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Photo: Photographer: Rachel Marek, Food stylist: Holly Dreesman
July brought us record-breaking high temperatures, so it’s no wonder thatEatingWellreaders were clicking on hydrating recipes the most. A majority of these dishes highlight refreshing seasonal ingredients like cucumber, spinach, tomato and zucchini, making them the perfect meals for keeping cool and energized. Recipes like our Lemon-Blueberry Cheesecake Bars and The Best Tomato Sandwich to Make All Summer Long are mouthwatering ways to beat the heat.
01of 20The Only Chicken Marinade Recipe You’ll Ever NeedView RecipePhotographer: Rachel Marek, Food stylist: Holly DreesmanThis big, bold and easy chicken marinade recipe was adapted from a local Vermont restaurant and caterer. We make it in huge batches and freeze the extra so we always have it on hand to use with chicken thighs, breasts and drumsticks. Also try it with extra-firm tofu, salmon, duck, pork, beef or lamb.
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The Only Chicken Marinade Recipe You’ll Ever Need
View Recipe
Photographer: Rachel Marek, Food stylist: Holly Dreesman
This big, bold and easy chicken marinade recipe was adapted from a local Vermont restaurant and caterer. We make it in huge batches and freeze the extra so we always have it on hand to use with chicken thighs, breasts and drumsticks. Also try it with extra-firm tofu, salmon, duck, pork, beef or lamb.
02of 20Lemon-Blueberry Cheesecake Bars Are the Perfect Summer TreatView RecipePhotographer: Rachel Marek, Food stylist: Holly DreesmanThese lemon-blueberry cheesecake bars feature the rich, creamy flavor of cheesecake without the fuss. A thin layer of cheesecake flavored with lemon surrounds a mound of fresh blueberries bursting with sweet fruity flavor. You can use this easy recipe as a template, easily swapping out the blueberries for another berry or chopped fruit. Lime zest and juice can be used in place of lemon.
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Lemon-Blueberry Cheesecake Bars Are the Perfect Summer Treat
These lemon-blueberry cheesecake bars feature the rich, creamy flavor of cheesecake without the fuss. A thin layer of cheesecake flavored with lemon surrounds a mound of fresh blueberries bursting with sweet fruity flavor. You can use this easy recipe as a template, easily swapping out the blueberries for another berry or chopped fruit. Lime zest and juice can be used in place of lemon.
03of 20Cucumber Chickpea Salad with Feta & LemonView RecipePhotographer: Rachel Marek, Food stylist: Annie ProbstThis cucumber chickpea salad with feta and lemon is tangy and refreshing. You can enjoy it on its own or toss it with greens for an easy lunch or dinner. We love the grassy flavor of dill, but another fresh herb like oregano, parsley or chives will work well in its place.
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Cucumber Chickpea Salad with Feta & Lemon
Photographer: Rachel Marek, Food stylist: Annie Probst
This cucumber chickpea salad with feta and lemon is tangy and refreshing. You can enjoy it on its own or toss it with greens for an easy lunch or dinner. We love the grassy flavor of dill, but another fresh herb like oregano, parsley or chives will work well in its place.
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The Best Tomato Sandwich to Make All Summer Long
Photographer: Greg DuPree, Food Stylist: Anna Kelly, Prop Stylist: Christina Brockman
05of 20The Last Avocado Toast Recipe You’ll Ever NeedView RecipeJamie Vespa MS, RDThis is the easiest—and the last—avocado toast recipe you’ll ever need to know. Memorize the recipe, then use it as a jumping off point for your favorite avocado toast riffs. Put an egg on it, top it with tuna salad or crown it with fluffy alfalfa sprouts for a healthy and satisfying meal. You can mix up the toppings too—we love Japanese furikake or everything bagel seasoning.
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The Last Avocado Toast Recipe You’ll Ever Need
Jamie Vespa MS, RD
This is the easiest—and the last—avocado toast recipe you’ll ever need to know. Memorize the recipe, then use it as a jumping off point for your favorite avocado toast riffs. Put an egg on it, top it with tuna salad or crown it with fluffy alfalfa sprouts for a healthy and satisfying meal. You can mix up the toppings too—we love Japanese furikake or everything bagel seasoning.
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Bang Bang Cabbage Slaw Is Crunchy Perfection
07of 20Smashed & Loaded ZucchiniView RecipePhotographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Torie Cox, Prop Stylist: Claire SpollenEverything bagel seasoning makes these zucchini bites—the onion, garlic and nutty sesame seeds complement tangy sour cream, Cheddar cheese, bacon and chives just like a classic loaded baked potato. Salting the zucchini and wicking away liquid with paper towels helps the slices brown in the oven, as does keeping them toward the edges of the baking sheet while they roast.
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Smashed & Loaded Zucchini
Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Torie Cox, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen
Everything bagel seasoning makes these zucchini bites—the onion, garlic and nutty sesame seeds complement tangy sour cream, Cheddar cheese, bacon and chives just like a classic loaded baked potato. Salting the zucchini and wicking away liquid with paper towels helps the slices brown in the oven, as does keeping them toward the edges of the baking sheet while they roast.
