Sheela Prakash

It's salty, briny, spicy perfection.

It's summer in a bowl.

Somehow Labor Day weekend is upon us. It’s been a very short summer — it seems like we were just firing up our grills for Memorial Day, and yet that also feels like a long-distant memory now. Since we are all out of our normal rhythms, the long weekend might’ve snuck up on you. If you’re planning on getting outside and cooking this weekend, we’ve got some side dish options for you.

It's bright, fresh, and a breeze to whip together.

I stock my freezer with them summer after summer.

There are many ways to cook carrots, but roasting them is hands-down my favorite method. It’s one of the best vegetable side dishes that pairs well with anything for dinner. Roasted carrots might seem simple, but when done right, they can rival just about any other vegetable side, be it Brussels sprouts or sweet potatoes. When it comes to glazed carrots, some recipes call for cooking them on the stovetop, but I opt for the oven so that the carrots can do their business while I do mine.

Now that the weather is getting cooler and it’s peak apple season, it’s hard not to want to crank up the oven and bake something warm and cinnamon-spiced. Bringing an apple dessert to the table — whether it’s apple pie, apple cake, apple crisp, or something else entirely — is just about the very best way to usher in autumn and all the cozy, sweater-wearing vibes that come with it.

We all know and love Julia Child for her cooking wisdom and sense of humor. She produced so many tried-and-true recipes over the years, like Suprêmes de Volaille aux Champignons, delicate cheese soufflé, and the fluffiest scrambled eggs, that it’s hard to keep track of all of them.

The time we’ve been looking forward to all year is finally here. It’s tomato season! Yes, peak tomato season is in full swing, and that means one thing: It’s your duty to consume as many tomatoes as possible. My cue that it’s time to dive in is when I go to the market and I can smell the table of heirloom tomatoes before I even step up to it.

Better than anything you'll buy at the store.

For years I skipped over radishes; they felt more like a garnish in green salads than a necessary component. Then I joined a CSA and was bombarded with radishes. I suddenly had to figure out what to do with them all, only to realize radishes have a whole lot of love to give. They’re crispy, peppery, and not only a colorful addition to so many dishes, but can also stand out all on their own.

Summer brings with it so many vegetables that are hard to get enough of. But of all of them, I think it’s safe to say sweet corn is always the one that steals the show. Those sweet, tender-yet-crisp kernels are all too easy to love (especially when they’re grilled!). And since fresh corn is only in season for a couple months a year, we want to get our fill every chance we get.

As much as I love all the burgers, grilled hot dogs, and classic BBQ sides, 4th of July simply isn’t complete without an easy dessert. Maybe it’s my sweet tooth or the fact that all the best summer fruit is currently in its prime. I look forward to the festive red, white, and blue sweets, no-bake delights, gooey s’mores, and classic fruit pies. There’s so much to choose from.

I firmly believe a good 4th of July meal is as much about all the summery sides that fill up the plate as it is about the grilled burgers and grilled hot dogs. Whether you’re having a big backyard cookout or keeping things small, your outdoor feast is worthy of the all the best side dishes that you can possibly handle⁠—just don’t forget the dessert! When it comes to side dishes to round out the meal, there are so many delicious options to choose from.

In need of a new winning chicken dinner? This is it! You just need five ingredients to bring this buttery, lemon-kissed chicken to the table. Serve it alongside crispy skillet-fried potatoes and roasted broccoli for an easy weeknight dinner. It’s sure to become a new family favorite that everyone will love! Here’s how to make it. Chicken: Use boneless, skinless chicken breasts.

With all the fun 4th of July festivities – the fireworks, parades, and the big summer cookout with family and friends — be sure to plan your menu ahead of time! From festive desserts and easy side dishes to everything on the grill, you’ll also need refreshing drinks for everyone to enjoy.Peak summer calls for icy-cold refreshments, whether it’s a pitcher cocktail or a classic glass of ice cold lemonade, these 4th of July drinks are perfect for the occasion.

