Summer

If you have a perfectly ripe melon—great! If you don’t, no worries. The salt, acid, and a bit of heat here will give life to lackluster specimens.

Plums have a sweet but brightly acidic flavor, which suits them well as a topping for this savory porridge.

You can use almost any type of plum in this salad recipe, even hybrid ones like Pluots and Peacotums. If it looks like a plum, it probably acts like a plum too.

Eggplant gets a big lift from buttery avocado and an irresistibly kicky, creamy sauce.

These easy crumble bars are the ultimate bring-over dessert. They're incredible when made with blackberries, but any other berries that look good—raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, or a even a combination—make a more than acceptable substitute.

How to keep your nice cream nice.

Eggplant is one of the true stars of summer, but it can be tricky to cook. Because it absorbs oil like a sponge during frying, we prefer the oven-roasted method in this recipe, which yields tender, caramelized slices minus all the mess.

Plenty of cheese, peak summer tomatoes, tons of garlic, and a cracker crust make for a totally addicting savory pie.

You want that lamb fat to render out gently; it’ll eventually become part of the sauce that will tie the whole dish together.

These recipes don't have more than 5 ingredients, but they look like a million bucks.

Because it's too hot for that nonsense.

Corn cake three-ways: fresh corn kernels, a little bit of cornmeal, plus crunchy Corn Flakes.

The juices from the tomatoes, squash, and dressing make for a magical combination—you’ll need crusty bread to soak it up with.

You'll love this riff on classic peaches and cream.

You’ll want something crunchy to go with the soft pudding. Pistachios are just the start! Choose any nut or seed you like.

Caramel-peach perfection.

These three-ingredient biscuits work with any cobbler.

Plus: the secret ingredient for a much creamier flavor.

This not-too-sweet curd can also be drizzled over pancakes, berries, or ice cream.

Serve this dip with chips, as part of a meze platter, or slather it on grilled chicken thighs.

What do to with your farmers' market fruit haul.

This sauce tastes like a cross between ranch and Alabama white sauce, which means you can basically put it on anything.

Eat standing up, ideally over the sink.