15 Healthy Plant-Based Recipes To Make With Your Favorite Summer Produce (2024)

Summer is nearly here and there are so many delicious veggies that are in season! If you’re having trouble figuring out what to make for recipes or simply love summer veggies, this roundup is for you! Featuring summer squash, chard, green beans, eggplant, and cucumber, these recipes are all fresh and definitely summer-worthy! Don’t forget to check out these recipes and many others on our Food Monster App!

Summer Squash

1. Summer Squash and Tomatoes

Source: Summer Squash and Tomatoes

This Summer Squash and Tomatoes salad by Melanie Sorrentino is not only colorful, but also so flavorful and filling. It is also packed full of nutrients! Get on it now!

2. Summer Squash Spice Cake

Source: Summer Squash Spice Cake

If you are lucky enough to have a garden full of Summer Squash Spice Cake by Amy Lyons that you don’t know what to do with, this is the recipe for you! Shredded yellow squash and zucchini give this irresistible spice cake a moist texture and natural sweetness. The fluffy maple-vanilla frosting takes it to the next level! You’ll be craving this delightful summer cake all year round.

3. Grilled Baby Summer Squash

Source: Grilled Baby Summer Squash: Two Ways

This recipe Grilled Baby Summer Squash: Two Ways by Grace Silla for includes two easy ways to make it. One is plain grilled baby squash served with a garlicky basil dip and the other serves it on skewers with other vegetables. Both options are an easy side for any summer barbecue. If you want to add more bulk to the skewers, try grilling it with tofu, tempeh, or seitan or simply serve it alongside your favorite veggie burger.

Cucumber

1. Carrot Cucumber Jicama Salad with Mint Tahini Dressing

Source: Carrot Cucumber Jicama Salad with Mint Tahini Dressing

This Carrot Cucumber Jicama Salad with Mint Tahini Dressing by Amy Heightis simply delicious.Crunchy, hydrating and coated in a creamy minty sauce, this is salad reimagined and so much more fun. Carrots, cucumber and jicama are actually some of the best veggies to consume raw, particularly when chewed thoroughly. They have high water content and pair well with other cooked or raw foods.

2. Cucumber Seaweed Salad

Source: Cucumber Seaweed Salad

This Cucumber Seaweed Salad by Claire Ragozzino is both light and refreshing on its own, but pairs well with brown rice, toasted tofu, and big juicy slice of avocado to make it a more balanced meal. You can never go wrong with that deliciously satisfying umami taste of ume plum vinegar paired with lime and tamari.

3. Mango Cucumber Relish

Source: Mango Cucumber Relish

This bright and refreshing Mango Cucumber Relish by Nita Ragoonanan is the perfect topping for a variety of dishes, or even just great on chips as a snack! The mango and cucumber combine with lemon, red pepper, seasoning and a slight kick from jalapenos to create the perfect mix of sweet and spicy.

Chard

1. Blanched Chard Dolmas

Source: Blanched Chard Dolmas

This is such a simple yet filling meal to put together. You can meal prep these Blanched Chard Dolmas by Molly Patrick or just make it the night of – either way, equally yummy!

2. Mushroom and Swiss Chard Pasta with Creamy Rosè Sauce

Source: Mushroom and Swiss Chard Pasta with Creamy Rosè Sauce

There’s nothing like delicious pasta topped with veggies and creamy, satisfying sauce. This Mushroom and Swiss Chard Pasta with Creamy Rosè Sauce by certainly checks all of those boxes! Perfectly seasoned with balanced flavors, you’ll want to make this dish again and again.

3. Swiss Chard and White Bean Grilled Sammie

Source: Swiss Chard and White Bean Grilled Sammie

This Swiss Chard and White Bean Grilled Sammie by Heather Poire is just as comforting as a grilled cheese but packed full of healthy ingredients. A grilled sandwich is so much better than one that is not and this tasty creation is the embodiment of summer comfort food perfected.

Eggplant

1. Grilled Eggplant Salad With Lentils and Sesame Yogurt

Source: Grilled Eggplant Salad With Lentils and Sesame Yogurt

This Grilled Eggplant Salad With Lentils and Sesame Yogurt by Judy Moosmueller doesn’t only bring rich, earthy colors to the plate but also warming and creamy textures. Coriander and pomegranate add a little bit of zestyness and are loaded with antioxidants and vitamin C.

2. Smoky Eggplant Bean Ragout

Source: Smoky Eggplant Bean Ragout

This Smoky Eggplant Bean Ragout by Mitra Shirmohammadi is such an easy, delicious, and heartwarming dish! The smoky flavor comes from warming spices like cumin and paprika. Red chili flakes make it a bit spicy.

3. Eggplant Dip

Source: Eggplant Dip

This Eggplant Dip by Viktoria Radichkova is so easy – with only 4 ingredients, this dip is an easy and impressive appetizer! Serve with all your favorite veggies and crackers.