We’ve all been there: You have all the best intentions to eat a big salad filled with lots of vegetables for lunch, but by the time noon rolls around you default to a hefty sandwich or dinner leftovers. Forget those days – we have delicious and easy salads that you’ll actually want to eat for lunch! Our collection of hearty vegetable salads, pasta salads, and grain salads are a far cry from the plain ol’ green salad you may have been packing.

Here’s my dinnertime strategy: Bring on the vegetable recipes. I try to make vegetables the star of the show most of the time when I am thinking about what to make for dinner (in addition to keeping mealtime easy, of course!). By making my plate more about the vegetables, I find I automatically eat a more wholesome diet without radically changing much. Some nights that means eating a big dinner salad, while other nights I’ll make a hearty veggie sandwich or one-bowl meal.

It's the easiest dinner you'll ever make.

When the heat of summer sets in I just want to eat meals that will cool me down. My relationship with soups, stews, and basically anything that comes out of the oven is on hold for these next few months. I prefer easy summer dinners that come together quickly when I don’t feel like cooking.Needless to say, this shrimp ceviche is on heavy rotation.

Sliced cucumbers can't be boring when they're made to be bright and tangy.

It's amazing on fish tacos.

Pitcher cocktails are smart party choices; they easily serve a crowd and don’t require you to be constantly shaking and stirring. These pitcher margaritas are even wiser than the rest, seeing as this recipe isn’t even a recipe — it’s a ratio. Just follow a ratio of three parts tequila, two parts orange liqueur, and one part lime juice.

The best part of any meal is dessert, if you ask me, and a Passover Seder is no exception. Dessert is a crowd-pleaser, and there are plenty of recipes for Kosher-for-Passover desserts.In traditionally Kosher homes, dairy is not served after a meat dish, so if you’re buying something for dessert, look for the P on the label (don’t forget the iconic store-bought jelly fruit slices and chocolate-covered marshmallows!).

Tender sautéed greens are an easy go-to vegetable side everyone should know how to make. They pair with everything from quick pastas to weeknight chicken dinners, and come together in minutes. While mustard greens might not be as trendy as kale or as omnipresent as spinach, they’re well worth getting to know. They’re the leafy green of the mustard plant and are related to collards, cabbage, and, in fact, kale, and are common in Indian, Chinese, Japanese, African, and Southern U.

Hello, gorgeous.

Scallops are one of my very favorite special-occasion dinners. They don’t come cheap, so my husband and I save them for celebratory meals, which makes them feel like a luxury when we do sit down to them. The best part? Whether they’re pan-seared scallops, baked scallops, grilled scallops, or air-fried scallops, they take practically no time to cook. That leaves you with time to focus on preparing a side or two to round out your meal.

While it may feel like kale has overstayed its welcome in the food scene, the hype over the leafy green is very much still alive. And knowing the right way to cook it is a total game-changer. (Don’t miss our in-depth kale guide to learn about the different types of kale and more! )Mastering this method will convert kale-haters, yes, but it will also inspire kale fans who feared they’d never be able to get it right at home.

I’m sure I don’t need to tell you this, but it’s pretty much a fact that if at least one dip is present when watching the Super Bowl, it’s always the first dish to get wiped clean. Whether you’re hosting people or keeping things low-key, a great dip should absolutely be in your plans, no matter how many of you it is gathered around the television.

It takes almost zero effort.

They could barely wait to get their hands on this recipe.

If you’re following the Mediterranean diet, you know you should be loading your plate with good-for-you ingredients, from side dishes like roasted root vegetables and farro salad to dinners like salmon, spinach, and chickpeas. But what about breakfast? Fruit, dairy, and whole grains play a big role in the diet, so there’s actually a lot of tasty (and satiating) breakfast options to choose from. Here are 25 Mediterranean diet breakfast recipes to inspire you.

If you were to glimpse into my freezer at any given moment, I guarantee you’d find a pound or two of uncooked sausage inside. Hot Italian sausage is my preference — either ground sausage sold in bulk or as links — but really, no matter the variety, ground sausage makes delicious quick and easy dinners. It’s so packed with seasoning that you hardly need to do much to turn it into a meal.