August is my favorite month for the farmers market. Yes, I’m sweating through my clothes while shopping, but all that fresh, bright, in-season produce more than makes up for the brief (and very damp) discomfort.
My late-summer survival strategy – designed to avoid turning on the oven – is 95% juicy tomato sandwiches eaten over the sink. I’m living the dream.
But tomatoes are just the start. The markets offer plenty of juicy peaches, versatile zucchini, perfectly sweet corn on the cob, refreshing watermelons, and bright, flavorful berries to make your mouth happy.
Below you’ll find my guide to favorite Ina Garten recipes that make the most of summer’s peak produce. What’s your go-to dish this time of year?
Jump to: Tomatoes – Corn – Peaches – Zucchini – Watermelon – Figs – Berries – Summer Is In The Name
TOMATOES
Tomato Crostini with Whipped Feta, Foolproof, page 66 (Recipe)
Gazpacho, The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook, page 79 (Recipe)
Heirloom Tomatoes with Herbed Ricotta, Cook Like A Pro, page 65 (Recipe)
Israeli Vegetable Salad, Cook Like A Pro page 52 (Recipe)
Panzanella, Parties, page 102 (Recipe)
Anna’s Tomato Tart, Cooking for Jeffrey, page 79 (Recipe)
Roasted Tomato Caprese Salad, Back to Basics, page 90 (Recipe)
Tomato & Avocado Salad, Cook Like A Pro, page 61 (Recipe)
Tomato Sandwich with Basil Mayo, Food Network (Recipe)
Tomato, Mozzarella & Pesto Panini, At Home, page 51 (Recipe)
Summer Garden Pasta, At Home, page 121 (Recipe)
Tomato & Goat Cheese Crostata, Modern Comfort Food, page 95 (Recipe)
Roasted Cherry Tomatoes, Parties, page 85 (Recipe)
Tomatoes Roasted with Pesto, How Easy Is That, page 179 (Recipe)
CORN
Fiesta Corn & Avocado Salad, Cooking for Jeffrey, page 76 (Recipe)
Lobster Corn Fritters, Foolproof, page 90 (Recipe)
Fresh Corn Polenta, Modern Comfort Food, page 172 (Recipe not online)
Confetti Corn, Back to Basics, page 160 (Recipe)
Fresh Corn Salad, Barefoot Contessa Cookbook, page 101 (Recipe)
Cheddar and Scallion Creamed Corn, Modern Comfort Food, page 161 (Recipe not online)
PEACHES
Fresh Peach Cake, How Easy Is That, page 216 (Recipe)
Fresh Peach Cremolata, Cook Like A Pro, page 206 (Recipe)
Grilled Peaches with Amaretti, Food Network (Recipe)
Peach & Blueberry Crumbles, At Home, page 197 (Recipe)
Perfect Peach Pie, BarefootContessa.com (Recipe)
ZUCCHINI
Zucchini Pancakes, At Home, page 136 (Recipe)
Parmesan Pesto Zucchini Sticks, Cook Like A Pro, page 159 (Recipe)
Provençal Zucchini Gratin, Modern Comfort Food, page 166 (Recipe)
Lemon Linguine with Zucchini & Basil, Go-To Dinners, page 164 (Recipe not online)
WATERMELON
Watermelon & Arugula Salad, How Easy Is That, page 64 (Recipe)
Watermelon Cosmopolitans, Go-To Dinners (Recipe)
FIGS
Fresh Fig & Ricotta Cake, Cook Like A Pro, page 201 (Recipe)
Fig & Cheese Toasts, Modern Comfort Food, page 10 (Recipe)
Fig & Goat Cheese Bruschettas, Cooking for Jeffrey, page 171 (Recipe)
BERRIES
Fresh Berry & Mascarpone Tart, Go-To Dinners, page 229 (Recipe not online)
Fresh Berries & Sweet Ricotta, Cook Like A Pro, page 195 (Recipe)
Strawberry Country Cake, Parties, page 128 (Recipe)
Strawberry Shortcakes, Deconstructed, How Easy Is That, page 224 (Recipe)
Red Berry Trifle, Food Network (Recipe)
Raspberry Tart, The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook, page 182 (Recipe)
Strawberry Tarts, Barefoot In Paris (Recipe)
Fruit Tarts, Parties, page 208 (Recipe)
Pavlova Fruit Tart, Food Network (Recipe)
SUMMER IS IN THE NAME
Summer Fruit Crostata, At Home, page 203 (Recipe)
Summer Fruit Tart, Cook Like A Pro, page 187 (Recipe)
Summer Rose Sangria, Make It Ahead, page 24 (Recipe)