08of 205-Ingredient Zucchini-Feta Roll-UpsView RecipePhotographer: Rachel Marek, Food stylist: Annie ProbstThese zucchini-feta roll-ups are a quick and easy appetizer to pull together, and the recipe is easily doubled (or tripled!) for a larger gathering. You can use summer squash in addition to the zucchini for a pop of yellow color. They are plenty flavorful on their own, but they can also be served with marinara sauce or pesto for dipping.
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5-Ingredient Zucchini-Feta Roll-Ups
These zucchini-feta roll-ups are a quick and easy appetizer to pull together, and the recipe is easily doubled (or tripled!) for a larger gathering. You can use summer squash in addition to the zucchini for a pop of yellow color. They are plenty flavorful on their own, but they can also be served with marinara sauce or pesto for dipping.
09of 20Cucumber SandwichView RecipePhotographer / Antonis Achilleos, Prop Stylist / Kay Clarke, Food Stylist / Ruth BlackburnThis creamy, crunchy cucumber sandwich recipe strikes a lovely balance between decadent and light. The cream cheese-yogurt spread complements the crisp refreshing cucumber while the hearty flavor and texture of the whole-wheat bread holds everything together.
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Cucumber Sandwich
Photographer / Antonis Achilleos, Prop Stylist / Kay Clarke, Food Stylist / Ruth Blackburn
This creamy, crunchy cucumber sandwich recipe strikes a lovely balance between decadent and light. The cream cheese-yogurt spread complements the crisp refreshing cucumber while the hearty flavor and texture of the whole-wheat bread holds everything together.
10of 20Creamy Oven-Roasted Zucchini & Summer SquashView RecipePhotographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Ana Kelly, Prop Stylist: Claire SpollenThis wonderfully creamy and tender oven-roasted zucchini and summer squash draws inspiration from Thomas Keller’s viral zucchini recipe. The squash is scored, then roasted whole, allowing garlic to seep into the center while a crispy top forms in the pan. Enjoy it alongside roasted or grilled meat or fish. It’s perfect as-is, but also tastes great topped with chopped tomato and a drizzle of balsamic glaze, pesto or romesco sauce.
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Creamy Oven-Roasted Zucchini & Summer Squash
Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Ana Kelly, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen
This wonderfully creamy and tender oven-roasted zucchini and summer squash draws inspiration from Thomas Keller’s viral zucchini recipe. The squash is scored, then roasted whole, allowing garlic to seep into the center while a crispy top forms in the pan. Enjoy it alongside roasted or grilled meat or fish. It’s perfect as-is, but also tastes great topped with chopped tomato and a drizzle of balsamic glaze, pesto or romesco sauce.
11of 20Giada’s Zucchini CarbonaraView RecipeElizabeth NewmanThis meatless version of spaghetti carbonara has a similar depth of flavor to the original, thanks to browning the zucchini before adding it to the pasta. And, of course, it has all the rich, creamy goodness you look for in a carbonara.
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Giada’s Zucchini Carbonara
Elizabeth Newman
This meatless version of spaghetti carbonara has a similar depth of flavor to the original, thanks to browning the zucchini before adding it to the pasta. And, of course, it has all the rich, creamy goodness you look for in a carbonara.
12of 20Lemonade MimosasView RecipePhotographer: Greg DuPree, Food Stylist: Anna Kelly, Prop Stylist: Christina BrockmanFresh-squeezed lemonade perks up the citrus notes in sparkling wine in this twist on a classic mimosa. We like a dry sparkling wine like Champagne or even rosé in this refreshing summer drink to keep the sweetness subtle. For a nonalcoholic version, use lemon-flavored seltzer in place of the wine, or use an alcohol-free wine that has a hint of effervescence.
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Lemonade Mimosas
Fresh-squeezed lemonade perks up the citrus notes in sparkling wine in this twist on a classic mimosa. We like a dry sparkling wine like Champagne or even rosé in this refreshing summer drink to keep the sweetness subtle. For a nonalcoholic version, use lemon-flavored seltzer in place of the wine, or use an alcohol-free wine that has a hint of effervescence.
13of 20High-Protein Grilled Chicken SaladView RecipePhotographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Ana Kelly, Prop Stylist: Claire SpollenThis grilled chicken salad is perfect for summer entertaining. You can make the dressing, marinate the chicken, pickle the onions and slice your vegetables a few hours ahead of time, then just grill and assemble the salad after the guests arrive.
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High-Protein Grilled Chicken Salad
This grilled chicken salad is perfect for summer entertaining. You can make the dressing, marinate the chicken, pickle the onions and slice your vegetables a few hours ahead of time, then just grill and assemble the salad after the guests arrive.
14of 20Chicken & Zucchini CasseroleView RecipePhotographer /Antonis Achilleos, Prop Stylist / Kay Clarke, Food Stylist / Emily Nabors HallThis baked chicken and zucchini casserole is creamy, hearty and low-carb! The whole family will love this easy casserole, plus it’s a great way to get the kids to eat their veggies.
