125 Sensational Summer Sides

May 31, 2012
Photo: Randy Mayor; Styling: Leigh Ann Ross
Here's our biggest collection of summer side dishes that will be a hit at any backyard BBQ, park picnic, family fiesta, or fabulous fête.
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Tomato Salad with Herbed Ricotta and Balsamic Vinaigrette

Photo: Erin Kunkel; Styling: Chelsea Zimmer
Tomato Salad with Herbed Ricotta and Balsamic Vinaigrette Recipe

Sliced heirloom tomatoes are wow-worthy on their own--a simple vinaigrette and dollops of basil-flecked ricotta take them over the top. Serve with toasted baguette slices to sop up any tomato juices.

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Summer Melon Salad

Photo: Greg Dupree; Styling: Claire Spollen
Summer Melon Salad Recipe
You're just 20 minutes away from the perfect cool-me-down, fruit-filled summer side. Tip: use a small ice cream scoop to create the layers of this refreshing melon salad.

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Shaved Carrot, Cucumber, and Sweet Onion Salad

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Claire Spollen
Shaved Carrot, Cucumber, and Sweet Onion Salad Recipe
Prepare your picnic table with a show-stopping, carrot, cucumber, and sweet onion side salad. Make this easy summer-fresh salad even easier by slicing carrot and cucumber ribbons with a spiralizer.
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Summer Melon and Ham Salad with Burrata and Chile

Photo: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas 
Summer Melon and Ham Salad with Burrata and Chile Recipe
We love the balance of the musky fruit with the salty-sweet ham and the creaminess of the burrata cheese (you can sub fresh mozzarella). You have a lot of strong flavors at play, and the cheese sets the canvas for the whole thing.

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Tomato and Cucumber Salad

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Graham Yelton
Tomato and Cucumber Salad Recipe
Sweet summer peach dressing amps up the deliciousness in this simple tomato and cucumber salad in a super-fast 25 minutes.

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New Potatoes with Shaved Celery, Buttermilk, and Dill

Photo: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas 
New Potatoes with Shaved Celery, Buttermilk, and Dill Recipe
Crisp potatoes and a mild creamy dressing help keep this chunky potato salad from being anything but boring.
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Pesto Pasta Salad with Tomatoes and Mozzarella

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas
Pesto Pasta Salad with Tomatoes and Mozzarella Recipe

This Caprese-inspired pasta toss is the ultimate summer main for a busy weeknight, outdoor picnic, or lunch on the go.

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Chicken and Arugula Pasta Salad

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Claire Spollen
Chicken and Arugula Pasta Salad Recipe
This hearty dish can be simplified by omitting the chicken and doubling up on the pasta. Tossing hot pasta with a few ounces of creamy Brie makes for a light, luscious, and flavorful sauce to coat this abundant bowl of fresh veggies and whole-grain noodles.

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Pasta with Prosciutto, Cherry Tomatoes, and Asiago

Photo: Erin Kunkel; Styling: Chelsea Zimmer
Pasta with Prosciutto, Cherry Tomatoes, and Asiago Recipe
This quick pasta toss is all about the play of textures: crispy bits of prosciutto, snappy squash, and blistered cherry tomatoes.
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Charred Squash Salad

Photo: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas 
Charred Squash Salad Recipe
this salad is equally delicious over sliced tomatoes with burrata or crumbled Valbreso feta, or as a complement to any protein. The herbs can be swapped for any herbs of your choice. Rotating the squash on the grill before turning allows for a little more char.

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Charred Zucchini Salad

Photo: Christopher Testani; Styling: Thom Driver
Charred Zucchini Salad Recipe
This summery salad is easily doubled. To do so, use 2 large skillets to simultaneously cook zucchini batches so the dish is done in the same amount of time.

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Quick Summer Squash and Bell Pepper Gratin

Photo: Erin Kunkel; Styling: Chelsea Zimmer
Quick Summer Squash and Bell Pepper Gratin Recipe
This quick summer squash side dish, bakes up in minutes. You could also layer sliced tomatoes in between the onion mixture and the squash and bake a few minutes longer.
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Sauteed Summer Squash with Thyme and Almonds

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas
Sauteed Summer Squash with Thyme and Almonds Recipe

Cutting the squash into rather thick slices helps it retain a bit of fresh snap after it's sautéed.

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Summer Succotash

Photo: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas 
Summer Succotash Recipe
The acidity in this dish gives your palate a great reset that lets you enjoy the different levels of richness, fruitiness, and sweetness in the vegetables.

