Food and Recipes Kitchen Assistant 33 Stellar Summer Farmers' Market Recipes To Make The Most Of Fresh Produce If you're on the hunt for the best way to use seasonal ingredients, these recipes will serve up just the right inspiration. By Alana Al-Hatlani Alana Al-Hatlani Alana Al-Hatlani is an Assistant Food Editor at Southern Living. Southern Living's editorial guidelines and Cameron Beall Cameron Beall Cameron Beall is a writer, marketer, photographer, and creative with over a year of experience with Southern Living in the realm of homes and home building. She was infatuated by home design from a young age, credit to her mother and grandmother. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on June 1, 2024 Close Photo: GREG DUPREE; PROP STYLING: GINNY BRANCH; FOOD STYLING: ANNA HAMPTON For some, fresh produce from a local farmers' market can be had almost year-round. In parts of the South, you'll find peaches, tomatoes, okra, corn, squash, cherry tomatoes, green beans, and more. Your dinner table will benefit from the yield that can be found, and farmers' market recipes bursting at the seams with fresh, colorful, and tasty fruits and vegetables are a worthwhile pursuit. I Love To Cook, And Here's What I’m Making With My Farmers' Market Finds This Weekend 01 of 33 Best-Ever Succotash Jen Causey; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle It's hard to beat this seasonal medley of all the best summertime ingredients. Packed with fresh okra, corn, tomatoes, lima beans, onion, and basil, you can source almost all the ingredients from the market. get the recipe 02 of 33 Grilled Peach-And-Arugula Salad With Feta Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Kellie Kelley; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke If you haven't tried grilled peaches before, you're missing out. While delicious enjoyed on their own or with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, they're a perfect salad topping paired with crumbled feta and arugula. get the recipe 03 of 33 Heirloom Tomato Pie Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely This tomato pie is stunning, and tastes like summer. If you want to avoid a soggy crust, roast most of the tomatoes in the oven before building your pie. This caramelizes the tomatoes and intensifies their flavor. This dish is the perfect farmers' market recipe, with a flaky pastry and a savory, roasted tomato filling. get the recipe 04 of 33 Zesty Corn-And-Squash Salad Greg Dupree; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely; Food Stylist: Melissa Gray It's hard to beat a no-cook dish in the summer, and this loaded salad is just that. Lime juice, cilantro, and a touch of cayenne add plenty of flavor to veggies while smoked almonds lend a finishing crunch. get the recipe 05 of 33 Cucumber-and-Vidalia Onion Salad Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Christina Daley Though you can find cucumbers and onions year-round, it's the Vidalia onions which come around in the summertime that really make this three-ingredient (plus a few pantry staples) dish sing. get the recipe 06 of 33 Heirloom Tomato-Cracker Salad Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Ali Ramee; Prop Styling: Christine Keely This is a Southern summer dish if we've ever seen one. Tomatoes, mayo, and saltines come together for a fresh and foolproof side salad. get the recipe 07 of 33 Peach Jam Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox The homemade stuff just doesn't compare to store-bought jam. Using juicy, ripe peaches you can stock up on the good stuff (and even freeze it to make it last longer) to enjoy peach jam all year long. get the recipe 08 of 33 Roasted Pepper-Tomato Salad With Crispy Black-Eyed Peas Greg Dupree; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely; Food Stylist: Melissa Gray If you're a tomato fanatic, you'll love this dressed up tomato salad. Roasted bell pepper slices and crunchy toasted black-eyed peas add flavor and texture. get the recipe 09 of 33 Zucchini Fritters Alison Miksch; Food Stylist: Melissa Gray; Prop Stylist: Christina Brockman Come home with a haul of fresh squash, but not sure what to do with it? Try these delicious fritters to use up any extra zucchini. Serve the crispy bites with a tangy dipping sauce made from refrigerator door staples. get the recipe 10 of 33 Roasted Okra Jennifer Causey; Food Styling: Melissa