89 recipes that scream summer!
Brandy is an unexpected ingredient in this white sangria. (Bob Chamberlin / Los Angeles Times)
It’s summer. That means finding ways to beat the heat and dine outdoors. We pored over the L.A. Times Test Kitchen’s recipes archive for dishes that will help you do just that. Enjoy. -- Rene Lynch
Baja baby scallops ceviche is a nice departure from the traditional chips-and-salsa. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)
Warning: Once you make your own crispy fried chicken, you’ll never want drive thru again. (Glenn Koenig / Los Angeles Times)
This bacon potato salad is richly flavored with deep notes of bacon and smoked salt. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)
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Chilled corn soup is perfect for sweet, summer corn. (Bob Chamberlin / Los Angeles Times)
This frozen peach souffle with raspberry sauce is a showstopper. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)
Strawberry sangria is a berry nice drink for summer. (Carlos Chavez / Los Angeles Times)
Serve Sweet Butter’s shrimp ceviche chilled. (Glenn Koenig / Los Angeles Times)
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Set the flank steak out about an hour before grilling to allow it to come to room temperature. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
Using slightly underripe melons means Tierra Sur’s heirloom melon gazpacho is not too sweet. (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)
Slather this tequila-lime butter on. (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)
Use sweet basil for thaipirinha to lend a just-picked, sweet-and-savory flavor; mint works too. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)
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![North Peak Brewing Co.'s veggie burgers might change your mind about going meatless.](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/3ba4ce2/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2000x1333+0+0/resize/1440x960!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F4e%2F6a%2F4f865325f08cc33e723024dd3c2d%2Fla-167466-fo-0825-veggie-burger-01-rrc.jpg-20120111)
North Peak Brewing Co.’s veggie burgers might change your mind about going meatless. (Bob Chamberlin / Los Angeles Times)
Gazpacho with avocados doesn’t get any richer. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
Guests will enjoy grilled romaine with walnuts, Parmesan and anchovy dressing. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)
Orange-flavored shortcakes with strawberries and cream is a twist on the classic, a recipe developed by Times Food editor Russ Parsons. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
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The ginger adds a bit of spice to the Canton ginger kick. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)
Grilled pork with fennel is a classic pairing. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)
Make sure you pack plenty of butter. And maybe honey, too, for these buttermilk biscuits. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)
Dive on in to this chilled sweet pea bisque with Dungeness crab and mint. (Carlos Chavez / Los Angeles Times)
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The white hot peach sangria combines a touch of vanilla with just a hint of heat. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)
Just toss and serve this three-cabbage coleslaw. (Robert Lachman / Los Angeles Times)
And just one more: A rich lemon curd stands at the center of this terrific lemon meringue pie. (Glenn Koenig / Los Angeles Times)
A ‘gin’-ger basiltini would be a delicious brunch libation. (Glenn Koenig / Los Angeles Times)
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![Enjoy the Taste of Italy turkey burger with your favorite glass of wine.](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b5f3718/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2048x1411+0+0/resize/1393x960!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fb7%2F92%2F55f2cd7b08bb9ae9f43968d815bc%2Fla-172722-fo-0615-burgers-02-kdm.jpg-20120628)
Enjoy the Taste of Italy turkey burger with your favorite glass of wine. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)
The curry adds some kick to this curried cantaloupe slaw. (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)
A caramel budino is make-ahead easy. (Glenn Koenig / Los Angeles Times)
The caipitetra cocktail is so easy to prepare. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)
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You’ll need to plan in advance for this grilled butterflied leg of lamb with olive-fennel tapenade as the meat needs to marinate a few hours in advance. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
![A drizzle of smoked paprika oil finishes off the white gazpacho.](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/81fb9d6/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2048x1365+0+0/resize/1440x960!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F7b%2Fee%2Fb58e30b263170848202c1fce932d%2Fla-173152-fo-0712-sos2-ac.jpg-20120802)
A drizzle of smoked paprika oil finishes off the white gazpacho. (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)
This frozen blackberry souffle is worth the extra effort once you eat a spoonful of the fluffy, cold goodness. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)
This recipe for a Mexican cemita burger was a competitor on Food Network’s ‘Ultimate Recipe Showdown.’ (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)
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Rich, vibrant colors in Warszawa’s cold borscht. (Bob Chamberlin / Los Angeles Times)
Putting fresh, ripe mangoes to good use with sticky rice. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)
The Coolidge cocktail was created for actress Jennifer Coolidge. (Ken Hively / Los Angeles Times)
Is that guacamole? Yes it is! This Southwest turkey burger might convert the non-turkey-burger types. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)
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Pink grapefruit salad with crab is an unexpected pairing. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)
Thread fresh berries and cubes of store-bought pound cake on a skewer. What could be easier? (Glenn Koenig / Los Angeles Times)
Rideau’s Southern Breeze is eye catching. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)
That bun? It’s homemade. Try the Stonehill Tavern Kobe burger. (Christine Cotter / Los Angeles Times)
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Use your prettiest serving bowls for this white gazpacho with grapes. (Glenn Koenig / Los Angeles Times)
Chilled banana and pistachio rice pudding is creamy, dreamy. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)
Finished off the Italian Caprese sliders with fresh tomatoes, basil, olive oil and balsamic. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)
