Part of the beauty of summer is its produce and how they combine for delicious, simple meals. Take corn for example. It’s sweet, it’s on sale and who doesn’t love it? Serve it on the cob after roasting in the oven or grilling. Cook more than you need for one meal and cut the kernels off for another meal a couple days later. Whole grains, like barley, are another thing I often cook extra of in order to toss together a quick meal another day. Work smarter, not harder as you develop confidence in the kitchen.
I hear that some cultures prepare okra whole and I’m interested to try it that way. Does anyone have a suggestion? I usually slice it into half inch pieces and sauté in olive oil until the goo inside cooks out. That’s what I know about cooking okra so that it doesn’t have a slimy texture. It’s delicious, in case you were unsure about okra until now…After that, you can add the other vegetables you desire, such as onion and celery. Maybe a tomato or a pepper? What’s in your garden? Season it up with some garlic, French thyme or oregano…or what else?
Cooking without a recipe is simple if you stock basic pantry items, proteins in the freezer and combine with fresh seasonal produce. After defrosting shrimp and tossing in olive oil and garlic powder, they cooked in the skillet with the vegetables and barley. Put them in once everything else is tender so they don’t overcook. They only need a few minutes to turn pink. Topped off with an avocado and hot sauce, this was a delightful meal requiring very little prep. More time for the ones you love, I say.
And please remember to boil the shrimp shells for zero waste cooking. You will thank yourself later for thinking ahead and simplifying future meal prep with free flavor gems.
Which simple meals define summer for you? Please leave a comment and share using buttons below if you found anything useful here.
Very nice ideas!