5 Dinner Recipes That Celebrate Summer Produce

Especially my favorite, tomatoes.

By
Micah Siva, RD
Micah Siva
Micah Siva, RD
Micah Siva is a trained chef, registered dietitian, recipe writer, and food photographer, specializing in modern Jewish cuisine. She runs Nosh with Micah, her personal blog.
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Published June 30, 2025
Micah Siva
A bowl of pasta garnished with spinach and red pepper flakes, Simply Recipes logo in the corner

Simply Recipes / Sara Tane

Summer has always been my favorite season, and after living in California for the last five years and moving to Illinois this past winter, it feels especially sweet. While we lived in Northern California, the quality of local produce was unparalleled, and I’m sad to say that I took it for granted.

When we packed up and moved to the Chicago area (during winter, no less), I found myself daydreaming of the farmer’s markets of my past. With the warmer weather, my spirits have lifted, and I’m ready to embrace all things summer, including the produce.

This week especially, I’m leaning into the beautiful tomatoes I picked up at the farmer’s market to make not one, but two recipes centered around juicy, sweet tomatoes! 

  • Bruschetta with Tomato and Basil

    Close-up, overhead photo of bruschetta with tomato and basil

    Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

    Tomatoes and basil are a match made in heaven. I’m planning on serving this on pieces of toasted sourdough for an open-faced tomato sandwich. The recipe calls for peeling the tomatoes, but if I’m being honest, I’ll probably skip that step. Instead, I'll use cherry tomatoes, salt them, and let them rest for 10 minutes before draining out the excess liquid. 

  • Beef Kebabs

    Beef Kabobs

    Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer

    Founder Elise Bauer says, "I love, really truly love beef kebabs. Why? They're fun, they're on a stick. You can make your own, just the way you want them (lots of mushrooms, please). If you've marinated the meat properly (several hours or preferably overnight), they're the most juicy wonderful morsels you could possibly eat."

  • No-Cook Tomato Basil Pasta

    Two Bowls of No Cook Tomato Sauce Pasta

    Simply Recipes / Sarah Tane

    Tomato season is upon us! I wait months to get juicy, ripe tomatoes, and I am going to make them my entire personality this summer. I love that this recipe celebrates the rich, umami flavor of this summer crop. I plan to prepare this before I start work, and let the flavors meld and marry before tossing it with freshly cooked pasta at dinner time.

  • Seared Ahi Tuna

    A plate of ahi tuna served over fennel salad.

    Simply Recipes / Lori Rice

    If you think it’s hard to replicate your favorite restaurant ahi tuna, think again! Best served rare, it cooks in less than ten minutes for a protein that feels fancier than it is. I’m going to serve mine with blistered shishito peppers and creamy coconut rice for when friends are over for dinner.

    Continue to 5 of 5 below

  • Greek Cucumber Sandwich

    one-minute cucumber sandwich

    Simply Recipes / Sara Haas

    Recipe developer Sara Haas says, "I love making tzatziki from scratch, but it takes a bit of time to prepare. That’s why I'll often buy prepared versions when I know I have a busy week ahead. I’m currently crushing on the delicious version made by Whole Foods, but other brands like Cedars are also great."

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