combination of tart rhubarb, juicy strawberries and aromatic orange makes this dessert deliciously fresh, and the oatmeal crumble on top brings in an extra buttery sweetness that will win over any guest. Dish up a warm piece with a scoop of vanilla ice cream to end your meal on a high note. No matter what else is on your weekend menu, opting for simple, shareable dishes like these from Ina Garten will keep the stress level to a minimum. Pair it all with a batch cocktail—like Garten’sAperol Spritzer, another addition to her Memorial Day docket—to make your holiday weekend a fun, restful one spent with friends and family.
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