Top 6 Summer Picks for Local Arizona Foods

fresh fruit salad (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Summer is here and fresh, fabulous food is available all over Arizona.  Whether you are relaxing by the pool, grabbing a bite on your lunch break, or dining on the deck, the flavors of summer make the perfect complement to any meal.  Take advantage of the abundance of locally grown ingredients and serve up these great summer selections.   Here are the top six picks for great summer foods.

1.     Chilled Soups

Swap out your standard sandwich or the same old salad for a refreshing bowl of chilled summer soup.   Perfect for lunch or a lite dinner, these perfect summer soups are generally filled with vegetables, nutrients, and fresh flavors without being heavy or high in calories.

Great chilled soup options:

• Gazpacho
• Chilled Avocado Soup
• Strawberry and Mint Soup
• Chilled Red Pepper Soup with Avocado Chile Salsa

2.     Ice Cream

One of the best ways to keep cool in the summer heat is a sweet creamy bowl of ice cream.  There are nearly as many ways to have ice cream as there are flavors in the store.  You can make sundaes, banana splits, ice cream sandwiches, milk shakes, or any other concoctions made with ice cream.

Make Your Own Ice Cream with this great recipe for Avocado and Pistachio Ice Cream.

3.     Grilled Anything

Cooking indoors when the temperature soars is no fun which is why grilling is such a great summer tradition.   With a little imagination and the right tools, you can grill more than just meat and create an entire menu made on the grill.

Try these great grilling recipes and keep the heat outside where it belongs.

• Grilled Chicken Breast with Soy Sauce and Prickly Pear
• Marinated Beef Tips
• Buckboard Bacon Burger
• Honey Pepper Chops
• Grilled Vegetables

4.     Vegetable Salad

Summer means access to a wide range of fresh vegetables, which means you can take your standard salad to a whole new level.  There is no easier way to take a variety of fresh, local ingredients and make them into a memorable meal.

Try these creative and delicious salad recipes made from fresh Arizona ingredients.

• Country Garden Salad
• Orange Almond Salad
• Join the Party Salad
• Crunchy Apple Salad

5.     Chicken Salad

If you are looking for a light lunch option, chicken salad is a savory way to fill your plate without heating you up.  Serve your chicken salad in a sandwich, filling a pita, or perched atop a bed of lettuce.

Here are some creative recipes to lighten up your lunch.

• Artichoke Chicken Salad
• Chutney Melon Chicken Salad 
• Desert Chicken Salad

6.     Fresh Fruit

One of the culinary treats of desert living is that there is an abundance of fresh fruit available almost all year round, and summer is no exception.  Filled with refreshing flavors, fresh fruit can be eaten as it is; just make sure you wash it thoroughly first.

You can also try some of these great recipes featuring fresh fruit.

• Apricot Appetizer
• Cantaloupe Basil Salsa
• Melon Cucumber Salad
• Fresh Lemonade

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