Gray Of the endless ways you can prepare okra, this might be very close to the best. Creating these thin and crispy fries will keep everyone coming back for more, even if they have sworn off okra for life. get the recipe 11 of 33 Fried Green Tomatoes Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Rebecca Cummins Fried green tomatoes are a Southern delicacy. Add this recipe to your repetoire for a no-fail crowd pleaser that will be a winner with friends and family no matter what the occasion. When you're looking for a more powerful flavor in the dressing, substitute blue cheese for the feta. Don't skimp when it comes to the dill—you'll love the fresh flavor. get the recipe 12 of 33 Mexican Street Corn Pizza Johnny Autry; Prop and Food Styling: Charlotte L. Autry Our Test Kitchen took all of the flavors of Elote, also known as Mexican street corn, to create this satisfying and irresistible pizza. You will encounter the sweet combo of grilled corn on the cob slathered with a salty-tangy mix of mayonnaise, sour cream, cotija cheese, lime juice, and chili powder. This might be the best at-home happy hour snack you've ever paired with a margarita. get the recipe 13 of 33 Open-Faced Tomato Sandwiches with Creamy Cucumber Spread Alison Miksch Ready for the best tomato tip? Always use a serrated knife, which cuts through the tomato's skin without damaging flesh and losing juice. These savory sandwiches are great for a casual summer cocktail party. Just slice in half to make handling just a bit easier—especially if guests are also juggling a cocktail glass. get the recipe 14 of 33 Farmers' Market Frittata Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster Frittatas are one of the most versatile egg dishes there are—even non-egg lovers can't resist. The ingredient options are truly endless which is half the fun! This recipe takes advantage of seasonal ingredients, but you can easily use whatever fresh toppings you have on hand for a delicious meal. get the recipe 15 of 33 Watermelon Agua Fresca Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless Look no further than this refreshing sipper for a summertime cold treat. While you can add any booze of choosing, this watermelon drink is good for all ages as is. get the recipe 16 of 33 Grilled Corn On The Cob Morgan Hunt Glaze; Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley It's hard to go wrong with a simple grilled corn on the cob when the yellow stuff is at its peak sweetness during summer months. To amp up the flavor sprinkled with Parmesan, coat in an herb butter, or brush with a hot honey glaze. get the recipe 17 of 33 Peach Salsa Jennifer Causey; Food Styling: Loren Wood; Prop Styling: Christine Keely Looking for the just-right dip-able summertime appetizer? Try this salsa made with fresh peaches, red onions, cherry tomatoes, serrano chile, and lime juice for a party-pleaser. get the recipe 18 of 33 Air Fryer Zucchini Chips Caitlin Bensel These zucchini chips satisfy a craving for fried food without the guilt. When you cook with an air fryer, you can have crispy fried foods without the mess, and often the guilt, of cooking in oil. When served with a bowl of marinara sauce, these zucchini chips make the perfect appetizer for small gatherings, such as weekend brunches or porch parties. get the recipe 19 of 33 Mouthwatering Marinated Tomatoes Alison Miksch This recipe makes a flavorful Tomato Vinaigrette for adding to all types of salads. Be sure to serve immediately. We love our Marinated Tomatoes tossed with spaghetti and mozzarella in our Spaghetti with Marinated Tomatoes and Mozzarella recipe or use them as a garnish in a Bloody Mary. Trust us, you won't run out of ways to serve these pretty little tomatoes. get the recipe 20 of 33 Southern Fried Corn Caitlin Bensel Sometimes you don't need to fuss up a recipe with extra ingredients. In this simple skillet recipe, fresh corn is the star of the show. Just add a little butter and bacon drippings to season and toss with onion and chives. get the recipe 21 of 33 Tomato Galette Jennifer Causey; Prop Stylist: Jennifer Causey; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall Forget fussy pie crust and opt for this simple and equally delicious galette in lieu of tomato pie. Be sure to soak up extra juice from the tomatoes with salt and paper towels prior to assembling to avoid a soggy crust. get the recipe 22 of 33 Green