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These are Giada’s favorite ways to use up summer’s most abundant vegetables.
We wait all year for the summer growing season, when we can finally enjoy the most perfect ripe tomatoes, sweet corn, crisp zucchini, and so much more. But when the farmers market—or your own garden!—has been overflowing with gorgeous produce for weeks on end, finding more and more ways to use up those same summer vegetables can start to feel like a chore.
Never fear! We’ve collected 20 of Giada’s most delicious recipes to use up every summer vegetable, no matter what you might have an abundance of right now. These recipes are quick to prepare (read: you won’t be trapped in a hot kitchen for hours) and are great for cookouts, picnics, and al fresco dinner parties.
Corn Recipes
Creamy Sweet Corn With Pancetta
This easy side is a fan favorite at Giada’s restaurant in Las Vegas. Pair it with a green salad and grilled steak or chicken for the perfect summer dinner party.
Orzo With Artichoke Pesto and Grilled Corn
With smoky grilled corn, fresh cherry tomatoes, and a vibrant artichoke pesto, this pasta dish is like summer in a bowl. Be sure to use plenty of parmigiano reggiano!
Burrata With Nectarines and Corn
This gorgeous composed salad also makes great use of juicy summer nectarines. Serve with some toasted, crusty bread for a satisfying lunch all on its own—it’s one of Giada’s favorites.
Corn On the Cob With Parmesan Cheese
Like an Italian take on Mexican street corn, this simple side coats crisp corn on the cob with garlicky olive oil and tons of salty parmigiano reggiano.
Summer Corn and Spicy Sausage Pizza
Loaded with spicy Italian sausage and sweet corn, this satisfying pizza is topped with peppery fresh arugula. Cook it on the grill for the ultimate summer experience!
Tomato Recipes
BLT Pasta Salad
Everyone’s favorite summer sandwich also makes a brilliant pasta salad when tossed with a zesty honey mustard dressing.
Mozzarella and Strawberry Bruschetta
Inspired by sweet summers on the Amalfi Coast, this crisp bruschetta is topped with luscious fruit and a honey-balsamic drizzle.
Marinated Cherry Tomato Pasta
Sweet, juicy cherry tomatoes don’t even need heat to make the perfect pasta sauce! Marinating them for a few hours with garlic, lemon, and olive oil is all it takes.
Tomato Tart
Prepackaged puff pastry makes this tart so easy to prepare, while the tomatoes bake into jammy sweetness over a tangy goat cheese-mascarpone base.
Pane Pomodoro
When the tomatoes are as ripe as can be (or even a touch overripe), make this ultra simple Pugliese dish that’s often enjoyed for breakfast.
Zucchini Recipes
Zucchini Carbonara
Giada’s take on the decadent Roman pasta dish replaces the pancetta with deeply browned zucchini for a meatless version that’s just as satisfying as the original.
Zucchini Prosciutto Spiedini with Pesto
Throw these easy skewers on the grill for a delicious starter or side dish that cooks in minutes! If you don’t have time to make the pesto, use a high-quality jarred pesto like our favorite from Bio Orto.
Zucchini Scarpaccia
This thin, crispy flatbread loaded with sliced zucchini is a favorite in Tuscany, where it’s enjoyed as a snack or a light lunch. Bonus: It’s totally gluten-free!
Zucchini Burrata Crudo
When veggies are at their peak, the best way to enjoy them is as nature intended! Thinly sliced raw zucchini and rich burrata make the perfect contrast of crunchy and creamy in this easy salad.
Pasta-less Zucchini Lasagna
OK, you will have to turn the oven on for this one, but it’s totally worth it. Swapping in zucchini slices for the pasta makes this lasagna lighter and fresher, while still loaded with melty cheese.
Eggplant Recipes
Eggplant and Zucchini Scapece
Grilled slices of eggplant and zucchini are rolled together and marinated in a mint-laced vinaigrette in Giada’s take on this classic Neapolitan dish.
Eggplant Caponata
No Sicilian summer would be complete without this zesty relish of eggplant, celery, tomatoes, and capers, often served with bruschetta or alongside meat or fish.
Grilled Eggplant and Goat Cheese Salad
This hearty salad makes a great meatless main if you’re entertaining a crowd, as the meaty eggplant slices pick up a smoky char on the grill.
Pasta Aum Aum
This pasta is a favorite at Lo Scoglio, one of Giada’s go-to restaurants on the Amalfi Coast, combining a fresh eggplant-and-tomato sauce with melty fresh mozzarella.
Smoky Eggplant Dip
Roast the eggplant for this sumptuous dip on the grill for added smoky oomph, then serve with crisp raw veggies and crackers for an easy appetizer or party snack.
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