The winter has stew, spring might have chocolate bunnies, and autumn has pumpkin spice coated everything — but summer has more food strictly associated with the summer (and summer alone) than any other. Everyone has a favorite summer food. And if you dont, you probably wouldnt be inside this article reading these words right now, would you?
The following dishes not only appeal to my own seasonal sensibilities, but represent some of the quintessential essences of the summer. Which is actually a great name for a cologne. Someone should get on that.
Anyway, put on “Summer Breeze,” (the Isley Bros. version, duh), scoop a few lightning bugs from your backyard, sweat profusely, and enjoy this jaunt down the summer food nostalgia wormhole.
Melons are often the most maligned of all fruit, dismissed as filler whos only existential duty is to provide foils for flashier fruits like berries, bananas, and even the normally humble grape. But, if theres any time to embrace the beauty and majesty of the cantaloupes and honeydews of the world, its certainly when the mercury rises to the top of the thermometer. A cool melon on a hot day. Its a good thing. Dont be a snob.
So, in honor of those foods that make each summertime a season to remember, let’s take a deep dive and rank the most iconic summer foods.Hot dogs. Joshua Resnick/Shutterstock.Corn on the cob. Zdravinjo/Shutterstock. … Ice cream. Polly Thomas/Getty Images. … Lobster. … Potato salad. … Burgers. … Watermelon. … Clams. …
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Hot dogs. Joshua Resnick/Shutterstock.
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Corn on the cob. Zdravinjo/Shutterstock. …
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Ice cream. Polly Thomas/Getty Images. …
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Lobster. …
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Potato salad. …
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Burgers. …
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Watermelon. …
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Clams. …
Corn (specifically, on the cob)
Growing up in New Jersey, sweet corn was a summertime staple on the same plane as not going to school and hitting your brother in the face with with a pool noodle. But objectively, it just seems that corn is fit for summer, especially whilst still attached to the cob. Can you even imagine someone in the wintertime, digging into a full ear of corn? Its a little bit messy. Honestly, its kind of goofy. And you need to work a little bit harder to really get the most out of it. Its kind of an egregious thing to eat, really. Frankly, the summer is the only time something like this could even be remotely acceptable.
The first of two seafood entries on this list, the clambake is more than just a dish, its a food-based activity. It brings the people together. And nothing screams warm weather camaraderie like a bunch of people hovering over a steaming plate of crustaceans. For the woefully uninformed, a clam bake is a New England-centric tradition of steaming various seafood (think lobster, crab, mussels, clams… basically anything with a shell and no face) over seaweed. You place all this in a pot. Then, you rejoice. Its a concentrated dose of summer in one belt-busting sitting.
Discover more of our top 10 summer salad recipes, including a peachy twist on panzanella and upgraded egg salad.
Find more inspiration in our meringue recipe collection, including a stunning brown sugar pavlova with fruit.
Celebrate the arrival of summer with this epic no-cook salad. Its popular with home cooks, with over 100 five-star ratings and counting, and is a simple assembly job of heritage tomatoes, feta and mango, as well as a zingy dressing made of mint, lime and basil.
Studded with blackberries and raspberries, this fruity loaf cake ticks all the boxes for an easy summer bake. You can even adapt it to use up whatever fruit you have, such as apricots, peaches or blueberries. Plus, it only requires 15 minutes of prep and can be frozen ahead of time.
Discover BBC Good Foods top-rated summer recipes that celebrate seasonal ingredients, such as courgettes, strawberries and tomatoes.
12 Most Hydrating Foods for Summer Season
FAQ
What is your favorite food in summer?
What is the most popular summer food?
The queen mother of all summertime foods, the humble hot dog easily tops the list of most iconic summer foods. Beloved by both children and adults alike, the easy-to-make, simple-to-eat food is a mainstay of any cookout from May through September.
What food has the highest amount of calories?
Fat-rich foods such as oils (for example: corn oil, olive oil, coconut oil) and butters (milk butter, nut butters) have the highest amount of calories per gram.
What to eat in summer?
A frosty glass with this juicy fruit is perfect for summer entertaining. Here’s a refreshing summer side dish: creamy cucumber salad with sour cream! The silky sauce with dill and shallots brings an irresistible flavor. This easy zucchini bread recipe will become a family favorite: it’s moistened by Greek yogurt and so fast to whip up.
What is the best summer produce?
The recipes below highlight the best summer produce, including: Vegetables like tomatoes, corn, zucchini, summer squash, green beans, eggplant, and cucumber Fruits like watermelon, peaches, strawberries, blueberries and raspberries Looking for something specific?