The days are still warm enough to make this long weekend feel like vacation — even if school has already started — and these dishes lean into these waning days of summer. The truth is, end-of-season produce sometimes needs a little boost. Even though corn, zucchini and peaches remain abundant, they may not be quite as sweet or juicy as their July counterparts. Creamy spreads and sauces and other rich ingredients (yes, butter) bring out the best in them.
The recipes below are as good on their own as they are with grilled chicken, steaks or vegetable mains. Whether you’re hosting a barbecue, packing a picnic or simply cooking for yourself at home, you’ll want these fresh dishes to celebrate the unofficial end of summer.
Charcoal-Grilled Corn With Honeyed Goat Cheese
Butter melted over charred, golden ears can, in fact, be beat. Jerrelle Guy has done it by mixing honey, tangy goat cheese and a little harissa into that melted butter, bringing out the natural sweetness of late-summer corn and giving it a spunky, spicy complexity. You can make the spread ahead of time and simply slather it all over the ears when they come off the fire.
Recipe: Charcoal-Grilled Corn With Honeyed Goat Cheese
Cherry Tomato Labneh Dip
Savory sweet and creamy, this stunning dip pairs the juicy intensity of slow-cooked cherry tomatoes with tangy labneh, plain yogurt so thoroughly drained and strained that it borders on cheese. If you can’t find it, you can use Greek yogurt instead, straining it further, if you want. Ham El-Waylly offers a bonus with this recipe: The olive oil used to cook the tomatoes and garlic keeps for a week and is delicious tossed into salad.
Recipe: Cherry Tomato Labneh Dip
Zucchini-Peach Salad With Creamy Lime Dressing
Raw zucchini is a revelation. Ham shows us here how they slump to tenderness when salted, all the better to soak up a sour-cream dressing tart with lime. Late-summer peaches bring sweetness, and dill offers a surprising freshness.
Recipe: Zucchini-Peach Salad With Creamy Lime Dressing
Prosciutto and Melon Salad
Summer vacation may be over, but this simple salad from Ali Slagle feels like a trip to Italy. It turns the beloved pairing of ripe melon and salty, funky prosciutto into a full meal or hearty side dish with the addition of mozzarella and a little sweet honey. Arugula and basil balance the richness with crisp, peppery bites.
Recipe: Prosciutto and Melon Salad
Butter Cake With Peaches
Fanning slices of fruit over a one-bowl batter makes this easy dessert from Samantha Seneviratne look and feel fancy. And once you take a bite, you’ll be wowed by its amazing taste. The cake is so buttery that it melts in your mouth.
Recipe: Butter Cake With Peaches
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