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Chicken & Zucchini Casserole
Photographer /Antonis Achilleos, Prop Stylist / Kay Clarke, Food Stylist / Emily Nabors Hall
This baked chicken and zucchini casserole is creamy, hearty and low-carb! The whole family will love this easy casserole, plus it’s a great way to get the kids to eat their veggies.
15of 20Spaghetti & Spinach with Sun-Dried Tomato Cream SauceView RecipePhotography / Kelsey Hansen, Styling / Greg LunaTo achieve flavor quickly in this sun-dried tomato pasta recipe, we use the oil from sun-dried tomatoes to create the base of the cream sauce. Meanwhile, the residual heat of the pasta wilts the spinach in record time for a fast weeknight dinner.
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Spaghetti & Spinach with Sun-Dried Tomato Cream Sauce
Photography / Kelsey Hansen, Styling / Greg Luna
To achieve flavor quickly in this sun-dried tomato pasta recipe, we use the oil from sun-dried tomatoes to create the base of the cream sauce. Meanwhile, the residual heat of the pasta wilts the spinach in record time for a fast weeknight dinner.
16of 20Tomato-Cucumber Salad with DillView RecipePhotographer: Rachel Marek, Food stylist: Annie ProbstThis refreshing tomato-cucumber salad is commonly served all summer long in Ukraine. Since it’s such a simple recipe, the freshest, ripest vegetables really make it shine. Depending on the family’s traditions, this salad can also be dressed with sour cream; this is a common Polish preparation as well. But in the author’s family, it’s all about the sunflower oil. Serve with dark rye bread, particularly to sop up all of the juices at the bottom of the bowl. For a complete Ukrainian summer meal, serve the salad with salty pickled herring and boiled new potatoes tossed with sunflower oil and dill.
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Tomato-Cucumber Salad with Dill
This refreshing tomato-cucumber salad is commonly served all summer long in Ukraine. Since it’s such a simple recipe, the freshest, ripest vegetables really make it shine. Depending on the family’s traditions, this salad can also be dressed with sour cream; this is a common Polish preparation as well. But in the author’s family, it’s all about the sunflower oil. Serve with dark rye bread, particularly to sop up all of the juices at the bottom of the bowl. For a complete Ukrainian summer meal, serve the salad with salty pickled herring and boiled new potatoes tossed with sunflower oil and dill.
17of 20Classic Zucchini CasseroleView RecipeJennifer CauseyThis comforting zucchini casserole with buttery crackers and cheese is the perfect recipe for your bumper crop of zucchini. Fresh thyme is lightly floral while fresh ground pepper adds kick to this creamy summer casserole.
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Classic Zucchini Casserole
Jennifer Causey
This comforting zucchini casserole with buttery crackers and cheese is the perfect recipe for your bumper crop of zucchini. Fresh thyme is lightly floral while fresh ground pepper adds kick to this creamy summer casserole.
18of 20This Chicken & Quinoa Casserole Packs an Impressive 27 Grams of ProteinView RecipePhotographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Torie Cox, Prop Stylist: Claire SpollenThis aromatic and flavorful dish feels like veggie pizza in casserole form with fresh basil, herb-spiked diced tomatoes and ooey-gooey melted cheese on top. If you can’t find fresh mozzarella ciliegine, buy a larger ball and tear it into pieces. Preheating your baking sheets helps encourage caramelization of the roasted veggies, which adds layers of flavor to this savory dinner.
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This Chicken & Quinoa Casserole Packs an Impressive 27 Grams of Protein
This aromatic and flavorful dish feels like veggie pizza in casserole form with fresh basil, herb-spiked diced tomatoes and ooey-gooey melted cheese on top. If you can’t find fresh mozzarella ciliegine, buy a larger ball and tear it into pieces. Preheating your baking sheets helps encourage caramelization of the roasted veggies, which adds layers of flavor to this savory dinner.
19of 20Spinach & Mushroom QuicheView RecipeThis healthy vegetarian quiche recipe is as simple as it gets. It’s a quiche without the fussy crust! It’s filled with sweet wild mushrooms and savory Gruyère cheese. Enjoy it for breakfast or brunch, or serve it with a light salad for lunch.
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Spinach & Mushroom Quiche
This healthy vegetarian quiche recipe is as simple as it gets. It’s a quiche without the fussy crust! It’s filled with sweet wild mushrooms and savory Gruyère cheese. Enjoy it for breakfast or brunch, or serve it with a light salad for lunch.
20of 2015-Minute Pesto ShrimpView RecipePhotographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Ana Kelly, Prop Stylist: Claire SpollenThis versatile and quick pesto shrimp can be served alongside a hunk of crusty bread, over pasta or rice, or even used as a topping for pizza. Look for shrimp that are free from preservatives, which can alter the texture and add sodium to the dish. We like the brightness and fresh flavor of refrigerated pesto, but a homemadeclassic basil pestowill make the dish extra special.
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15-Minute Pesto Shrimp
This versatile and quick pesto shrimp can be served alongside a hunk of crusty bread, over pasta or rice, or even used as a topping for pizza. Look for shrimp that are free from preservatives, which can alter the texture and add sodium to the dish. We like the brightness and fresh flavor of refrigerated pesto, but a homemadeclassic basil pestowill make the dish extra special.
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