29 Vegetarian Recipes to Cook This Summer
Gone are the days when summer’s best vegetarian recipes consisted of just Caprese salad and grilled vegetable skewers. This list is packed with hearty, flavorful dinner recipes, plus tons that are welcome any time of day. Grill masters, don’t worry: nobody said you can’t get that charcoal kettle going—plenty of meatless ingredients welcome a bit of char. Whether you’re looking for quick weeknight vegetarian dinner ideas, something to celebrate your farmers market haul to take along to a picnic, or a crowd-pleasing dish for the holiday barbecue, these summery vegetarian recipes have your back. Because when it’s too hot to turn on the oven, you maybe need a little extra inspiration.
Photograph by Isa Zapata1/29Curried Tomato Sandwich
This summer, vegetarian recipes take the main stage, and there’s no better way to start than with a tomato sandwich. Consider this a sign to make sure you have a good tomato-slicing knife.
Photo by Elizabeth Coetzee, Food Styling by Mieko Takahashi, Prop Styling by Alexandra Massillon2/29Corn Fritters With Hot Honey
These crispy, lacy fritters are a perfect side dish or appetizer for any summer table. And not for nothing, you could also use them as the base for an eggs Benedict-type situation.
Photograph by by Travis Rainey, Food styling by Sean Dooley, Prop Styling by Marc Williams3/29Cold Soy Milk Noodles With Chili Crisp
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Thu Buser, Prop Styling by Stephanie De Luca4/29Pan-Fried Pizza With Peaches and Burrata
Photograph by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Mieko Takahashi5/29Honey and Bitters Fruit Salad
No one will skip the fruit salad when it’s laced with honey, Angostura bitters, Tajín, and nutmeg. (And when fall rolls around, try the same treatment on apples, figs, pears, and grapes.)
Photo by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Kay Boytsova6/29Summer Corn Rice
Brighten this sweet, buttery rice by serving alongside a spicy, cilantro-heavy salad that’s strewn with juicy stone fruit.
Photo by Emma Fishman, food styling by Kat Boystova, Prop Styling by Allie Wist7/29Kimchi-Melon Gazpacho
Photograph by Elizabeth Coetzee, Food Styling by Taneka Morris, Prop Styling by Christina Allen8/29Basil Fried Rice
Photograph by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Mieko Takahashi9/29Cold Noodles With Tomatoes and Peanut Sauce
Photograph by Alex Huang, Food Styling by Tiffany Schleigh, Prop Styling by Tim Ferro10/29Summer Bean Gribiche
You may know green beans as Thanksgiving food, but they’re actually a summer vegetable. Adorn them with boiled eggs and a sprightly dressing of white wine vinegar, shallots, cornichons, and capers.
Photograph by Heami Lee, Food Styling by Thu Buser, Prop Styling by JoJo Li11/29Seared Halloumi Cheese and Nectarine Salad
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Thu Buser, Prop Styling by Stephanie De Luca12/29Mango Salsa
Spoon this mango salsa over meatless Cuban-style black beans—preferably into corn tortillas—for dreamy tacos you’ll want to make your go-to summer meal.
Photograph by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Thu Buser, Prop Styling by Sean Dooley13/29Tomato Toast With Blue Cheese Butter
Photograph by Heami Lee, Food Styling by Thu Buser, Prop Styling by JoJo Li14/29Cheesy Cornbread With Tomatoes
Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Kaitlin Wayne, prop styling by Stephanie De Luca15/29Creamy Sesame Pasta Slaw
Tangy coleslaw meets creamy pasta salad, with a little extra oomph from toasted sesame seeds in this easy summer side dish.
Photograph by Jessica Pettway, Food Styling by Judy Kim, Prop Styling by Stephanie Yeh16/29Crispy Coconutty Zucchini Fritters
These crispy veg fritters are inspired by Indian-style bhajia. Serve them alongside a cooling yogurt sauce and maybe a melon and cucumber salad.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Spencer Richards, Prop Styling by Marina Bevilacqua17/29Spicy Caesar Potato Salad
Inspired by Caesar salad, these potatoes get a hit of heat from Calabrian chile paste. To keep it vegetarian, skip the anchovy and replace the Worchestershire with a bit of soy sauce. And if you want to go totally plant-based, our vegan mayo taste test has you covered.
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Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Jillian Knox, prop styling Sophie Peoples18/29Peach-Pecan Kale Salad With Hot-Honey Vinaigrette
Photograph by Alex Huang, Food Styling by Tiffany Schleigh, Prop Styling by Tim Ferro19/29Japanese Eggplant With Cashews and Chiles
Photograph by Alex Huang, Food Styling by Tiffany Schleigh, Prop Styling by Tim Ferro20/29Italian Long Hots With Tahini Yogurt
Photograph by Alex Huang, Food Styling by Tiffany Schleigh, Prop Styling by Tim Ferro21/29Alfredo Corn
Basically, a maximalist creamed corn, we love channeling cacio e pepe and pasta Alfredo vibes by using tons of grated Parmesan (make sure it’s vegetarian; or Pecorino if you’d like) and good black pepper.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Sean Dooley, Prop Styling by Marina Bevilacqua22/29Jammy Cumin Plums and Feta Salad
Watermelon swaps in well if you can’t find good plums. Make this a one-bowl meal by stirring in a can of chickpeas and a cooked grain, such as farro or quinoa.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Taneka Morris, Prop Styling by Catherine Campbell Pearson23/29Black Bean Smash Burger
You don’t need meat for a BBQ: These black bean patties are treated like smash burgers to make the crispiest DIY veggie burgers.
Photo by Alex Lau, food styling by Rebecca Jurkevich, prop styling by Kalen Kaminski24/29Lentil Niçoise Salad
In-season tomatoes stun in this make-ahead-friendly salad. If lentils don’t float your wagon, swap in chickpeas, butter beans, or even fresh summer field peas.
Photo by Chelsie Craig, Food Styling by Pearl Jones25/29Fancy and Beautiful Tomato Salad
Make it a one-bowl meal by tossing in crispy chickpeas or spooning the salad over hummus.
Photo by Alex Lau, prop styling by Kendra Smoot26/29Roasted Red Pepper Frittata
This simple frittata is packed with sweet red bell peppers, potatoes, and white or red onions. If you have pesto, a little dollop on top is a perfect sauce for serving.
Photo by Emma Fishman, Food Styling by D'mytrek Brown, Props by Meilen Ceramics28/29Corn & Chickpea Bowl With Miso-Jalapeño Tahini
Photo by Alex Lau, food styling by Susie Theodorou, prop styling by Aneta Florczyk29/29Spaghetti With No-Cook Puttanesca