Now that we are a few weeks into summer, it’s a good time to reflect on whether we are taking full advantage of the season by examining not only our apartment decor and current wardrobes, but also our kitchen stores.
Watermelon, blueberries, sweet corn, cherries, cucumbers, and tomatoes are just a few of the delicious and nutritious staples that should be kept on hand during the summer for yummy, healthy summer snacks. Here are some of our favorite refreshing, nutrient rich summer snacks you can prepare in your kitchen in a matter of minutes.
Mixed Fruit Kabobs
The easiest of the summer snacks on this list to prepare, fruit kabobs make a great complement to shish kabobs and barbecue meat skewers because they are a healthy and refreshing finish. You can put whatever you want on your fruit skewers, but a classic and arguably unbeatable combination includes pineapple, strawberries, and cantaloupe. All you really need are wooden skewers and a minimum of three kinds of fresh fruit.
Caprese Salads
The people of Capri, Italy enjoy an idyllic lifestyle and climate that, although the temperature can drop into the fifties and sixties, keeps their famed turquoise-blue waters and lush island vegetation looking summery all year long. It should come as no surprise, then, that this Mediterranean island is the birthplace of this appetizing summer snack, or antipasto, that is enjoyed by people around the world.
All you need to make your own Caprese salad is fresh mozzarella (cow’s milk or buffalo will do), fresh basil, olive oil, sea salt, and balsamic vinegar. Slice an equal number of tomato and mozzarella slices, layering them one after another in a circular pattern on the plate. Add plenty of fresh basil leaves, then dress with olive oil, sprinkle the sea salt, and drizzle with balsamic. For maximum impact, you can garnish the plate with arugula and oregano. For large groups, or just for something a little different, use skewers to make caprese salad kabobs.
Chilled Soups
Chilled soups are a great summer snack that have a sophisticated air to them and are still little known or under used in many culinary circles. Gazpacho, another tomato-based Mediterranean-inspired delight, and cold cucumber soup are probably the most commonly prepared chilled soups. But there are several other ways to turn fresh summer produce into chilled soupy liquid. Ideas we like include avocado soup, carrot soup, melon bisque, and spiced fruit soup. The truly adventurous can even turn classic vegetable and seafood soups into chilled delights, with the help of the tips offered in this Country Living chilled summer soup recipe guide.
These healthy summer treats are best prepared with fresh ingredients, making outings to farmers markets and berry picking farms great activities to indulge in this summer. Quick, easy, refreshing, and nutritious, these are perfect snack options to consider for the next potluck barbecue you attend. They can just as easily be enjoyed poolside on a hot day or on your apartment balcony while you watch the sun dip below the horizon.
Do you have a favorite summer snack that is tasty, nutritious, and easy to prepare? Unless it is top-secret and closely guarded, share the recipe with us in the comments!
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View All Posts by Jason Ernst