Goat Cheese & Heirloom Tomato Tart

It’s summer in a tart shell: with creamy basil goat cheese and juicy vine-ripe heirloom tomatoes nestled in a savory parmesan shortcrust. Peak tomato season is officially here! Make the most of it with this gorgeous (and delicious) goat cheese and tomato tart, with fresh heirloom tomatoes rather than roasted to really showcase their bright […]

It’s summer in a tart shell: with creamy basil goat cheese and juicy vine-ripe heirloom tomatoes nestled in a savory parmesan shortcrust.

Peak tomato season is officially here! Make the most of it with this gorgeous (and delicious) goat cheese and tomato tart, with fresh heirloom tomatoes rather than roasted to really showcase their bright flavor and gorgeous colors.

Heirloom tomato and goat cheese tart on a gray background surrounded by heirloom tomatoes

This is the first week we’ve gotten tomatoes with our CSA, and this tart was the first thing on my list to make (along with some caprese, of course, and luckily we have more than enough tomatoes for both).

We first made this tart last summer after a particularly successful farmers market haul left us with a stunning assortment of heirloom tomatoes.

We had planned to make two meals out of it, considering the recipe yields a full 9-inch tart. But the two of us devoured the entire thing in a single sitting. That’s how good it is.

Goat Cheese & Heirloom Tomato Tart on a marble plate surrounded by more tomatoes

What differentiates this tart from the countless other tomato tart recipes out there is this one is unbaked, leaving the tomatoes fresh and juicy and brightly flavored. Sure, baked tomatoes have their place, but when your vine-ripe summer tomatoes are this good, it’s a shame to subject them to heat.

The crust is also simply spectacular, adding grated parmesan to a standard shortcrust for an extra savory twist. Not to mention it’s dead simple, you don’t even have to roll it out (just dump the crumb mixture into your tart pan and press it into the bottom and up the sides).

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Grilled Watermelon Halloumi Skewers with Minted Basil Oil.

My new favorite meal is watermelon halloumi skewers! If you think watermelon and feta is a good combo, just WAIT until your try watermelon and halloumi! Oh my goodness – it’s wonderful. And yes, I could totally eat this as a meal. Now Eddie? He might look at me like I have ten heads. It’s […]

The post Grilled Watermelon Halloumi Skewers with Minted Basil Oil. appeared first on How Sweet Eats.

My new favorite meal is watermelon halloumi skewers!

grilled watermelon halloumi skewers with mint basil oil

If you think watermelon and feta is a good combo, just WAIT until your try watermelon and halloumi!

Oh my goodness – it’s wonderful. And yes, I could totally eat this as a meal. Now Eddie? He might look at me like I have ten heads.

watermelon halloumi skewers ready for the grill

It’s been a very watermelony week around here. On instagram, I shared one of my favorite watermelon salads – a savory wedge salad. It has blue cheese and orange zest and tomatoes and it’s deeeelish. 

It’s just so darn out hot right now that it’s like my body NEEDS all the watermelon to keep my hydrated. The kids love, it’s refreshing and delicious and you pretty much can’t go wrong.

Especially when you skewer it with CHEESE.

fresh basil leaves

Last summer I made these grilled vegetable and halloumi skewers regularly. They were a staple! I figured let’s try it with fruit and it turned out fantastic. 

Now, I’ve grilled watermelon before. With cheese too. Years ago I also made these grilled watermelon caprese salads. The combo of savory, smoky grilled watermelon with the caprese vibe is incredible.

grilled watermelon halloumi skewers right off the grill

And these skewers sort of remind me of that. We grill the halloumi and watermelon together – I like to do one piece of halloumi for every three or even four pieces of watermelon. The halloumi is so rich that you don’t need much. A little goes a long way.

And all that you need to flavor these skewers? A little olive oil, salt and pepper.

That’s it. 

grilled watermelon halloumi skewers with mint basil oil

But! We also make a mint basil oil. Last year I also made this basil oil all the time – it’s delicious on pasta, on vegetables, drizzled on salads – everything. 

So I decided to throw a few mint leaves into the bunch. Again, they are an ingredient that makes everything taste super fresh.

The oil is a little high maintenance, but worth it. Store it in the fridge and serve it with summer lunches and dinner! 

drizzling mint basil oil on grilled watermelon halloumi skewers

Sure, this whole plate is a little mix of things that I’ve made before, in a whole new way. These are really fun to make on the weekend or a nice change to make for a dinner side dish. Especially if you have something else to throw on the grill. 

They can feed a group too – if you have a few people over for dinner, I usually make one skewer per person. You can also slide everything off the skewer into a salad bowl!