Tomato Gaspacho Photographer Victor Protasio, Food Stylist Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist Christine Keely This refreshing chilled soup not only looks pretty, but tastes delicious too. Its vibrant green color comes from cucumbers, green bell peppers, unripe green tomatoes, and a mix of tender fresh herbs. Serve chilled and garnished with jalapeños, cilantro, and a drizzle of yogurt. get the recipe 23 of 33 Shrimp and Burst Cherry Tomato Pasta Photographer Victor Protasio, Food Stylist Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist Christine Keely The only thing better than a satisfying pasta dinner is one made with fresh, blistered tomatoes bursting with flavor. get the recipe 24 of 33 Stewed Squash Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox Embrace the season's bounty of squash and try this three-ingredient stewed squash recipe as a healthier alternative to your go-to cheese-filled squash casserole. get the recipe 25 of 33 Peach Custard Pie Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch; Food Styling: Torie Cox No Southern has ever said no to a homemade peach pie and this one has quickly become a fan favorite with its silky custard bed filled with fresh peach slices. Serve chilled or at room temperature, regardless we can guarantee there won't be leftovers. get the recipe 26 of 33 Watermelon, Cucumber, And Feta Salad Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Lydia Pursell; Food Styling: Toni Brogan Tangy red wine and lemon vinaigrette is soaked up by fresh watermelon, cucumbers, and feta. Add fresh mint for even more flavor. Be sure to serve immediately so those fresh-from-the-ground herbs hold their bright delivery. get the recipe 27 of 33 Heirloom-Tomato Salad VICTOR PROTASIO; FOOD STYLIST: RUTH BLACKBURN; PROP STYLIST: CHRISTINE KEELY Serve this fresh salad with plenty of crusty bread to soak up the flavorful tomato juices. If you can't find heirloom tomatoes near you, don't worry—this salad will be just as delicious with any ripe tomato. You will find that the joining together of fresh herbs, tomatoes, onions, and chicken will leave you satisfied. get the recipe 28 of 33 Roasted Tomato Macaroni and Cheese Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Macaroni and cheese is always a hit, but making it a fresh veggie special by using tomatoes sends it over the top. We don't skimp on cheese in this dish, using four deliciously decadent cheeses to make it crave-worthy. Oregano and dry mustard lend extra seasoning that will ensure there are no leftovers. get the recipe 29 of 33 Chicken Caprese Pasta Linda Pugliese; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox This recipe couldn't be easier to whip together. Sauté tomatoes, shallots, and garlic then toss in cooked chicken and pasta, and coat with herb pesto. A fresh dinner will be on the table in under 30 minutes. get the recipe 30 of 33 BLT Salad with Buttermilk-Parmesan Dressing and Buttery Croutons Alison Miksch Bake the croutons and bacon together on the same baking sheet. This rustic salad only take 20 minutes to whip up and, trust us, the results are well worth the effort. You might be tempted to go for the store-bought stuff, but homemade buttermilk dressing will really kick this salad up a notch. get the recipe 31 of 33 Sesame, Tomato, and Cucumber Salad Alison Miksch The vinaigrette is made with salty soy sauce, but before serving, sprinkle a pinch of flaky sea salt to add texture to the fresh tomatoes. This is probably the easiest side dish you'll come across this summer, but don't let its ease fool you—it's absolutely packed with fresh, seasonal flavor. get the recipe 32 of 33 Old-School Squash Casserole Fred Hardy II; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Christina Brockman How often do you serve squash? A summer squash casserole in the South can be a year-round side. Squash pairs well at Thanksgiving, is always welcome at the neighborhood potluck, and is seen frequently at Sunday supper. Put this squash recipe on your list of to-do. get the recipe 33 of 33 Baked Zucchini Fries Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey Perfectly crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, no one will be able to resist these zucchini fries. You won't even miss the traditional potato version—not even the kids! get the recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit