5 Easy Recipe Ideas For Al Fresco Suppers

We can’t lie. This summer hasn’t exactly been a classic weather-wise thus far (unless, of course, you’d argue that wintry snaps and insistent rain are indeed classic hallmarks of the British summer). You may, then, not have decamped breakfast, lunch and dinner to the great outdoors – whether that’s a garden, a patio or a balcony – quite as fully as you might have liked to by this point in the year.



To look on the bright side, those times when the sun has favoured us have, then, felt all the more special and worth celebrating. In the name of seizing the moment, we’ve banked the most delightful yet quick recipes for al fresco repasts to comes – and quick they must be, just in case the capricious weather turns on us before we’ve even finished cooking.

Barbecued Courgettes With Dill, Goat’s Cheese, Mint And Yoghurt

House & Garden


When the sun doffs its cap in our direction, it surely makes sense to move not only our feasting but our cooking out of doors – after all, what better way to wring every droplet of goodness out of the sunshine? If you’re with us, we cannot recommend Gill Meller’s barbecued courgettes highly enough. They are a fresh triumph. As he says, ‘Courgettes cook beautifully over fire. The high heat chars their surfaces and the smoke gives them a wonderful savoury depth. Here I’m pairing them with two of my favourite courgette accompaniments: goat’s cheese and dill.’ Perfect as a light lunch or a great starter or side dish. Get the recipe.

Peach Panzanella

BBC Good Food


If you’re looking for a delicious, quick and crowd-pleasing salad to whip up at a moment’s notice when the sun comes out, Tom Kerridge’s peach Panzanella hits the spot just perfectly. The crispy oil-drenched baked pieces of brioche and the creamy burrata provide the classic constituent parts of the Panzanella, while the peach lifts and sweetens the whole affair. Perfect with an ice-cold glass of sparkling water or a chilled glass of Albarino. Get the recipe.

Chilli Courgette & King Prawn Rice

Waitrose


There is nothing like a rice and seafood dish for evoking the ambiance of summer, whether you’re idling on the water-lapped Mediterranean coast or simply in your back garden. Wherever you are in the world, who could not want to devour a hearty yet fiery dish of brown rice with prawns, corn, chilli and basil under the sun? It takes just ten minutes to make, which we’d call almost as much of win as the arrival of clement weather. Get the recipe.

Roast Cod With Tomato Vinaigrette

House & Garden


This delight of a recipe transports us straight to harbourside restaurants on the continent. It’s fresh, it’s healthy and it makes the perfect repast to devour outside with a glass of white Burgundy – whether a deux or if you’re hosting an atmospheric candlelit supper under the stars. Get the recipe.

Broad Bean, Mint & Chilli Pasta

Olive Magazine


Mint and broad beans always make the best summer bedfellows. If you’re looking for a quick and easy midweek supper to knock up while not frittering away too much all-important sun-soaking time at the stove, do consider this beautiful pasta dish. It has a kick thanks to the chilli, a salty bite thanks to the parmesan or pecorino and a creaminess thanks to the crème fraiche. Heaven devoured outside with fresh and floral white wine. Get the recipe.