Favorite Recipes and Spices for August
It’s August, baby. Hotter than hot, and sweatier than sweaty. Everything’s in season, but it’s too hot to cook (much). You want to keep cool, stay hydrated, and try not to stick to the vinyl.
August ears of corn being stacked at the Montclair Farmers Market.
August cooking is all about three things:
1) Keeping it fresh
Peak summer produce is here, and the farmers markets are bursting with supply. Tomatoes, peaches, nectarines, plums, cherries, greens, herbs and corn, corn, corn! Pick it up in the morning and feast on it that afternoon. Buy local and it will last all week.
2) Keeping it cool
It’s hot out there, and by hot I mean hot. No one wants you to heat up the house with fancy slow cooking. Just don’t. If you can do it on the grill, do it! And if you can just skip the cooking and go straight to the eating, even better. Which means…
3) Keeping it simple
Like I said, it’s just too hot for heavy cooking. You’re going to want to keep things nice and simple. A little of this, a little of that, mix it together and add some spices. Done and done. That’s quintessential August cooking.
Cooking strategies and spices
My favorite recipes for August are all about the seasonal fruits and veggies. With the right spices and seasonings, you can feast with little or no heat required. Here are some faves:
Sumac and Sage Seasoning - My super-versatile seasoning blend helps to keep cooking simple. You can sprinkle it over fresh veggies, salads, or anything for the grill and you’re ready to go.
Aleppo pepper - Great on anything on the grill, and pairs well with lots of veggies and meats. Slightly smoky, a hint of fruit, a little heat and lots of flavor.
Ceylon cinnamon - This is my go-to for summer stone fruit like peaches, nectarines, plums and cherries. It’s lighter and brighter than cassia cinnamon, so perfect for hot weather.
Staghorn Sumac - Adds a bright, citrusy dash to fresh or grilled veggies, and is a great addition to drinks and iced desserts.
Fave August recipes
Below are some of my favorite recipes for cooking in August. It’s all about grillin and chillin (but mainly chillin, amiright?). Lots of tomatoes, stone fruits, corn, greens, chiles and more. Stuff that requires no cooking, stuff you can grill, and stuff to go on the stuff you grill.