Summer may be a few weeks away on the Gregorian calendar, but we’re already full speed ahead with summer cooking and eating. We’re sizzling juicy picanha steaks and teriyaki chicken thighs on the grill, creating potluck-worthy sides like Texas caviar and Japanese potato salad, and transforming the season’s bounty into beautiful desserts like Summer Berry Galette. Here are our most favorite recipes from May that we can’t wait to return to all summer long.
Grilled Picanha with Piri Piri
Victor Protacio / Food Styling: Margaret Dickie / Prop Styling: Claire Spollen
If you haven’t bought any picanha yet, this easy recipe from Junior Borges might inspire you to add this affordable, tender meat to your grilling repertoire. The meat is simply seasoned and served with a bright, spicy-sweet sauce.
Bakewell Coffee Cake
Victor Protacio / Food Styling: Margaret Monroe Dickey / Prop Styling: Claire Spollen
This no-fuss breakfast dessert from F&W senior food editor Cheryl Slocum is inspired by Britain’s Bakewell tart, with almond cream and cherry jam swirls into a vanilla-scented dough and topped with crunchy almonds.
Chili Crisp Shrimp Scampi
Food & Wine / Photography: Robbie Lozano / Food Styling: Jasmine Smith / Prop Styling: Tucker Vines
Everyone loves a chili crisp and everyone loves shrimp scampi: stuffed with garlicky shrimp and topped with a spicy chili crisp and crunchy fried shallots, it’s an easy weeknight dinner.
Beef Satay with Mushroom and Coconut Peanut Sauce
Greg Dupree / Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer / Prop Styling: Claire Spollen
These Indonesian skewers are smothered in umami-packed kecap manis sauce, a rich, slightly tangy coconut-peanut sauce that helps caramelize the meat and mushrooms as they cook, and is then drizzled over the finished skewers.
Japanese-style potato salad
Greg Dupree / Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer / Prop Styling: Tom Driver
This creamy potato salad from chef and cookbook author Sawako Okochi is made with sweet Kewpie mayonnaise and loaded with crunchy veggies like cucumber, peas, carrots, and corn for a satisfying combination of textures.
Sheet Pan Salmon with Gin-Pickled Tomatoes
Greg Dupree / Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer / Prop Styling: Tom Driver
In this hassle-free dinner, a salmon fillet is slow-roasted until meltingly tender, while soft roasted tomatoes and shallots pair beautifully with the vegetal notes of gin and salty capers.
Red lentils Akoho si Voanio (Madagascar coconut lentils)
Greg Dupree / Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer / Prop Styling: Claire Spollen
This curried vegetarian dish features red lentils simmered with tomatoes, coconut milk, and spices like turmeric and ginger. These hearty, warm lentils are delicious served with a bowl of steamed rice.
Breakfast Ramen
Food & Wine / Photography: Robbie Lozano / Food Styling: Jasmine Smith / Prop Styling: Tucker Vines
Turn breakfast into dinner with this satisfying bacon, egg, and cheese dish. Commercially available ramen noodles are quickly boiled in a soy sauce-infused broth, and the eggs are boiled in the same liquid, making cleanup a breeze.
Texas Sheet Cake
Food & Wine / Photography: Jen Causey / Food Styling: Emily Nabor Hall / Prop Styling: Tucker Vines
Texas sheet cake is characterised by warm chocolate icing that’s poured over the cake while it’s still warm, creating an irresistible, fudgy top layer. Our version is topped with cinnamon- and cayenne-spiced candied pecans for an extra festive touch.
Teriyaki chicken thighs with ginger and lemongrass
Greg Dupree / Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer / Prop Styling: Tom Driver
Spread some store-bought teriyaki sauce on bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs and grill until golden brown. Spoon some fragrant ginger and lemongrass-infused coconut oil over the chicken for extra flavor.
Hot Honey Halloumi Slider
Greg Dupree / Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer / Prop Styling: Tom Driver
This easy-to-make party dish calls for store-bought Hawaiian rolls, salty halloumi cheese marinated in honey and Calabrian chiles, and layered with roasted red peppers and zesty arugula.
Summer Berry Galette
Food & Wine / Photography: Jason Donnelly / Food Styling: Holly Dreesman / Prop Styling: Adeline Evans
This rustic galette from 2022 F&W Best New Chef Caroline Schiff is loaded with juicy strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries, and is naturally sweetened with a touch of sugar and lemon juice.
Crispy Shrimp Sandwich with Creamy Coleslaw
Greg Dupree / Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer / Prop Styling: Tom Driver
Inspired by the famous sandwich from Big Oak Drive-In & BBQ in Salter Path, North Carolina, this satisfying sandwich is loaded with crispy fried shrimp and colorful, creamy coleslaw. Every bite is garnished with a dash of tangy cocktail sauce and store-bought hot sauce.
Raspberry, orange and tomato salad with honey mirin vinaigrette
Greg Dupree / Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer / Prop Styling: Tom Driver
This gorgeous summer salad is tossed in an umami-packed vinaigrette, and tangy radishes add texture and flavor to the juicy tomato and raspberry combination.
Sautéed salmon with pistachio pesto
Greg Dupree / Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer / Prop Styling: Tom Driver
Easy to make on a weeknight, this crispy salmon is seared in a hot cast iron skillet to create a flavorful crust, and this simple and vibrant pistachio pesto is made in a bowl, no food processor or blender needed.
Texas Caviar
Jennifer Causey / Food Styling: Margaret Monroe Dickey / Prop Styling: Claire Spollen
Also known as cowboy caviar, this crisp, tangy bean salad is the perfect make-ahead potluck side dish. Our version features black-eyed peas, tomatoes, bell peppers, jalapeños, red onions, and a zesty dressing.
Air fryer roasted chicken with rosemary orange sauce
Food & Wine / Photography: Stacey Allen / Food Styling: Emily Neighbors-Hall / Prop Styling: Tucker Vines
Yes, you can cook a whole chicken in an air fryer. And it only takes 45 minutes. Dried blins infused with citrus zest, herbs, and salt help make the skin extra crispy, while the orange and lemon filling keeps the chicken moist.
Cherry Lime Popsicles
Greg Dupree / Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer / Prop Styling: Tom Driver
Inspired by the Savannah, Georgia favorite “Thrills,” these frozen treats are made with tart cherry juice, lime juice and syrup in disposable cups. What could be more iconic than summer?
Chicago Style Hot Dog
Food & Wine / Photography: Morgan Hunt Glaze / Food Styling: Julian Hensarling / Prop Styling: Julia Bayless
Few hot dogs are as iconic and flashy as the Chicago hot dog: Boiled only with beef, the hot dog is sandwiched between a steamed bun and topped with finely chopped white onions, sweet green relish, sliced tomatoes, dill pickles, sport peppers, and celery salt. Whatever you do, don’t add ketchup.
Bolo cremoso de millo (creamy corn cake)
Victor Protacio / Food Styling: Margaret Dickey / Prop Styling: Claire Spollen
This seven-ingredient skillet cake and Brazilian specialty from chef Junior Borges tastes similar to cornbread thanks to the cornmeal, but the inside is sweet and custardy, with a contrast of creamy and crispy.
