Food

Break out the blender! Kids are always in a hurry, so a smoothie is a great way for them to get a quick nutritional punch.

Make dinner a DIY taco bar so all your time goes into prepping, not serving! Omega-3 rich salmon cooks up quickly. And since the oven is already on, make use of the heat to roast tomatoes for salsa (no chopping!). Use arugula or baby spinach instead of shredded iceberg lettuce to fill tacos—more nutrients and less prep!

With its heart-healthy benefits, the Mediterranean diet has long been touted as a smart and enjoyable way to eat. A typical meal is primarily made from vegetables, pulses (such as beans), whole grains, and either lean meat or fish with a liberal dose of olive oil. The cooking moves quickly in this dish so it’s best to prep all ingredients before starting.

This is a twist on the usual bowl of pasta for dinner. The sauce is made with coconut milk and almond butter, so while it’s über creamy, there isn’t any dairy. Substitute wheat pasta with brown rice or quinoa noodles if you want a gluten-free option (make sure your soy sauce is wheat-free, if that’s the case).

Use a food processor for speedy prep. Puréeing the onions and tomatoes with spices helps the flavours blend faster, which means cooking time is slashed.

This is a filling one-pot soup for dinner. Use time while the noodles hydrate to prep all the fresh ingredients.

These giants of the fungi world have a meaty bite that will appease even the most carnivorous burger lover. The stuffed mushrooms are wonderful as a bunless knife and fork affair or try serving between slices of toasted focaccia or ciabatta.

Black beans and rice give these patties some heft, not to mention serious amounts of fibre. The creamy avocado topping marries perfectly with the burgers and delivers a laudable amount of heart-healthy monounsaturated fat.

Replete with superfoods, these burgers are loaded with fibre. But don’t think they’ll taste like cardboard. Chipotle gives the sauce some smoky heat, but you can also use smoked paprika, cayenne, or even curry powder if you prefer.

Infusing these burgers with creamy goat cheese and adorning them with a lively pesto solves the concern that lentil burgers are always too, well, earthy. In lieu of zucchini, other good vegetable topping options include tomato, cucumber, and/or grilled eggplant slices.

For tofu lovers, these Thai-influenced burgers won’t disappoint. The heat of the grill actually amplifies the natural sweetness of the pineapple, making it a contender for one of the best burger toppings around.

This tart is a light and refreshing way to crown a meal. You can prepare all the parts ahead of time so that all you do is assemble before serving. Goats’ milk yogurt adds an extra depth of flavour to the tart, but it can easily be replaced with plain yogurt.

This fresh and delicately textured dish is perfect as an appetizer or a light lunch. The salmon provides a good hit of protein and heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Freezing salmon makes it easier to slice paper-thin.

Raita is a yogurt-based dip or sauce often used in Indian cuisine. As a general rule of thumb, what grows together goes together. This time of year, both zucchini and melon are prolific in the garden. This dish would be perfect as part of a lazy summer Sunday brunch.

These colourful, savoury pickles are the ideal combination of sweet, salty, and slightly tart. They would make a great addition to a tapas platter or tossed in a summer salad.

By replacing tomato with sweet and juicy grilled watermelon, this sandwich gets a summery kick that is sure to be a hit at your next barbecue.

The next time you’re flummoxed for a dish with flashy presentation, consider using juicy tomatoes as an edible bowl. When they’re stuffed with chicken and whole grain rice, you end up with a well-balanced meal. Don’t compost the scooped out tomato innards. Instead, use them in gazpacho or other puréed tomato soup recipes.

Ceviche is a Latin method of “cooking” seafood by letting it marinate in acidic juices. It’s important that you use only sushi grade salmon for this preparation method. Using lettuce leaves for the wraps and stuffing them with a lively salsa assures this dish is exceptionally fresh tasting.

This recipe is just the ticket for those who don’t want to put in a lot of active kitchen time but still want to turn out a dish that has looks to kill. If you please, the mozzarella can be replaced with Gruyère or other Swiss-style cheese.

This refreshing gazpacho crosses the great generation divide—pleasing adults and kids alike. Grilling the vegetables imparts a smoky flavour and makes the soup scream summer. However, you can also make it using only raw vegetables. If you can, try preparing this recipe ahead of time, as the flavours of the soup only get better after resting for a day or two in the refrigerator. When serving cold summer soups, try chilling the bowls as well.

When tomatoes are at their summer flavour peak, why open a jar of tomato sauce for pasta night? Roasting tomatoes only serves to heighten their natural sweetness. For visual appeal, try using multicoloured cherry tomatoes. Stirring the greens with the warm tomatoes and pasta will slightly wilt them, helping to make this highly textured dish even more delightful.

Grilling pineapple brings out the natural sweetness while layering in deep smoky flavour at the same time.

Fruit and cheese are a natural pairing. Sweet, summery nectarines blended with tingly fresh mint and piquant gingerspice up creamy goat cheese.

Herby chicken comes alive under a vibrant salsa with crunchy cucumber and zippy radish, the hidden gem here. Experiment with different heirloom varieties of radish, such as Purple Plum, Black Spanish, Watermelon Radish, or classic French Breakfast radish.