Favorite Recipes and Spices for August
Lynley Jones
It’s August, baby. Hotter than hot, and sweatier than sweaty. Everything’s in season, but it’s too hot to cook (much). You want to keep cool, stay hydrated, and try not to stick to the vinyl.
August cooking is all about three things:
1) Keeping it fresh
Peak summer produce is here, and the farmers markets are bursting with supply. Tomatoes, peaches, nectarines, plums, cherries, greens, herbs and corn, corn, corn! Pick it up in the morning and feast on it that afternoon. Buy local and it will last all week.
2) Keeping it cool
It’s hot out there, and by hot I mean hot. No one wants you to heat up the house with fancy slow cooking. Just don’t. If you can do it on the grill, do it! And if you can just skip the cooking and go straight to the eating, even better. Which means…
3) Keeping it simple
Like I said, it’s just too hot for heavy cooking. You’re going to want to keep things nice and simple. A little of this, a little of that, mix it together and add some spices. Done and done. That’s quintessential August cooking.
Cooking strategies and spices
My favorite recipes for August are all about the seasonal fruits and veggies. With the right spices and seasonings, you can feast with little or no heat required. Here are some faves:
Sumac and Sage Seasoning - My super-versatile seasoning blend helps to keep cooking simple. You can sprinkle it over fresh veggies, salads, or anything for the grill and you’re ready to go.
Aleppo pepper - Great on anything on the grill, and pairs well with lots of veggies and meats. Slightly smoky, a hint of fruit, a little heat and lots of flavor.
Ceylon cinnamon - This is my go-to for summer stone fruit like peaches, nectarines, plums and cherries. It’s lighter and brighter than cassia cinnamon, so perfect for hot weather.
Staghorn Sumac - Adds a bright, citrusy dash to fresh or grilled veggies, and is a great addition to drinks and iced desserts.
Fave August recipes
Below are some of my favorite recipes for cooking in August. It’s all about grillin and chillin (but mainly chillin, amiright?). Lots of tomatoes, stone fruits, corn, greens, chiles and more. Stuff that requires no cooking, stuff you can grill, and stuff to go on the stuff you grill.
For the grillin’
A vegetarian burger where the cheese IS the burger. Halloumi cheese stands right up to browning directly in the griddle or on the grill, so you can skip the meat entirely. Slathered with garlic-mayo and topped with all the fixins, so you’re good to go.
Burgers stuffed with melty cheese on the inside, topped with red cabbage and scallion curls and a slather of gochujang mayo. Full Korean flavor on a stuffed burger. (Seriously, is there anything else to say?)
Burgers stuffed with melty cheese on the inside and topped with chiles, grilled onions, avocados and crunchy cilantro-cabbage. Get ready to party!
Tacos filled with grilled summer veggies for your next party - or for dinner tonight.
Cauliflower grilled crispy and brown, then dressed in a rich garlicky-buttery sauce.
Juicy tomatoes, grilled corn kernels, red onions and cilantro, with a squeeze of lime and just a hint of mild pepper. Simple to make and full of flavor (plan to lick the bowl).
Grilled pizza topped with grilled summer veggies - zucchini, eggplant, tomatoes, onions, peppers and herbs - strewn over herbed goat cheese that's been slathered onto crisp pizza crust.
Grilled swordfish with a topping of grape tomatoes and sea beans, a fresh, crunchy-salty seaweed found at farmers markets and specialty shops. See recipe notes for more about sea beans, and how you can still make this if you can’t find them.
White wine-honey sauce is infused with basil, then drizzled over grilled nectarines. Crumbled ricotta salata is then sprinkled on top for a creamy, slightly-salty finish.
Grilled sea scallops drizzled with a green garlic-infused brown butter sauce and topped with spring onions, fresh sorrel and a squeeze of lime.
Crispy grilled pizza crust, topped with goat cheese, greens and tomatoes. No party trick here, just really great food.
And for the chillin’
A little bit pesto, a little bit chimichurri, and lots of flavor! Spoon it over grilled meats or veggies, toss it with pasta, slather it over crostini or dribble it onto your pizza. Made with lots of fresh herbs, garlic and shallots, plus toasted pine nuts, mixed together in olive oil with a splash of lemon juice and a little Aleppo pepper.
Watermelon and lime blended into a frosty-cold dessert that’s simple to make, and sophisticated enough for any dinner party. (Double win!)
Super-refreshing, fizzy and fun lemonade cocktail infused with basil and sumac.
Fish marinated in lime juice and tossed with chiles, onions, tomatoes, avocados and orange juice.
Cutting the kale into thin chiffonade helps it to mingle with all the other flavors and textures of this delicious salad.
August faves from 101 Ways to Use Sumac and Sage Seasoning:
Grilled zucchini, eggplant, heirloom tomatoes and red peppers seasoned with Sumac and Sage seasoning, tossed with pasta and showered with grated pecorino-Romano and minced herbs. You can follow 101 Ways to Use Sumac and Sage Seasoning for more ideas at adventurekitchen.com.
Vegetarian kabobs made with Indian paneer cheese, which grills without melting! Macerate everything in a Sumac and Sage blend sauce with Aleppo pepper, then dollop more sauce on the finished kabobs before serving. You can follow 101 Ways to Use Sumac and Sage Seasoning for more ideas at adventurekitchen.com.
Grilled corn on the cob dressed with Sumac and Sage seasoning and other spices, then topped with shredded parmesan and minced parsley. You can follow 101 Ways to Use Sumac and Sage Seasoning for more ideas at adventurekitchen.com.
Saute fresh tomatoes lightly in olive oil with Sumac and Sage seasoning and garlic, then spoon it over fried eggs on toast for a simple, tasty breakfast. You can follow 101 Ways to Use Sumac and Sage Seasoning for more ideas at adventurekitchen.com.
Sprinkle Sumac and Sage Seasoning over avocado toast! More ideas for avocado toast awesomeness inside. You can follow 101 Ways to Use Sumac and Sage Seasoning for more ideas at adventurekitchen.com.
Toss cherry tomatoes with Sumac and Sage Seasoning Blend and your favorite herbs, a few chives, and some crumbled goat cheese for a simple salad or side. You can follow 101 Ways to Use Sumac and Sage Seasoning for more ideas at adventurekitchen.com.
More summer goodness from Adventure Kitchen:
It’s too hot to cook - so don’t! Here are 16 recipes you can make without a smidge of heat, and the spices and seasonings that help your cold food come alive.
You need a cold drink in your hand, my friend. (I’m with you!) Recipes for cocktails, lemonade, limeade and even home-brewed soda to get you through this hot, hot season.
Recipes to bring to a backyard party/BBQ/pool party/cookout. (They’ll definitely invite you back next year).
tags recipes, spices, seasonal, August, Sumac and Sage Seasoning, Aleppo pepper, Ceylon cinnamon, sumac
Grilled peaches drizzled with a tequila-honey sauce infused with Aleppo pepper and a punch of lime. It’s like a party for your peaches! (And for you, of course.)