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    Cooking Gorgeous » Uncategorized

    Lazy Summer Dinner Ideas For Feeding a Crowd

    Published: Aug 20, 2024 by Ayla Clulee · This post may contain affiliate links.

    When summer rolls around and the days get longer, the last thing anyone wants is to spend hours in the kitchen. That’s where this collection of easy summer dinner ideas comes in handy. They’re quick, low-effort, and perfect for feeding a crowd without spending hours in the kitchen. Whether it’s a backyard gathering or a relaxed family dinner, these recipes will keep everyone happy, while you stay cool and stress-free.

    Bamya - Turkish Okra Stew

    Turkish bamya stew with chicken
    Ayla Clulee

    Bamya, also known as Bamia or Bamyeh, is a classic Turkish stew dish made with okra, tomatoes, onions, garlic, and lemon juice. This delicious and healthy stew traditionally contains lamb, beef, or chicken, and the secret to its rich flavor is the long, slow simmering process that gently brings the flavors together.

    To learn more: Bamya - Turkish Okra Stew

    Mediterranean Style Braised Green Beans

    turkish green beans are served in a bowl
    Image Credit: Image credit goes to.

    Mediterranean Green Beans (Zeytinyagli Taze Fasulye in Turkish) are a popular vegetarian/vegan dish that is cooked quite often in most Turkish homes during the summer. 

    You can make this simple yet delicious dish beforehand and serve it warm or at room temperature. All you need is green beans, ripened summer tomatoes, onions, and good-quality olive oil to cook this scrumptious summer dish.

    To learn more: Mediterranean Green Beans (Taze Fasulye)

    Air Fryer Chicken Shish Kebabs

    Ayla Clulee

    Air Fryer Chicken Skewers, also known as Shish Kebabs, are a fantastic way to bring the joy of grilling into your kitchen with minimal fuss. They’re quick to prepare, cook evenly, and deliver that delicious, slightly charred taste we all love. Perfect for a weeknight dinner or a weekend treat, these skewers will become a favorite in no time.

    To learn more: Air Fryer Chicken Skewers - Shish Kebabs

    Air Fryer Teriyaki Salmon

    Ayla Clulee

    Air Fryer Teriyaki Salmon Bites are the perfect way to enjoy a healthy family meal on a hectic weeknight dinner. Bite-sized pieces of salmon are marinated in a rich teriyaki sauce and then cooked to perfection in an air fryer. 

    This foolproof recipe will give you the most delicious salmon bites that are perfect for any occasion.

    To learn more: Air Fryer Teriyaki Salmon Bites

    Aubergine Papoutsakia

    Ayla Clulee

    Eggplant Papoutsakia (or Patlıcan Pabucaki) is a delightful vegetarian stuffed eggplant dish from Greek and Turkish cuisine. While it traditionally includes ground meat stuffing similar to Greek Moussaka (Musaka), I prefer this vegetarian version as a lighter option, especially during the summer.

    To learn more: Papoutsakia - Vegetarian Greek Stuffed Eggplant

    Chicken Parmesan Sandwich

    2 chicken parmesan sandwiches
    Ayla Clulee

    If you're looking for a sandwich that's crispy, cheesy, and downright delicious, you've got to try this delicious Chicken Parmesan Sandwich Recipe. Imagine a perfectly fried crispy chicken breast topped with marinara sauce and gooey mozzarella cheese, all nestled in a soft, grilled ciabatta roll. It's super easy to make and is perfect for lunch, weeknight dinner, or a fun family weekend treat. 

    To learn more: Chicken Parmesan Sandwich Recipe

    Rice Stuffed Courgettes

    5 pieces of kayak dolma served with yogurt
    Ayla Clulee

    Kabak Dolması, or Rice-stuffed Zucchini (courgette in the UK), is a traditional dish that brings together fresh zucchini and a flavorful filling made with rice, ground meat, fresh herbs, onions, and spices. This popular Middle Eastern dish is not only tasty but also surprisingly easy to make. It pairs wonderfully with yogurt and is truly worth trying.

    To learn more: Kabak Dolmasi - Rice-Stuffed Zucchini

    Turkish Doner Kebab

    doner kebab served in pita bread
    Ayla Clulee

    If you want to try some popular and delicious Turkish street food at home, this Doner Kebab Recipe is an excellent choice. Doner kebab is a type of meat that is traditionally cooked on a vertical rotisserie. The meat, often lamb, chicken, or beef, is marinated with a blend of spices and herbs and then is stacked in an inverted cone shape, slowly rotating next to a heat source. As it cooks, the outer layers are thinly sliced and served with sliced tomatoes, and onions in bread, or over Turkish Rice Pilaf.

    To learn more: Turkish Doner Kebab Recipe

    Air Fryer Chicken Patties

    Ayla Clulee

    These deliciously juicy Air Fryer Chicken Patties are effortless to make and ready in just 20 minutes—a perfect solution for weeknight dinners!

