Side

If you don’t feel like smoking up your kitchen by charring the beans on the stovetop, try grilling or just blanching them instead.

You don’t have to use mozzarella; other fresh cheeses like ricotta, goat, or feta will work, though you might miss that stretchy molten-cheese effect.

If you’d like, soak the beans overnight before cooking; it will help them cook more quickly and evenly.

Not just for salad: Drizzle this savory herb-infused oil over grilled vegetables, steak, or roast chicken.

If you make this slaw ahead, the vegetables will continue to soften as they sit and become more like pickles, which isn’t a bad thing at all.

The method for marinating the feta in this salad is also a good trick for other fresh cheeses—try goat, mozzarella, or paneer.

You can use various heirloom cucumbers for this savory-sweet salad recipe; if you can find them, flaunt them.

Switch up this endlessly riffable salad to suit your preferences, but try to always include a mix of cooked and raw vegetables for the best textures.

Stir fresh basil and thyme into softened butter, and your grilled corn will taste even sweeter and more aromatic.

Tossing the tomatoes with lemon juice and fresh herbs intensifies their flavor.

Romano beans, also known as Italian flat beans, are pleasantly mild and sweet. Tossing them in this quick vinaigrette adds a robust, pungent flavor—they will complement any summery main dish.

Double-down on the dairy by tossing torn pieces of mozzarella in a bowl with sour cream, lemon juice, and salt to make an extra-rich, luscious topper for this greens-and-grains salad.

Turmeric, chiles, and chewy-nutty cooked grains balance the sweetness of fresh corn in this loose vegan riff on creamed corn.

Nothing says “Southern” like the smell of okra frying in a cast-iron skillet atop an angry flame.

People usually know tahdig as the layer of crispy rice at the bottom of the pot; however, potato tahdig may get you even more fans.

For maximum flavor without compromising char or texture, marinate summer squash after grilling for up to one hour. Bonus: you’ll have plenty of time to get that steak just right.

Turn the iconic cacio e pepe pasta into something a little more kid-friendly by tossing in fresh corn to add a pop of sweetness to every cheesy, peppery bite.