Green Beans

1. Sweet and Sour Green Beans

Source: Sweet and Sour Green Beans

Blanch these green beans before searing them in the cast-iron skillet. The resulting texture for this Sweet and Sour Green Beans by Katzie Guy-Hamilton is perfectly tender, caramelized, and delicious. Tamarind is a sweet-and-sour root commonly used in cuisines around the world, especially those known for their regional curries. Pungent sage—a medicinal herb whose literal meaning is “saved”—has been linked to mental clarity. Paired with earthy hazelnuts, this dish is proper eating—and nothing short of magic.

2. Szechuan Citrus Green Beans

Source: Szechuan Citrus Green Beans

These spicy Szechuan Citrus Green Beans by Natalie Yonan are the perfect side to any Chinese dish. Fresh green beans are blanched, allowing them to retain their texture, then tossed with sesame oil, fresh herbs, and ground Szechuan pepper. They’re crisp and sweet, with just the right amount of bite!

3. Green Beans with Lemon Dressing

Source: Green Beans with Lemon Dressing

These Green Beans with Lemon Dressing by Melissa Tedesco can be made in 10 minutes. The dressing is so versatile and can be used on salads, almost any other vegetable or as a marinade.

If it’s more recipes you’re after, check out these recipes and thousands more by downloading our Food Monster App, which is available for iPhone! The app has more than 15,000 plant-based, allergy-friendly recipes and subscribers get access to new recipes every day.

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15 Healthy Plant-Based Recipes To Make With Your Favorite Summer Produce (2024)

FAQs

Does plant-based mean vegan? ›

What Does Plant-Based Mean? A plant-based diet is one that can technically be vegan, depending on the individual approach and accompanying lifestyle choices. “A plant-based meal is a vegan meal,” Chef Ann says. “It will not contain any animal products, including meat, poultry, fish, milk, cheese, eggs and honey.

Is plant-based meat healthy? ›

New research shows that although plant-based meat products are generally healthier than meat equivalents, they can be higher in sugar and are often lacking important nutrients found in real meat.

What is a 100% plant-based diet? ›

A whole-food, plant-based diet is based on the following principles: ”Whole foods”: Natural foods that are not heavily processed. That means whole, unrefined, or minimally refined ingredients. “Plant-based”: Food that comes from plants and is. free of animal ingredients such as meat, milk, eggs, or honey.

What are the 30 plant-based foods? ›

Strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, tomatoes, carrots, cucumbers, apricots, sweet potatoes, peaches, plums, melons, eggplant, lemons, lettuce, green beans, kale, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, spinach, corn, Swiss chard, celery, beets, onions, cauliflower, cherries, bananas, mushrooms, parsnips, turnips, ...

What is 1 meal a day plant-based? ›

The Bounty of Plant-Based Eating.

Through small shifts big change can happen. One Meal a Day, or OMD, believes that every meal is an opportunity to nourish your body, your community and our wild living planet one delicious plant-based meal at a time.

Is pasta plant-based? ›

Is Pasta Vegan? Unfortunately, not all pasta is vegan. We've found pastas of all varieties, from spaghetti to lasagna noodles, with eggs in the ingredient lists. But don't worry—there are widely available vegan pastas that don't involve eggs or dairy and don't skimp on the texture you've come to love.

What happens to your body when you go plant-based? ›

Plants are high in fiber.

Eating a plant-based diet improves the health of your gut so you are better able to absorb the nutrients from food that support your immune system and reduce inflammation. Fiber can lower cholesterol and stabilize blood sugar and it's great for good bowel management.

What is the downside of a plant-based diet? ›

While a well-balanced plant-based diet can provide a wide range of nutrients, certain essential nutrients are more abundant in animal-derived foods. Plant-based diets can sometimes lead to nutritional deficiencies such as vitamin B12, iron, zinc, calcium, and omega-3 fatty acids.

Can vegan drink alcohol? ›

Yes, they absolutely can. To be clear, alcohol itself is 100% vegan-friendly. It's what gets added to it that can cause issues for those on a plant-based diet. And, unfortunately, these additional animal-derived ingredients always escape the labels, making it difficult to know what you're actually consuming.

Is it OK to eat plant-based meat everyday? ›

Plant-based meats can be a healthy part of a balanced diet if you enjoy them in the right way. Consuming plant-based meats in moderation along with fruits, veggies and other nutrient-dense foods can profoundly support your health.

Is tofu healthy? ›

Tofu also contains all the essential amino acids your body needs and is rich in minerals and vitamins, including calcium, manganese, iron and vitamin A. Tofu and other soy foods also are primary source of isoflavones. Those are flavonoids – plant-created chemicals that are associated with a variety of health benefits.

What are the most nutritious plant foods? ›

Leafy greens and legumes are excellent sources of iron and myriad other nutrients, so it is advantageous to include these foods often. Other good choices include soy products, dark chocolate, blackstrap molasses, tahini, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, raisins, prunes, and cashews.

What is the most nutritious plant ever? ›

No matter what you call Moringa oleifera — also known as “drumstick tree,” “tree of life,” and “miracle tree” — it's one of the most nutritious plants in the world.

Can you live healthy on a plant-based diet? ›

Healthy eating as a vegan

You can get the nutrients you need from eating a varied and balanced vegan diet including fortified foods and supplements. For a healthy vegan diet: eat at least 5 portions of a variety of fruit and vegetables every day.

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