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
Golden, griddled halloumi on skewers with oregano, lemon and olive oil. It is the dish my summers are built around - tuck it into a warm flatbread with tzatziki and you have the whole Greek taverna at home. Get the recipe →
2. Peri Peri Chicken
Smoky, spicy, and made for the barbecue. My homemade peri peri sauce works as both a marinade and a drizzle, so every bite has that flame-grilled kick. Get the recipe →
3. Chicken Shawarma with Laffa Bread
All the char and spice of the street stall, wrapped in soft homemade laffa. Grill the marinated chicken, pile on the salad and sauce, and eat it out in the garden. Get the recipe →
4. Grilled Aubergine & Halloumi
The vegetarian centrepiece your barbecue needs. Charred aubergine and halloumi with a bright dressing - hearty enough to be the main event. Get the recipe →
5. Lamb Kofta
Juicy spiced lamb skewers straight off the grill. Tuck them into flatbread with salad and a dollop of yoghurt for the perfect handheld summer dinner. Get the recipe →
6. Greek Flatbread
Soft, pillowy and made for scooping and wrapping. It turns any of the grills above into a proper feast - make a big batch, they vanish fast. Get the recipe →
7. Greek Tzatziki
Cool, garlicky and fresh, this yoghurt-and-cucumber dip is the sidekick to everything on this list. Five minutes to make, and it cuts right through the smoky char. Get the recipe →
8. Roasted Tomato Salsa (Salsa Asada)
Smoky, tangy and vibrant, the heart of any Mexican spread. Spoon it over tacos, scoop it with chips, or serve it alongside grilled meats. Get the recipe →
9. Vegan Soba Noodle & Tofu Salad
Cold, refreshing and full of Japanese-inspired flavour. A make-ahead noodle salad that is ideal for a hot day or a picnic. Get the recipe →
10. Sernik na Zimno (No-Bake Cheesecake)
Light, creamy and set in the fridge - no oven needed on a warm day. The perfect cool finish to a summer meal. 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!