Summer means something a little different to everyone. For some, it’s the return of Sunday barbecues and long evenings outdoors. For others, it’s the abundance of juicy watermelon, sweet corn, ripe tomatoes, and fresh-picked fruit. It’s poolside dinners wrapped in foil, picnics in the park, no-cook meals, and desserts bursting with seasonal produce.

We asked our team to share the foods, recipes, and traditions that make summer feel like summer in their homes. From grill favorites and family classics to refreshing salads, chilled soups, and easy weeknight dinners, these are the dishes we look forward to all year long.

You'll find plenty of ideas to savor below.

Goldy Guttman (Director):

I live in Brooklyn, and after the winter we just experienced, I think you'd be hard-pressed to find anyone who prefers winter right now! Summer signifies freedom to me. No more bundling all the kids up before we step out of the house, and no more ending the school day in total darkness. It's intoxicating to be able to stroll the streets (ignoring the smells of Brooklyn garbage) in the sunny warmth.

The highlight of summer food for me has to be Sunday BBQs. My top tip when grilling is to prepare all the food in advance, and even grill most of it ahead of time. I leave only the burgers and steaks to cook fresh; the hot dogs, wings, and chicken cutlets are made in advance and then kept covered in a low-temperature oven until the guests arrive and we start eating.

A recipe I often make to accompany a BBQ is one I came up with myself: spread a bed of arugula or lettuce on a serving platter, then top it with roasted sliced delicata squash, sunflower seeds, diced beets, and a drizzle of tahini and hot honey. It's a hit every time. Another salad recipe that's great for a BBQ—or anytime is:

Lemon-Parsley Gremolata with Quinoa Salad by Brynie Greisman

Here's a recipe I'm excited to try this summer. It's a great end to any summer meal.

Super Easy Copycat Fruit Riot by Esty Wolbe

Leah Gottheim (Vice President):

Seasonal fruits are our favorite part of summer's arrival! My kids might not all agree on the same dinner menus, but they all love fresh, juicy watermelon.

When I think back, the one dish I associate most with summer is gazpacho. I grew up having chilled gazpacho as an appetizer during the summer. It's so refreshing and such an interesting combination of flavors. I don't have my mother's original recipe on hand, but here's one that's also delicious:

Watermelon Gazpacho by Sara Goldstein

My go-to Shabbos side dish is this summer squash spectacular. I have tried many variations of ratatouille recipes and trust me, this one tops them all. It's not complicated to make, and the balsamic and red wine vinegars give it a little sweet tang that makes the dish anything but boring.

Rorie’s Easy Ratatouille by Rorie Weisberg

Rachel Kor (Managing Lifestyle Editor):

We love BBQ, but I’m going to go a different route with this. My summer is all about easy, quick dinners with a seasonal twist. We usually spend our evenings swimming, so I’m always looking for meals I can make fast and wrap in foil for poolside dinners.

Of course, they also have to be meals my kids will happily unwrap and say “yum!” to. Homemade pizzas are always a hit, especially with fresh basil pesto. We also love shawarma with warm pita and plenty of toppings. And when it comes to dessert, nothing beats fresh summer fruit baked into a cobbler or crumble!

Simple Summer Salad by Adina Schlass

Lemon Cookie Summer Fruit Cobbler by Leah Nagel

Watermelon Strawberry Frozen Drink by Victoria Dwek

Shawarma Turkey Platter by Sara Goldstein

Pizza Swirls 3 Ways by Chayie Schlisselfeld

Nechami Goldman (Video Producer):

Rorie introduced me to hamburgers stuck on a bun, and I make some version of them basically once a week all summer long. (We call them smash burgers.) It's literally a 2-minute prep and another few minutes cooking time: I smash ground beef onto buns, pitas, wraps, or whatever bread I have around, season with salt and pepper, brush with sweet chili sauce, and throw it into the oven. Although I own a grill, I have yet to use it. It's just easier for me to line a sheet pan with parchment paper while I'm already in the kitchen than dirty another surface. 

For sides, I usually do fries and a light salad to pretend we're balancing things out. I lay out all salad components separately and everyone helps themselves.

Watermelon for dessert is a must!

Hamburgers Stuck on the Bun by Rorie Weisberg

Smash Burger Tacos by Tova Wolbe

Renee Schwartz (Recipe Editor):

Growing up, summer was all about the non-meal. I remember going through peaches, nectarines, and plums at an almost incomprehensible pace; coming home from the pool, starving, to a steaming bowl of mac 'n cheese; and a special trip to the ice cream store just before school started again. (We were a vegetarian family and did not barbecue!)

These days, summer means no-cook/little-cook meals, dinner picnics in the park, and eating watermelon by the pound! The sticky juices running up and down little arms, while the kids run around the playground until dusk, just scream “I’m on break from the daily grind”.

I'd throw in a grain like bulgur, couscous, or quinoa to either of these salads to make them more filling.

Halloumi Greek Salad by Rena Tuchinsky

Salmon Salade Niçoise by Faigy Murray

Raquel Malul (Social Media Manager):

I love everything about summer—the warmer weather, the longer days, and the extra sunshine. But for me, what truly signifies summer is the fresh Jersey produce. Almost every week, we head to our local farm to stock up on tomatoes, corn, peaches, and eggplant.

Our absolute favorite is the sweet corn, there really is nothing else like it. Anyone who tastes it instantly notices how incredibly sweet and flavorful it is. I use it to make fresh summer soups, vibrant salads, and of course, we love it straight off the cob!

Sweet Summer Corn Chowder by Dorit Teichman

Best-Ever Buttered Corn by Michal Frischman

Jersey tomatoes are a close second on our list. When tomatoes are this fresh, they don't need much. I usually just slice them up with some good quality extra virgin olive oil and a pinch of salt, and everyone gobbles them right up. But the real crowd-pleaser my kids look forward to every single year is an authentic, chilled gazpacho. It only requires a few simple ingredients, but when topped with homemade crispy croutons, it tastes exactly like summer in a bowl.

Nechama Fink (Back End Management Assistant):

Nothing says summer has arrived like the first time that barbecue has made its appearance after the hot weather has returned. It doesn't matter what goes on the grill - hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken cutlets, any form of meat. Add a fruit salad like this Summer Fruit Salad or Passion Fruit Salad with summer fruits and watermelon for dessert and your welcome-to-summer-meal has arrived.

Summer Fruit Salad by Menachem Goodman

Passion Fruit Salad by Renee Muller