    Being busy with work and family, finding time to cook wholesome meals can be tough. But ever since I added air fryer chicken patties to my weekly meals, dinner’s been a breeze. These savory patties cook up way faster than traditional meals, making them perfect for hectic weeknights or lazy weekends.

    To learn more: Air Fryer Chicken Patties

    Pea Stew with Lamb

    Bezenye Yemegi served with rice and cacik
    Ayla Clulee

    Etli Bezelye Yemeği, or Pea Stew with Meat and Potatoes, is a popular summer dish in Turkish cuisine. It combines tender meat, sweet peas, and a simple tomato sauce into a delicious and nutritious meal. This super simple dish uses everyday ingredients to whip up a family meal that's both flavorsome and packed with goodness. Plus, it’s a fun way to sneak more veggies onto your plate without sacrificing flavor.

    To learn more: Etli Bezelye Yemeği - Pea Stew with Meat

    Air Fryer Chicken Cutlets

    5 pieces of air fryer chicken cutlets
    Ayla Clulee

    These Crispy Breaded Air Fryer Chicken Cutlets are all about that perfect crunch on the outside and juicy tenderness on the inside. They’re a breeze to whip up, taking only 24 minutes; perfect for those busy weeknights!

    To learn more: Crispy Breaded Air Fryer Chicken Cutlets

    BBQ Chicken Thighs

    6 pieces of chicken thighs grilled on bbq served with grilled veggies
    Ayla Clulee

    These Grilled BBQ Chicken Thighs are a favorite in our household. They’re incredibly easy to make and perfect for everything from weeknight family dinners to weekend backyard barbecue parties.

    To learn more: Grilled BBQ Chicken Thighs

    Ratatouille Nicoise

    Ayla Clulee

    Traditional French Ratatouille dish is a delightful marriage of tomatoes, eggplant, zucchini, and bell peppers, infused with aromatic herbs and a hint of garlic. 

    You can enjoy it as a side dish alongside grilled chicken or meat, especially lamb, or as a vegetarian or vegan main course served over plain rice, couscous, or simply mixed with pasta.

    To learn more: Traditional French Ratatouille Nicoise Recipe

    Red Pepper and Tomato Soup

    red pepper and tomato soup served in a bowl and garnished with olive oil and basil
    Ayla Clulee

    Roasted Red Pepper and Tomato Soup is super easy to make, extremely delicious, healthy, and full of Mediterranean flavors. 

    This low-carb keto soup is made with roasted red peppers, juicy end-of-summer tomatoes, and onions. The natural flavor of the fresh tomatoes is what determines the flavor of the soup so using fully ripe tomatoes is the key to success!

    To learn more: Roasted Red Pepper and Tomato Soup

    Turkish Beef Koftes

    Ayla Clulee

    Try out these soft, juicy, and delicious Turkish beef meatballs namely Inegol Kofte (Inegol meatballs), which is a classic and one of the nation's favorites.

    Inegol Kofte has only 10 minutes of hands-on preparation and is very easy to make but it requires overnight marinating after the first stage of preparation.

    To learn more: Inegol Kofte - Turkish Beef Kofta Recipe

    Cheesy Baked Prawns

    baked shrimp served with salad and crusty bread
    Ayla Clulee

    Cheesy Baked Shrimp (Karides Guvec) is a delicious Turkish dish usually served as an appetizer or a hot meze in seafood restaurants. 

    It is made of fresh plump prawns cooked in a garlicky tomato & mushroom sauce and then topped with cheese

    To learn more: Cheesy Baked Shrimp (Karides Guvec)

    Vegan Lentil Meatballs

    serving mercimek Koftesi with lettuce leaves and sliced lemons
    Ayla Clulee

    Turkish Vegan Lentil Meatballs is a healthy and flavourful Turkish dish consisting of fine bulgur, red lentils, onions, tomato & red pepper paste, and spices.

    These aromatic vegetarian meatballs are inexpensive and very easy to make. Just like Easy Meatless Cig Kofte, they are usually served as an appetizer, a healthy snack, or a part of a mezze platter.

    To learn more: Mercimek Kofte (Vegan Lentil Meatballs

    Grilled Lamb Kofte

    Ayla Clulee

    Grilled Lamb Kofta (Izgara Kofte in Turkish) is one of the most popular street foods in Turkey consisting of minced lamb and aromatic spices such as coriander and paprika. 

    It is extremely easy to make at home with just a few simple ingredients and some basic cooking skills. They are traditionally cooked over charcoal but you can cook them on a gas BBQ, on the stove, or even in the oven grill.

    To learn more: Turkish Grilled Lamb Kofta - Izgara Kofte

    « Deliciously Healthy Snacks You Can Make at Home
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    Welcome to Cooking Gorgeous, where delicious easy-to-follow recipes and culinary inspiration await you! My name is Ayla Clulee, a passionate and professional Cordon Bleu-trained chef, recipe developer, and food content creator with decades of experience. I am based in the UK, and I'm thrilled to have you here.

    The kitchen is my happy place and cooking is my therapy.

    More about me →

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