10 Best Summer Recipes (Easy Grills, Salads & Desserts)

The best summer recipes are the ones that let you cook outside, eat with your hands, and keep the kitchen cool. When the sun is out, I fire up the grill on my allotment, lean on fresh herbs and lemon, and crack open a nice cold Polish Piwo (beer) while everything chars.

Here are 10 of my favourite summer recipes from the blog: smoky skewers for the barbecue, cooling dips and salads to go alongside, and a no-bake dessert to finish. Mix and match them into one big spread, or pick a couple for an easy weeknight dinner. Smacznego!

1. Halloumi Souvlaki

Halloumi Souvlaki wrap with grilled halloumi, roasted vegetables, and tzatziki sauce in pita bread, served on a slate platter.

This golden, griddled halloumi souvlaki is the Greek vegetarian showstopper my summers are built around - skewers of oregano-and-lemon halloumi tucked into soft Greek flatbread with roasted aubergine, sun-dried tomato and cool homemade tzatziki. Easy, fresh and full of taverna flavour. Get the recipe →

2. Peri Peri Chicken

Delicious peri peri chicken supreme plated beautifully with a side of tangy sauce, complemented by golden crispy fries in the background.

My homemade peri peri chicken comes with a proper from-scratch peri peri seasoning and sauce - a fiery, garlicky blend built around bird’s eye chillies. Marinate, grill and serve for that smoky, spicy Nando’s-style hit, made exactly to your own heat level at home. Get the recipe →

3. Chicken Shawarma with Laffa Bread

Freshly grilled chicken shawarma wraps with homemade laffa bread, shredded lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, and pickled vegetables, drizzled with garlic sauce.

This homemade chicken shawarma is spiced and marinated with my own Lebanese blend, then piled into warm, fluffy laffa bread with garlic sauce and fresh salad. A proper Middle Eastern shawarma wrap that is surprisingly simple to make - and my step-by-step guide covers the laffa bread too. Get the recipe →

4. Grilled Aubergine & Halloumi

A plated stack of roasted aubergine and halloumi, topped with balsamic-glazed roasted peppers, surrounded by charred cherry tomatoes and crispy halloumi pieces, garnished with fresh basil and kale. A flavorful Mediterranean dish, perfect as a vegetarian main course or BBQ side.

This grilled aubergine and halloumi is a perfect summer vegetarian meal - tender, balsamic-glazed aubergine, crispy golden halloumi and sweet roasted tomatoes and peppers, all layered with Mediterranean flavour. Serve it as a light main, a mezze plate or a warm salad. Get the recipe →

5. Lamb Kofta

Side view of skewered lamb kofta nestled on a bed of Kisir (Turkish Tabbouleh), drizzled with a creamy yogurt sauce, exuding a rich blend of Middle Eastern flavours ready to tantalize the taste buds.

These lamb koftas are packed with the warm flavours of the Middle East - juicy, well-spiced minced lamb, plenty of fresh herbs and a lovely char from the grill or barbecue. Easy to shape and quick to cook, they are made for summer grilling with flatbread and dips. Get the recipe →

6. Greek Flatbread

Two golden-brown flatbreads on a cooling rack with a dough ball nearby, highlighting the rustic texture and freshly cooked appearance.

This soft, homemade Greek flatbread comes together with no oven and no fuss - pillowy inside, lightly crisp outside, and perfect for wrapping souvlaki or scooping up tzatziki. Once you have made this easy flatbread from scratch, you will never go back to shop-bought. Get the recipe →

7. Greek Tzatziki

Tzatziki sauce in a rustic bowl drizzled with olive oil.

Authentic Greek tzatziki is the cool, creamy dip that ties a whole summer spread together - thick strained yoghurt, grated cucumber, garlic, lemon and dill. Serve it with souvlaki, gyros, grilled meats or warm flatbread; it takes minutes and keeps beautifully in the fridge. Get the recipe →

8. Roasted Tomato Salsa (Salsa Asada)

Close-up of a hand dipping a tortilla chip into a bowl of homemade roasted salsa. The salsa is rich, chunky, and features charred tomatoes, onions, and peppers, with visible herbs for added flavor, creating an inviting, appetizing dip.

This roasted tomato salsa (salsa asada) is my go-to for tortilla chips and tacos - a traditional Mexican sauce with the deep, smoky flavour you only get from charring the tomatoes, chilli and garlic first. Blitz it chunky or smooth for the perfect party dip. Get the recipe →

9. Vegan Soba Noodle & Tofu Salad

A vibrant Vegan Soba Noodle & Tofu Salad topped with sesame seeds, colorful vegetables, and lime on a textured ceramic plate.

This vegan soba noodle and tofu salad is a light, refreshing summer meal ready in about 30 minutes - nutty buckwheat noodles and crisp tofu tossed in a savoury, Japanese-inspired miso dressing. Healthy, satisfying and just as good served cold from the fridge the next day. Get the recipe →

10. Sernik na Zimno (No-Bake Cheesecake)

Slice of Polish no-bake cheesecake (sernik na zimno) with strawberry jelly and fresh blueberries on a white plate

Sernik na zimno is Poland’s cool, creamy no-bake cheesecake - light and gently tangy, set over a biscuit base and topped with strawberry jelly and fresh fruit. No oven required, it is the perfect easy, make-ahead summer dessert for warm days and gatherings. Get the recipe →

That is my summer table - grill something smoky, keep a cool dip and a fresh salad alongside, and finish with that no-bake cheesecake. If you cook any of these, I would love to hear how they turned out in the comments. Smacznego!

10 Best Summer Recipes: Grills, Fresh Dips & Cool Treats