In addition to exploring, swimming, and basking in the sun, eating is our favorite summertime activity! A season of juicy fruit and smoky grilled meats, delicate seafood, fresh salads, and cool treats, the flavors of summer are varied, colorful, and gloriously delicious. When we crave bold bites that are vitalizing enough to power us through every moment of fun, we turn to summer side dishes. Light enough to tempt, even on hot days, they’re brimming with flavor, color, and endless potential!
Just like the season itself, summertime eating is laidback and casual, an effortless solution to inevitable hunger. Whether you’re planning a simple weekend brunch or a festive gathering, the rules are the same: lean into peak produce, embrace uncomplicated recipes, and delight everyone with dishes that feel special but not heavy. Served warm or at room temperature, these dishes rely on a medley of ingredients that are reliable, delicious, and quick cooking. Whether you want to serve savory risotto, citrusy couscous, or a hearty quinoa salad, RiceSelect® products are essential summertime ingredients that effortlessly elevate any menu. Easy on the cook and endlessly inspiring, they’re the first step towards a season that wows!
This summer, plan a plethora of potlucks, invite friends to cookouts, and head out on balmy nights for a string of al fresco dinners. Abandon ho-hum salads and sides in place of creative dishes packed with the season’s star ingredients. Before it’s too late, arm yourself with recipes that are elegant yet unfussy, and that perfectly embody the season’s charms. Bright, light, aromatic, and irresistible, their only disadvantage is that they’re more than likely to steal the spotlight from the main course!
High-Protein Summer Couscous Salad with Chickpeas
In this stunner of a salad, a simple tray of roasted, seasoned chickpeas adds heaps of texture, flavor, and protein to your meal. Here, we pair the crunchy legumes with RiceSelect® Tri-Color Couscous, fresh vegetables, herbs, tangy feta and a punchy Dijon and lemon vinaigrette for a salad that’s eye-catching and endlessly exciting! Served at room temperature or chilled, this dish is guaranteed to wow.
Strawberry Pearl Couscous Summer Salad
This summer, save some of the season’s juiciest strawberries for this refreshing side! Delicious in desserts and alongside your favorite breakfast, they’re also indispensable in this crowd-pleasing dish. A 3-step option that harnesses the berries’ sweetness, this vegetarian salad also includes bouncy RiceSelect® Pearl Couscous, tangy vinaigrette, mint and pine nuts, for a variety of textures and flavors in one bowl. Filling enough to stand on its own, this also works well alongside grilled proteins, fresh seafood or as part of a salad spread
Quinoa Avocado Citrus Salad
There are quinoa sides and then there is this sophisticated, citrus-scented RiceSelect® Tri-Color Quinoa salad! A layered delight, boasting creamy avocado, pungent red onion and orange-kissed quinoa, it’s the dish to make when you want to impress. Then again, if you want a less extravagant presentation, just skip the ring molds and toss the ingredients in a large bowl, saving the avocado slices and toasted almonds for garnish.
Jeweled Rice with Dried Fruit and Nuts
When calm summer days inspire creative cooking projects, it’s hard to beat this take on Persian tahdig. Layered with sweet, savory, and generously spiced dried fruit, RiceSelect® Texmati® White Rice is cooked until golden, caramelized and crisp. Infused with saffron and orange, then topped with a final flurry of toasted nuts, this stunning dish will transport you far from home.
Turmeric Couscous Glow Bowl
With a base of RiceSelect® Pearl Couscous with Turmeric, every crumb of this vegetarian crowd-pleaser is delectably fragrant. Though the list of ingredients for this recipe may seem long, the amount of cooking required is blessedly small. Simply boil some couscous and roast some broccolini, then combine the two with the remainder of the ingredients. Though we love the combination of ingredients in this recipe, you can also substitute your favorite add-ons, focusing on a variety of crunchy, creamy, fresh, sweet, and savory items.
Lemon Butter Pearl Couscous Salad
Instead of guzzling water, stay hydrated during summer’s swelter with tasty bites of this refreshing RiceSelect® Tri-Color Couscous salad. A light lunch or side that’s filled with the year’s best tomatoes, cucumber and herbs, this one also features bouncy couscous zhuzhed up with garlicky lemon butter. Ready in minutes, it’s ideal for busy days and lazy days, and is the easiest thing to tote to picnics and potlucks. Think of it as a contemporary update on your go-to pasta salad.
Summer Salad with Charred Tomatillo Vinaigrette
Tart and tangy, this salad will jolt languid tastebuds to attention! Instead of saving them for salsa, use blistered tomatillos, along with jalapeños, cilantro, lime and honey, in a brightly acidic dressing to toss with RiceSelect® Jasmati® White Rice. Then, mix the lot with sweet corn, cabbage, radishes and pumpkin seeds, for a summery side dish that’s tempting, tasty and unlike any you’ve likely tried.
Summer Lobster & Corn Risotto
Though we’re not insisting that you schlep this delicious risotto to the seaside, we do highly recommend that you try it when you and the family are dining at home. With its blend of sweet summer corn and fresh lobster, plus salty pops of prosciutto and the creamy goodness of RiceSelect® Arborio Rice, it beautifully captures the season’s effortless sophistication. Serve it alone or beside grilled fish, for a seafood feast you’ll want to linger over on warm summer nights.
Sticky Rice with Mango and Coconut
If ever there was a time to break the rules, it’s during summer! So, whether you want to eat dessert first, eat dessert for breakfast or just eat dessert, this tropical delight fits the bill. Chewy and rich with coconut milk, gooey coconut caramel, mango and black sesame seeds, this RiceSelect® Sushi Rice dish is a welcome treat, any time of day.