Food Recipes for Dinner
As the summer season approaches, our body naturally craves for light, cooling and hydrating food – especially at dinner. Heavy or spicy food can make you feel sluggish and uncomfortable, while the right food ingredients help keep you refreshed, energized and nourished.
This Summer Food Recipes for Dinner is easy to digest, rich in seasonal produce and hydrating. Opt for dishes containing yogurt, fresh vegetables, mint, lemon and whole grains as all these helps regulate body temperature and promote digestion.
If you are looking for the perfect healthy and vegetarian dinner ideas for summer evenings, then you have come to the right place. Here are 10 easy-to-make, delicious and nutritious summer food recipes that you will love to include in your weekly menu!
10 Summer Food Recipes for Dinner
1. Cucumber Mint Raita with Jeera Rice
Ingredients:
For making Raita:
1 cup curd (chilled)
½ cucumber (grated)
5-6 mint leaves (chopped)
½ tsp roasted cumin powder
Salt to taste
For making Jeera Rice:
1 cup basmati rice
1 tsp ghee
1 tsp cumin seeds
Salt to taste
Instructions:
Jeera Rice Recipe: To make Jeera Rice, boil the rice and keep it aside. Heat ghee in a pan, add cumin seeds and fry till the seeds crackle. Now add cooked rice and add salt as per taste. Jeera Rice is ready.
Raita Recipe: To make Raita, beat curd well, add grated cucumber, mint, cumin seeds and salt and mix well.
Why this summer combination recipe is perfect:
This vegetarian Indian summer meal – jeera rice and yogurt is cooling, rich in probiotics, and gentle on the stomach. Excellent for digestion and hydration.
2. Watermelon & Paneer Salad
Ingredients for making Watermelon and Paneer salad:
2 cups watermelon cubes
1 cup paneer cubes (lightly grilled)
Mint leaves
Juice of ½ lemon
Black salt and pepper
Watermelon and Paneer Salad Recipe:
First, put watermelon and grilled cheese in a large bowl. Now add chopped mint, lemon juice, salt and pepper and mix well. Serve after cooling.
Why this summer special salad is perfect:
This is a refreshing summer veggie salad as the watermelon keeps you hydrated, and the paneer has protein. So enjoy this sweet and savory flavour for a warm evening.
3. Quinoa Chickpea Power Bowl
Ingredients:
1 cup cooked quinoa
½ cup boiled chickpeas
½ cucumber (chopped)
1 tomato (chopped)
½ cup shredded carrot
2 tbsp olive oil
Juice of 1 lemon
Salt, pepper, herbs
Instructions:
- In a bowl, mix quinoa, chickpeas, and veggies.
- Drizzle olive oil, lemon juice, and seasonings.
- Mix well and chill for 15 minutes.
Why it’s perfect:
This healthy vegetarian bowl is high in protein and full of fiber – keeping you full without the heaviness.
4. Zucchini Noodles with Pesto
Ingredients for making Zucchini Noodles with Pesto:
2 zucchinis (spiralized)
½ cup basil pesto (homemade or store-bought)
1 tbsp olive oil
Cherry tomatoes
Zucchini Noodles with Pesto Recipe:
First of all, mix zucchini noodles with pesto and olive oil. Now add half cherry tomatoes and serve it cold or at room temperature.
Why it’s perfect:
No stovetop required to make this zucchini noodle recipe! These noodles are light, green and full of antioxidants, making for a great low-carb summer veggie dinner.
5. Greek Paneer Salad
Ingredients for making Greek Paneer Salad:
1 cup diced cucumbers
½ cup cherry tomatoes
½ onion (sliced)
½ cup paneer cubes (or feta if not strictly Indian)
Olives, oregano, lemon juice, olive oil
Greek Paneer Salad:
To make Greek cheese salad, mix all the ingredients together. Refrigerate for 30 minutes and serve chilled.
Why it is great:
Indian Greek Salad is a type of paneer salad recipe in that it is low in fat, rich in raw vegetables and minerals. This meal is perfect as a light main dish for dinner.
6. Cold Soba Noodle Bowl
Ingredients making cold soba noodles bowl:
1 cup boiled soba noodles (rinse in cold water)
½ cup tofu cubes
Julienned carrot, bell pepper, spinach
2 tbsp soy sauce
1 tsp sesame oil
Lemon juice
Cold Soba Noodles Recipe:
To make cold soba noodles, mix all the ingredients in a bowl. Garnish with sesame seeds and let cool before serving.
Why these noodles are great:
Vegetarian Soba Noodles is a summer recipe. It can also be called Tofu Noodle Salad. It is a nutritious, balanced and refreshing Asian inspired dinner.
7. Stuffed Bell Peppers (Baked)
Ingredients for making stuffed bell pepper:
2 bell peppers (cut tops and deseeded)
1 cup cooked brown rice
½ cup corn, onions, peas
2 tbsp grated cheese (optional)
Herbs, chili flakes, salt
Stuffed Bell Peppers Recipe:
To make Stuffed Bell Peppers, mix rice with vegetables, spices and paneer. Then fill this stuffing in the capsicum and let them bake at 180 degree Celsius for 20 minutes. Serve hot or warm.
Why it’s perfect:
This vegetarian summer dinner idea is colorful, satisfying, and full of fiber and vitamins.
8. Vegetable Curd Khichdi
Ingredients for making veg curd khichdi:
1 cup cooked rice + moong dal
½ cup boiled veggies (beans, peas, carrots)
1 cup thick curd
1 tsp mustard seeds
Curry leaves, salt
Vegetable Curd khichdi Recipe:
Season with mustard seeds and curry leaves. Then mix with khichdi and curd. Serve at room temperature or slightly cooled.
Why it’s perfect:
Veg dahi khichdi is an Indian summer meal recipe that is easy on the digestion, cooling, and makes a complete meal.
9. Grilled Veg Wrap with Hummus
Ingredients for making Grilled veg wrap with hummus:
1 whole wheat wrap
Grilled zucchini, bell peppers, onions
2 tbsp hummus
Lettuce, lemon juice
Grilled Veg Wrap with Hummus Recipe:
Spread hummus on a whole wheat wrap. Then add layers of vegetables and sprinkle with lemon juice. Then roll up and enjoy.
Why it’s perfect:
This vegetarian wrap for dinner is quick, protein-packed, and full of flavor.
10. Avocado Tomato Open Sandwich
Ingredients for making Avocado Tomato Open Sandwich:
2 whole grain bread slices
1 avocado (mashed)
Sliced tomatoes
Salt, chili flakes, lemon juice
Avocado Tomato Open Sandwich Recipe:
Toast the bread, now spread avocado on it and put a layer of tomatoes. Sprinkle the spices and serve.
Why it’s perfect:
Make Veg Avocado Sandwich which is a no-cook veg summer recipe that provides heart-healthy fats, and energy.
Final Thoughts: Eat Light, Eat Right This Summer
Each of these recipes is made as follows and the specialty of these recipes is that they are:
- Light and cool
- Quick to make
- Nutritious and vegetarian
- Perfect for weight management and digestion
Include these recipes in your weekly dinners, these summer special foods will keep you energized and avoid the lethargy that often comes with the summer heat. So the next time you are wondering what to cook on a summer evening, come back to these top 10 healthy vegetarian summer dinner recipes.