Super versatile and fun too. Let it be fancy summer.

grilled watermelon halloumi skewers with mint basil oil

Watermelon Halloumi Skewers

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Watermelon Halloumi Skewers

These grilled watermelon halloumi skewers are loaded with savory, slightly sweet flavor and drizzle with a fresh mint and basil oil. Delish!
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings 4 people
Author How Sweet Eats

Ingredients

  • 2 cups 1-inch cubed watermelon
  • 1 8-ounce block halloumi cheese, cut into 1 inch cubes
  • salt and pepper
  • olive oil for drizzling or spraying
  • a few fresh mint and basil leaves for skewering

minted basil oil

  • 1 cup tightly packed sweet basil leaves
  • ¼ cup fresh mint leaves
  • 1/2 cup olive oil
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

  • Preheat the grill to medium-high. I like to keep mine around 400 degrees F.
  • Skewer the watermelon and halloumi. I like to do about 3 pieces of watermelon to every 1 piece of halloumi. The halloumi is rich enough that you don’t need a lot! Spritz or brush the watermelon skewers with olive oil. Season with salt and pepper.
  • Place the skewers on the grill (you can use a grill pan if you wish! But directly on the grates is fine too) and grill for 1 to 2 minutes per side, rotating the skewers, Once they cheese and melon is golden and caramely, it’s good to go!
  • Remove and drizzle the skewers with the mint basil oil. Garnish with a few chopped leaves.

minted basil oil

  • Bring a pot of water to a boil to blanch the basil and mint. Prepare a bowl of ice water next to it. Once boiling, add the basil to the pot and cook for 10 seconds. Remove it and immediately place it in the ice bath. Leave it in there for a few minutes to make sure it is cold, then remove it and squeeze excess liquid from the leaves. Chop the basil into pieces.
  • Place the basil in a high powered blender or food processor. Add the olive oil and salt and puree until the oil is smooth and green. It may be frothy, so let the oil sit for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, strain it through a fine mesh sieve or cheesecloth to remove the basil bits. Ues a spoon to push any oil through the sieve.
  • At this point you can use the oil right away or store it in the fridge for a week!

grilled watermelon halloumi skewers with mint basil oil

I mean, I also live for pink food.

The post Grilled Watermelon Halloumi Skewers with Minted Basil Oil. appeared first on How Sweet Eats.

1-Pot Vegetable Green Curry

This 1-pot curry is made in 30 minutes with ingredients you likely have on hand right now. Plus, the vegetable and protein options are customizable. Let us show you how it’s done!
About Green Curry
Green curry is a popular Thai dish believed to have or…

1-Pot Vegetable Green Curry

This 1-pot curry is made in 30 minutes with ingredients you likely have on hand right now. Plus, the vegetable and protein options are customizable. Let us show you how it’s done!

About Green Curry

Green curry is a popular Thai dish believed to have originated in the early 20th century (source). It’s made with green curry paste, coconut milk, veggies, and meat and/or seafood.

The flavor base (Thai green curry paste) is traditionally made from a combination of green chilies, shrimp paste, garlic, shallots, lemongrass, peppercorns, kaffir limes, and cumin seeds (source).

1-Pot Vegetable Green Curry from Minimalist Baker →

Summer Quinoa Salad

Summertime means salads are on repeat, but that doesn’t mean boring salads. I am talking GOOD salads, like this colorful Summer Quinoa Salad. It’s loaded with all of summer’s finest ingredients. If you love my Easy Quinoa Salad and So…

Summertime means salads are on repeat, but that doesn’t mean boring salads. I am talking GOOD salads, like this colorful Summer Quinoa Salad. It’s loaded with all of summer’s finest ingredients. If you love my Easy Quinoa Salad and Southwest Quinoa Salad, I know you will love this recipe too! This salad is easy to…

Panera-Style Tomato and Mozzarella Panini

I love Panera’s Tomato and Mozzarella Panini so much that I decided to make it myself. This vegetarian recipe comes pretty close to the original! Things I Can’t Stand There are a lot of universally loved things that I can’t stand:

Panera-Style Tomato and Mozzarella Panini
I love Panera’s Tomato and Mozzarella Panini so much that I decided to make it myself. This vegetarian recipe comes pretty close to the original! Things I Can’t Stand There are a lot of universally loved things that I can’t stand:

Gluten-Free Vegan Sausage Pizza

When craving pizza night, this is the recipe I go for: a simple gluten-free crust (either store-bought or homemade), simple red sauce, quick sautéed veggies, our homemade vegan sausage, and nut cheese.
The result is an incredibly comforting meal made …

Gluten-Free Vegan Sausage Pizza

When craving pizza night, this is the recipe I go for: a simple gluten-free crust (either store-bought or homemade), simple red sauce, quick sautéed veggies, our homemade vegan sausage, and nut cheese.

