Summer salads and sides
Keep things fresh this summer with our easy salads and sides. These low-effort, high-flavour recipes are all packed with seasonal produce.
Salads are perfect for lunch or supper on sultry summer days. Why swelter at the stove? Instead, throw together a colourful Cos wedge salad, elegant courgette, blackcurrant and feta salad or peach caprese.
Our versatile summer sides are perfect for barbecues, picnics and other gatherings. Everyone loves a retro pasta salad (try this simple runner bean one to use up a glut). Potato salads are a perennial crowd-pleaser. Try verdant green potato salad packed with peas and broccoli, or elevate this spud dish into something special with Jersey royals and brown crab.
Throw in dips, healthy bean dishes, simple tapas and colourful barbecue sides and you’ve got the recipe for a delicious summer.
Showing 1-16 of 247 recipes
Save recipe
Aubergine recipes
Charred aubergines with caponata dressing
This summer side dish of charred aubergines is brought to life with a vibrant caponata dressing spiked with capers, olives and raisins.
-
Easy
Save recipe
Summer stew recipes and pot roasts
Greek-style green bean and potato stew
This delicious summer stew is based on the Greek dish fasolakia: green beans and potatoes cooked down with tomatoes and olive oil.
-
Easy
Save recipe
Easy orzo recipes
Orzo russian salad with tuna
This russian salad uses orzo for a delicious pasta side. It also has a warm Spanish flavour with tuna, eggs, olives and roasted red peppers.
-
Easy
Save recipe
Dip recipes
Burnt sweetcorn soured cream dip with candied jalapeños
This addictive soured cream dip is excellent with nachos or dolloped on tacos. The charred corn adds an intriguing smoky sweetness.
-
Easy
Save recipe
Pasta salad recipes
Pink and green prawn and pasta salad
Debora Robertson's verdant pasta salad is crammed with juicy pink prawns. Perfect for a laid-back summer dinner in the garden.
-
Easy
Save recipe
Fennel recipes
Roast fennel quinoa salad with basil yogurt dressing
This fennel salad is packed with roasted summer vegetables and finished generously with a vibrant basil and lemon dressing.
-
Easy
Save recipe
Tuna recipes
Tunisian-style chopped tuna salad
A popular salad across Tunisia. Our tuna chopped salad is fresh, healthy and ready in just 15 minutes – 10 if you’re a fast chopper!
-
Easy
Save recipe
Lentil recipes
Puy lentil and tomato salad with jammy onions and crispy feta
This lentil salad combines the freshest tomatoes, lightly marinated, and red onions prepared two ways. Add crispy feta for creamy crunch.
-
Easy
Save recipe
Summer salads and sides
Parma ham, halloumi, strawberry and mint
This speedy parma ham starter pairs the ham with salty halloumi cheese, sweet strawberries and fresh mint.
-
Easy
Save recipe
Snacks and nibbles
Crudités with dill mayonnaise
This gorgeous green mayo gets its colour from a simple dill-infused oil. Serve it with a crudités platter for an easy summer starter.
-
Easy
Save recipe
Pepper recipes
Crispy smashed potatoes with green romesco
Romesco is a fabulous Spanish sauce made from grilled peppers and almonds. It's fantastic with these crispy smashed potatoes.
-
Easy
Save recipe
Recipes using chickpeas
Chickpeas with chorizo and herbs
Dish up an effortless weeknight dinner of chickpeas with chorizo and fresh herbs. This dish can also be made ahead for a barbecue side dish.
-
Easy
Save recipe
Lettuce recipes
Charred lettuce with boiled eggs, anchovies and parmesan crisps
This easy lettuce dish is a bit like a ‘deconstructed’ caesar salad. Charred lettuce adds both smoky savouriness and fresh crunch.
-
Easy
Save recipe
Lettuce recipes
Stir-fried romaine lettuce with sesame
Stir-fried lettuce is quick, with a good balance of crunchy and juicy leaves. Coat romaine in sesame seeds and tahini for a nutty contrast.
-
Easy
Save recipe
Lettuce recipes
Cos wedge salad
Flavourful cos lettuces are perfect for making a wedge salad with blue cheese dressing. Make this cult US salad with our easy recipe.
-
Easy
Save recipe
New potato recipes
Patates antinaxtes (pan-fried new potatoes with red wine and coriander)
Georgina Hayden shares her recipe for patates antinaxtes, cracked new potatoes pan-fried with red wine and coriander.
-
Easy
Subscribe to our magazine
Food stories, skills and tested recipes, straight to your door... Enjoy 5 issues for just £5 with our special introductory offer.
Subscribe
Unleash your inner chef
Looking for inspiration? Receive the latest recipes with our newsletter