Tangerine, butter lettuce and goat cheese salad: refreshing. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)
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Fresh herbs and crème fraîche lighten chilled pea soup with fines herbes. (Bob Chamberlin / Los Angeles Times)
Dial down the flames to a slow burn and watch pineapple luxuriously transform on the grill. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)
You’ll need a snow cone or shaved ice maker for the Lost Cause Tiki-Cone, right. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)
Brioche buns, coleslaw and a little tartar sauce make the salmon burgers from Basix Cafe extra special. (Bob Chamberlin / Los Angeles Times)
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A garden in a glass for Andalusian garden gazpacho (Glenn Koenig / Los Angeles Times)
Citrus-kissed tiramisu (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)
![Spicy Sichuan peppercorns add sizzle to The You Only Live Twice cocktail.](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/9b17fde/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2048x1365+0+0/resize/1440x960!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F36%2F88%2Fcaa117cdd793438c7cb1b085ead9%2Fla-1217751-fo-0124-cocktail-gelt-04-rrd.jpg-20130228)
Spicy Sichuan peppercorns add sizzle to The You Only Live Twice cocktail. (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)
A sweet and smoky blueberry chipotle barbecue sauce pulls the red, white and blueberry burger together. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)
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Make Deborah Madison’s lentil salad a day ahead; the flavors improve overnight. (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)
Serve two scoops of ricotta-honey gelato with orange alongside fresh, seasonal fruit. (Bob Chamberlin / Los Angeles Times)
Salty, sweet, tart: the Grapefruit margarita (Beatrice de Gea / Los Angeles Times)
This bad boy stacks a bratwurst link atop a ground pork patty: German Cuban pork burger. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)
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Gazpacho is a summer-time classic. (Bob Chamberlin / Los Angeles Times)
Strawberry gelato is icy cool. (Glenn Koenig / Los Angeles Times)
The Lily Dew calls for an unusual ingredient: good walnut liqueur. (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)
![The Howie burger is topped with a gastrique of red onions and homemade Dijonnaise.](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/f751064/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2048x1551+0+0/resize/1268x960!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F35%2Fb4%2Ff5c3f4bc9ed6d216f337a46c56c4%2Fla-172722-fo-0615-burgers-01-kdm.jpg-20120628)
The Howie burger is topped with a gastrique of red onions and homemade Dijonnaise. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)
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Gayle’s kale and quinoa salad features two foodie favorites. (Glenn Koenig / Los Angeles Times)
Your guest will want the recipe for the broken jellied wine. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)
You might call the Horchata colada dessert. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)
![Fried serrano chile, jalapenos, habanero relish and more in the H-Bomb Burger.](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/21bdf1e/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2048x1366+0+0/resize/1439x960!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F05%2F30%2F5f64f6d8315c70c74d466b5f4778%2Fla-172722-fo-0615-burgers-03-kdm.jpg-20120628)
Fried serrano chile, jalapenos, habanero relish and more in the H-Bomb Burger. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)
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Chilled avocado and watercress soup with shrimp is so rich and creamy. (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)
A sprinkling of black sesame seeds finishes off the daikon slaw. (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)
Call this lemon gelato sweet tart. (Glenn Koenig / Los Angeles Times)
A grilled leg of lamb gets an infusion of ethnic finesse with a marinade of yogurt and Indian spices. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)
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Berries jubilee with peach sorbet and salted candied almonds is extra welcome on a hot summer’s day. (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)
Green tea ice cream is not too sweet. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)
![BLT&E for dinner? Or breakfast? You decide.](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/a508ae9/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2048x1361+0+0/resize/1440x957!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F5e%2Feb%2F3aba974af8f0d14b3ae9133262bd%2Fla-172722-fo-0615-burgers-05-kdm.jpg-20120628)
BLT&E for dinner? Or breakfast? You decide. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)
You’re not skimping on taste with chilled yellow squash soup with fresh dill. (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)
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Strawberry Siam parfait makes a nice presentation. (Carlos Chavez / Los Angeles Times)
You could finish these citrus mesquite spareribs in the oven, or toss them on the grill. Up to you. (Bob Chamberlin / Los Angeles Times)
Creamy coconut and banana pops will bring out the kid in everyone. (Glenn Koenig / Los Angeles Times)
Zabaglione for the chocolate lovers (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)
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![The ground buffalo, when cooked until just medium-rare, is juicy and delicious.](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/a70abea/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2048x1479+0+0/resize/1329x960!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F79%2Fbe%2F7e153981c17c3c03579e5ab8a8ff%2Fla-172722-fo-0615-burgers-04-kdm.jpg-20120628)
The ground buffalo, when cooked until just medium-rare, is juicy and delicious. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)
Blueberry fool on a berry fruit salad is a fresh, bright dessert. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)
Espresso granita with white chocolate cream hits the spot on a hot day. (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)
Frozen zabaglione served with fresh fruit is just lovely. (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)
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Chef Nancy Silverton likes beef patties that are at least 20% fat, then she crumbles them with blue cheese, left, and cheddar. (Beatrice de Gea / Los Angeles Times)
Budino di cioccolato is a beautifully-layered custard. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)