With spring and summer, come new fruits and vegetables being available and in season. For this reason, there are plenty of fresh ideas that spring and summer can open up in terms of recipes and cooking. There are a myriad of great, fresh summer foods that work well whether you are simply cooking for yourself or your family, or if you are planning a fun summer picnic or barbecue. Without further ado, here is our comprehensive list of great, light foods you’ll wanna eat all summer long!

Macaroni Salad:

Of course, Macaroni is a classic, but with a bit of a revamp, you’ll be saying “macaroni salad who?” A fresh, light take on the classic picnic macaroni salad is to use less mayo and also load up the salad with plenty of vegetables including onions, carrots, tomatoes, celery and more- this will help to add both crunch and nutrients to your delicious, party-ready salad!

Pulled Pork Sandwiches:

Another classic barbecue fare, pulled pork sandwiches have great potential for a freshness revamp. By simmering large pieces of pork tenderloin in a healthy, tangy sauce and then shredding it up, you will have a sandwich-ready meat creation. Even better, you can add some crunchy broccoli slaw with a mustard-like dressing. This will give your sandwich not only a kick of flavor, but a kick of health as well!

Gazpacho:

Gazpacho may seem a little out of the box, but that’s exactly why we love it! Gazpacho is basically a cold soup complete with amazing vegetables and different flavors. One variation we love uses vine-ripened tomatoes and cucumbers as well as balsamic vinegar and cumin. You can scour the web to find your own version of gazpacho- there are hundreds. But the lightness and simplicity of this dish certainly lends itself to being great summer fare.

Grilled Salmon:

Grilled salmon is like hot sauce- you can add that stuff to everything! Salmon is a great topper for salads, rice, pasta, sandwiches, and more. Salmon is also great because it works with a variety of flavors so you can get very into the sauces and glazes you have accompany the fish. One great glaze is a sweet-spicy buffalo style. With this glaze, the skin gets caramelized and crisp on the grill and the glaze provides a sweetness that greatly complements the charred nature of the meat.

Confetti Corn:

What is confetti corn, you ask? Well, confetti corn is basically like succotash, or another spring/summer corn dish you will love. To make confetti corn, you simply cook corn kernels with onions and bell peppers and then can toss in a variety of mixed green herbs and possible spices. This dish is great because like a variety of the others on the above list, you can really showcase your personal culinary flair because of the open nature of the food.

With this list of handy dandy summer foods, you should be more than ready to whip up some awesome summer meals for you and your family. But events are a much bigger deal. Let Catering CC handle all of the food and drink preparation for your next summer party. You can relax and have fun all while Catering CC’s Chef Winston whips you up some amazing, fresh summer fare.