The result is an incredibly comforting meal made with 9 real, whole food ingredients that taste AMAZING. Let us show you how it’s done!

Pizza Crust

For this version, we used Simple Mills Gluten-Free Crust (NOT SPONSORED, we just love it!) to keep it quick and easy so we could focus on the homemade toppings.

Gluten-Free Vegan Sausage Pizza from Minimalist Baker →

Summer Sweet Corn Salad

Fresh sweet corn is one of my favorite things about summer. It’s so sweet and juicy when it’s fresh, and the smell of the husks as you peel them back from the cob brings back so many memories of summers past. So when I saw fresh sweet corn on sale at the grocery store this […]

The post Summer Sweet Corn Salad appeared first on Budget Bytes.

Fresh sweet corn is one of my favorite things about summer. It’s so sweet and juicy when it’s fresh, and the smell of the husks as you peel them back from the cob brings back so many memories of summers past. So when I saw fresh sweet corn on sale at the grocery store this week I grabbed a couple and whipped up this super simple Summer Sweet Corn Salad. It has a medley of colorful vegetables, a little pasta to bulk it out, and a super fresh lemon vinaigrette keeps everything light and flavorful. This is a very flexible recipe and I’ve got a couple modification ideas for you below!

Overhead view of a serving bowl full of Summer Sweet Corn Salad

Make it Pasta-Free

I added pasta to my salad for bulk, but you can totally make this salad without pasta, too! Just double up your vegetables, drizzle that lemon vinaigrette over top, and you’re good to go! You can eat the vegetable salad as-is, or scoop it over a bed of greens.

Add a Protein and Make it a Meal

If you want to eat this salad as a main dish instead of serving it as a side, try adding some grilled chicken, rotisserie chicken, boiled shrimp, or cooked salmon on top. It’s such a light and fresh dish that it pairs really well with “lighter” meat and seafood.

Can You Eat Raw Corn??

Yes, yes, and YES! Raw sweet corn is soooo sweet, crisp, and juicy. It’s an absolute delight! It adds nice little pops of sweetness throughout this salad that contrast so well with the creamy avocado and tangy vinaigrette. 

If you don’t have fresh corn for this salad, I would suggest frozen corn as the next best substitute, BUT just know that it’s 100x better with fresh sweet corn.

Doesn’t the Avocado Turn Black?

Nope! I kept this salad in my fridge for four days and it was still great. On day two there was no noticeable difference in the appearance of the avocado chunks. By day four, they were slightly grey on the edges, but overall still looked great. The lemon vinaigrette goes a long way toward preventing the oxidization that usually causes the color change. 

What to Serve with Sweet Corn Salad

This salad makes a great side dish to Quick BBQ Chicken, Cilantro Lime Chicken, Garlic Butter Baked Cod, Baked Spicy Chicken Sandwiches, or Marinated Portobello Burgers.

Close up of a bowl of Summer Sweet Corn Salad with a wooden spoon in the middle

 
Close up of a bowl of Summer Sweet Corn Salad with a wooden spoon in the middle

Summer Sweet Corn Salad

Colorful summer vegetables, creamy avocado, pasta shells, and a homemade lemon vinaigrette make this light and fresh Summer Sweet Corn Salad.
Total Cost $7.67 recipe / $0.96 serving
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 8 1 cup each
Calories 255.84kcal
Author Beth - Budget Bytes

Ingredients

Lemon Vinaigrette

  • 1/4 cup olive oil $0.64
  • 1 fresh lemon $0.89
  • 1/4 tsp dried basil $0.03
  • 1 tsp Dijon mustard $0.04
  • 1/8 tsp salt $0.02
  • 1/8 tsp pepper $0.02
  • 1/4 cup chopped parsley $0.20

Salad*

  • 8 oz. pasta shells $0.63
  • 2 cobs sweet corn $0.80
  • 1 pint grape tomatoes $2.50
  • 2/3 lb. zucchini $0.89
  • 1/4 cup diced red onion $0.11
  • 1 avocado $0.89

Instructions

  • Zest and juice the lemon. You'll need 2 Tbsp juice and ½ tsp zest. Combine the lemon juice, lemon zest, olive oil, basil, Dijon, salt, pepper, and chopped parsley in a bowl or jar. Whisk the ingredients in a bowl, or close the jar and shake until combined. Set the vinaigrette aside.
  • Bring a large pot of water to a boil for the pasta. Add a couple large pinches of salt to the pasta water, then add the pasta. Continue to boil until the pasta is tender (about 7 minutes), then drain in a colander. Rinse the pasta briefly with cool water, then allow it to drain well.
  • While the pasta is cooking and draining, prepare the rest of the vegetables. Slice the corn kernels off the cobs, slice the grape tomatoes in half, dice the zucchini, finely dice the onion, and dice the avocado.
  • Once the pasta has drained well and cooled, add it to a large bowl with the prepared vegetables. Pour the dressing over top, then toss until everything is evenly combined and coated in dressing. Season with a pinch of salt to taste, then serve.

