17 Light Dishes to Make for Lunch This Summer

By Food & Wine
Updated June 14, 2019
Credit: Greg DuPree
With summer weather, comes heat and humidity—so when you’re whipping up lunch, you’ll want something light. (Especially if you’re headed to a barbecue later in the day.) That means fresh vegetables, cold salads, delicate dressings, and of course, plenty of food on the grill. We’ve gathered up some of our favorite recipes, whether you’re in the mood for lobster sliders or an herbaceous flatbread. Read on to find out what we’re making for lunch this season.
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Pasta with Chunky Tomato and Summer Vegetable Sauce

Credit: Chris Court
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Lynch's rustic pasta is spicy and satisfying. It's adaptable to whatever summer vegetables are at their peak; here she uses tomatoes, zucchini, summer squash and eggplant.

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Barley and Grilled-Vegetable Salad

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This fresh salad is the ideal meal to consume during your summer pool days.

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Fish Tacos with Tomatillo-Jalapeño Salsa

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For her light and satisfying tacos, chef Deborah Schneider fills warm corn tortillas with meaty charred halibut and aguachiles, a brilliant, spicy, tart salsa.

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Skillet Corn and Peppers with Cilantro-Lime Mayo

Credit: © Chris Court
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After seeing Bobby Flay slather corn on the cob with lime butter before grilling on a cooking show, Hopkins came up with this skillet variation using kernels. To reflect the Central American influence on Southern cuisine, Hopkins adds sweet-hot Padron peppers, but you can substitute jalapenos.

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Tomato-and-Mozzarella Salad with Orange Oil

Credit: © John Cullen
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This update of a classic caprese salad combines heirloom tomatoes, several types of basil, mozzarella and orange-scented olive oil.

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Lobster Sliders

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These lush, miniature takes on classic New England lobster rolls are a staple of this sleek South End lounge and restaurant, one of the few places in Boston that serves great food late at night.

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Crunchy Tofu Tacos

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Joe Kim playfully combines fried tofu and peanuts in this take on tacos.

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Harissa Chicken with Green-Chile-and-Tomato Salad

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Grilling gives foods a great smoky flavor, but for even more of that flavor, turn to wood-fired ingredients like smoked paprika and chipotle chiles.

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Grilled Squash, Corn and Kale Salad with Sunflower Seed Vinaigrette

Credit: Adrian Gaut
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The creamy sunflower seed dressing for this hearty summer salad is flavored with za'atar, the classic Middle Eastern spice mix that often includes thyme, oregano or marjoram, sesame seeds, tangy sumac and often salt.

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Summer Bulgur and Green Bean Salad

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This lovely side dish of light, fluffy bulgur studded with bits of toasted almonds and crisp green beans is a wonderful alternative to rice.

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Grilled Summer Squash with Blue Cheese and Pecans

Credit: Eva Kolenko
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For grilled squash with a uniformly crisp texture, chef Vivian Howard of Chef & the Farmer in North Carolina cuts her squash lengthwise into quarters and then removes the seedy interior. This gorgeous summer squash salad is tossed with a bright, lemony dressing.

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Crackly and Chewy Grilled Flatbreads with Herbed Cheese Spread and Tomatoes

Credit: Victor Protasio
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What turns a flatbread made with just 4 ingredients (flour, yeast, salt, and water) from everyday to extraordinary is the starter—a yeast, flour, and water base that ferments overnight and gives the bread its distinct flavor and chew. Here the starter gives the flatbreads a crackly texture that’s then burnished on the grill. Top and finish like a pizza with Herbed Cheese Spread and fresh tomatoes, or tear into pieces for dipping.

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Bitter Greens with Soft-Boiled Eggs

Credit: Jennifer Causey
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The key to enjoying greens like radicchio and escarole in their raw state is to temper their bracingly bitter edge with the rich, the citrusy, and the sweet. The creamy golden yolks of soft-boiled eggs and a zesty vinaigrette bring everything together here. For crunch, batons of toasted sourdough (think chic croutons) are ideal for dipping in the egg.

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Green Corn Soup


Credit: Con Poulos
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This silky, cool corn soup gets its verdant flavor and color from spinach and jalapeños.

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Cold Saimin Salad with Soy-Ginger Grilled Pork

Credit: Victor Protasio
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This Hawaiian-style cold ramen noodle salad recipe is topped with slices of savory, crispy pork shoulder, crunchy bean sprouts, tender ribbons of egg, shredded nori, and slices of Japanese pickled cucumber. A cooling dressing of dashi, rice wine vinegar, and sake brings it all together. It makes a refreshing lunch or a hearty side dish at a cookout.

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Lobster Bisque

Credit: Victor Protasio
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Lobster shells from the tail, claws, knuckles, and legs are full of flavor and, when very gently simmered in water, yield a clean-tasting, briny stock. Seasoned with mirepoix, sherry, and herbs, this classic bisque is thickened with fragrant jasmine rice. Serve it hot or cold for a knockout lunch or simple supper.

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Spring Onion and Salami Sheet-Pan Pizza

Credit: Greg DuPree
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When making sheet-pan pizza, bring the dough to room temp before shaping. This ensures the gluten is relaxed and the dough doesn’t shrink from the pan edges.

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