Summer is the perfect time to expand your culinary skills with some new and fresh recipes sure to please your guests. Whether you need a great entrée idea or a delicious dessert to cap off a barbecue extravaganza, check out these recipes and enjoy the flavors while also adding these to your favorites list.
Crispy Black Bean Tacos with Cilantro Lime Sauce
Meat-based dishes can be heavy at times, especially during a season where lighter fare is preferred, so why not explore a vegetable-based option just as satisfying. This super-easy crispy black bean tacos recipe from Pinch of Yum is a Mexican classic with a flavorful twist.
Ingredients
Tacos:
- 1 (14 ounce) can of black beans, rinsed and drained
- 1/4-ish cup of your favorite salsa
- 1 tablespoon of taco seasoning
- Small flour tortillas
- Olive oil or butter for frying
Sauce:
- 1/4 cup of oil
- 1/4 cup of water
- 1/2 cup of chopped green onions
- 1/2 cup of cilantro leaves
- 2 garlic cloves
- 1/2 teaspoon of salt
- Juice of 2 limes
- 1/2 cup of sour cream (sub avocado for dairy free/vegan options)
Directions
- Blend all ingredients in the cilantro lime sauce until smooth. Set aside.
- In a food processor or chopper, blend the beans, salsa, and taco seasoning. Transfer to a skillet with a drizzle of oil and cook long enough to soften the flavors of the garlic and/or onions in the salsa (about 5 minutes).
- Spread a few tablespoons of the black bean filling into a flour tortilla. Fold in half. Repeat until the filling is used up (about 6–8 tacos).
- Heat some oil or butter in a skillet over medium heat. Fry in a skillet over medium heat until crispy and golden brown. Dip in the cilantro lime sauce.
Blackberry Peach Galette
When it comes to summer desserts, summer fruits are the way to go. This blackberry peach galette recipe from Half Baked Harvest is a delightful masterpiece that your guests will savor with every bite.
Ingredients
- 1 cup of fresh blackberries
- 1/4 cup of brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon of cornstarch
- 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract
- 1 sheet of frozen puff pastry, thawed
- 1–2 peaches, thinly sliced
- 2 tablespoons of honey or pure maple syrup
- 2 tablespoons of salted butter
- 1 egg, beaten
- Coarse sugar for sprinkling
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
- In a medium bowl, combine the blackberries, brown sugar, cornstarch, and vanilla.
- On a lightly floured surface, roll the puff pastry out into a rectangle about 1/4 inch thick. Place the pastry on a parchment-lined baking sheet and arrange the blackberries over the pastry, leaving a 1-inch border. Arrange the peaches on top.
- In a small saucepan, melt together the honey and butter. Drizzle the mix over the peaches.
- Fold the edges of the pastry up and over the berries. Brush the edges of the pastry with egg and sprinkle with sugar. Bake for 25–30 minutes or until golden brown. It’s OK if the edges get dark.
- Let cool slightly and serve with ice cream.