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Sprouted Quinoa with Marinated Veggies

Photo: Christopher Testani; Styling: Thom Driver
Sprouted Quinoa with Marinated Veggies Recipe
This raw-food dish needs planning and patience, but the payoff is a salad that pops with each crunchy bite.
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Spinach, Pistachio, and Pecorino Salad

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas 
Spinach, Pistachio, and Pecorino Salad Recipe
Among the many side options this summer, don't forget the greens. Serve a classic, nutty spinach salad alongside your backyard barbecue fixin's.

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Grilled Eggplant Planks with Creole Salsa

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Claire Spollen
Grilled Eggplant Planks with Creole Salsa Recipe
Grill more than meats this summer. Veggies like grilled eggplant make a simple summer side dish to accompany any cookout.

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Veggie Salad in a Jar

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Lindsey Lower
Veggie Salad in a Jar Recipe
Make these salads up to a day ahead; pack them tightly with the dressing on the bottom, followed by denser ingredients that won't get soggy while they marinate.
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Marinated Field Peas

Photo: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas 
Marinated Field Peas Recipe

Banyuls vinegar is cask aged but smoother and less oaky than sherry vinegar. Sub a milder vinegar, like Champagne or white wine, that won't compete with the earthiness of the peas.

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Corn on the Cob with Lemon-Chive Butter

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Claire Spollen
Corn on the Cob with Lemon-Chive Butter Recipe

Nothing says summer like fresh corn on the cob. Here are a few of our favorite flavor combos for buttering them up.

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Grilled Corn and Snap Pea Salad

Photo: Christopher Testani; Styling: Thom Driver 
Grilled Corn and Snap Pea Salad Recipe
Assemble this salad the day before you plan to serve it, but toss in dressing just before serving to keep it crisp.
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Grilled Cabbage Salad

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Claire Spollen
Grilled Cabbage Salad Recipe
Who says slaw is the only way to enjoy cabbage? This grilled summer side will stand out on your table for it's punchy color, flavor, and texture.

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Grilled Vegetables With Creamy Turmeric Sauce

Photo: Greg Dupree; Styling: Ginny Branch
Grilled Vegetables With Creamy Turmeric Sauce Recipe
Turmeric gives this eggplant, bell pepper, zucchini, and yellow squash side a zesty, peppery, slightly bitter flavor.

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Field Pea and Pasta Salad

Photo: Greg Dupree; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham
Field Pea and Pasta Salad Recipe

Farfalle and fresh veggies make a seriously delicious summer side.

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Grilled Tomato Bread

Photo: Buff Strickland; Stylist: Olga Naiman
Grilled Tomato Bread Recipe
This rustic side dish has a Spanish inspiration, and although it's simple to make, it's rich with the flavor of ripe tomatoes.

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Summer Vegetable Kabobs

Photo: William Dickey; Styling: Lisa Powell Bailey
Summer Vegetable Kabobs Recipe
Prepare tender, slightly charred vegetables at your next barbecue with this simple recipe. The white wine marinade really adds a unique flavor to the veggies making this dish stand out.

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Broccoli, Grape, and Pasta Salad

Photo: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Buffy Hargett
Broccoli, Grape, and Pasta Salad Recipe
If you're a broccoli salad fan, you'll love the combination of these colorful ingredients, including tart grapes, crunchy pecans, and bacon.
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Stuffed Zucchini with Cheesy Breadcrumbs

Photo: Anna Williams; Styling: Pam Morris
Stuffed Zucchini with Cheesy Breadcrumbs Recipe
These stuffed zucchini are sure to be a favorite at any gathering. Overflowing with artichoke hearts, parmesan cheese, and pine nuts these are hearty enough to be served as vegetarian main dish.

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Grilled Panzanella with Arugula, Burrata, Summer Squash, and Olives

Photo: John Kernick
Grilled Panzanella with Arugula, Burrata, Summer Squash, and Olives Recipe
In this recipe, both the squash and the bread are slightly charred on the grill. This salad pairs well with any grilled meat.

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Fried Green Tomatoes with Buttermilk-Feta Dressing

Photo: Alison Miksch
Fried Green Tomatoes with Buttermilk-Feta Dressing Recipe
Fry fresh from the garden tomatoes, in batches, until golden brown and crispy. For a more powerful flavor, substitute blue cheese for feta.
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Summer Squash Casserole

Photo: Laurey W. Glenn; Styling: Katherine Eckert
Summer Squash Casserole Recipe
Squash casserole is the most versatile Southern side dish. It pairs well with everything from fried chicken at a summertime Sunday lunch to roast turkey at Thanksgiving.

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Summer Grilled Peach Salad