Notes

*The vegetable amounts are very flexible. If you have a little more or a little less of each, it's okay.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cup | Calories: 255.84kcal | Carbohydrates: 35.68g | Protein: 5.95g | Fat: 11.54g | Sodium: 68.91mg | Fiber: 4.28g

How to Make Summer Sweet Corn Salad – Step by Step Photos

A zested and juiced lemon on a cutting board

Zest and juice a lemon. You’ll need 2 Tbsp juice and ½ tsp zest.

Lemon Dressing in a jar

To make the lemon vinaigrette, combine ¼ cup olive oil, 2 Tbsp lemon juice, ½ tsp lemon zest, 1/4 tsp dried basil, 1 tsp Dijon mustard, ⅛ tsp salt, ⅛ tsp pepper, and about ¼ cup chopped parsley. If you do this in a bowl you can whisk the ingredients together, or combine them in a jar and shake until they’re combined.

draining shell pasta in a metal colander

Bring a large pot of water to a boil for the pasta. Once boiling, add a couple pinches of salt and 8 oz. pasta shells. Continue to boil the pasta for about 7 minutes, or until tender. Drain the pasta in a colander, and give it a brief rinse with cool water. Let the pasta drain well.

Cutting corn off the cob

While the pasta is cooking and draining, prepare the rest of the vegetables. Cut the kernels off two cobs of sweet corn. I like to do this with the end of the cob in a bowl so they kernels fall right off into the bowl instead of flying all over the kitchen. Haha!

Chopped vegetables on the cutting board

Also dice about ⅔ lb. zucchini, slice 1 pint grape tomatoes in half, finely dice about ¼ cup red onion, and dice one avocado.

Dressing being poured over the salad ingredients in the bowl

Add the drained and cooled pasta to a large bowl with the corn, zucchini, tomatoes, red onion, and avocado. Pour the dressing over top, then toss until everything is combined and coated in dressing.

Seasoning the salad with a pinch of salt

Finally, add just a small pinch of salt on top, if desired. I like to have a little bit of crystalized salt on the surface of the pasta and vegetables for a little pop of flavor. 

Overhead view of a serving bowl of summer sweet corn salad with a wooden spoon on the side

The post Summer Sweet Corn Salad appeared first on Budget Bytes.

Easy Vegan Zucchini Boats

Our vegan sausage knows no bounds, and zucchini is no exception. Though we’ve done zucchini noodle pasta in the past, zucchini boats felt more substantive. After all, they can be stuffed with goodies and baked!
This versatile dish can be served as a m…

Easy Vegan Zucchini Boats

Our vegan sausage knows no bounds, and zucchini is no exception. Though we’ve done zucchini noodle pasta in the past, zucchini boats felt more substantive. After all, they can be stuffed with goodies and baked!

This versatile dish can be served as a main, or paired with pasta dishes, salads, pizza, and more! The best part? Just 10 simple ingredients required!

Start by halving your zucchinis lengthwise and removing the seeds to make room for the filling.

Easy Vegan Zucchini Boats from Minimalist Baker →

Why I’m Swapping Chia for Basil Seeds (at Least Sometimes)

I remember the first time I ever saw basil seeds. It was in the drink aisle of a gigantic Asian grocery store. I did a double-take; basil seeds? In a drink? Obviously, I had to try one.

The beverage was citrusy and filled with floating, gelatinous see…

I remember the first time I ever saw basil seeds. It was in the drink aisle of a gigantic Asian grocery store. I did a double-take; basil seeds? In a drink? Obviously, I had to try one.

The beverage was citrusy and filled with floating, gelatinous seeds with the texture of tapioca. It was unfamiliar to me, and at first, I thought the texture was a little slimy—but I actually enjoyed it. The seeds gave the drink a bit of chewy substance, and imparted a light, herbaceous flavor to the lemony drink.

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Panzanella

When tomatoes are in season I love making bruschetta, burst tomato sauce, tomato peach burrata salad, pico de gallo, and more! I also love making Panzanella, it is the perfect salad when produce is at it’s peak. It’s the salad you will want…

When tomatoes are in season I love making bruschetta, burst tomato sauce, tomato peach burrata salad, pico de gallo, and more! I also love making Panzanella, it is the perfect salad when produce is at it’s peak. It’s the salad you will want to make when your garden is overflowing with goodies or when you…