10 summer dinners you can cook right now from cupboard staples you already have - no extra shopping
1. Pasta with olive sauce
Serve it with a quick cucumber salad, grated cheese or a handful of rocket if you have fresh greens. If not, a drizzle of olive oil and extra black pepper will still do the job beautifully. It is cheap, quick and exactly the kind of dinner that tastes like you made more effort than you did.
Are you in the mood for a simple, tasty pasta dish that makes you feel right at home? Pasta with olive sauce is the ideal answer! A true classic of Italian cuisine, very easy to prepare and full of flavor, perfect for a light lunch or a quick...
2. Chickpea curry with rice
For a summer version, keep it lighter with spinach, courgette, peas or cherry tomatoes stirred in at the end. A squeeze of lemon or lime wakes everything up. This is the dinner to make when the fridge is quiet, the cupboard is doing the talking, and you want something fragrant in under half an hour.
In the list of comforting dishes , we gladly ask for a chickpea curry ! Served with rice, this fragrant recipe will warm your stomach :-) You'll see how easy this recipe is with the steps explained below ↓
3. Savoury tomato and tuna clafoutis
This is a brilliant “almost nothing left” meal because it uses basics many people already have: eggs, flour, milk, tuna and tomatoes. Cherry tomatoes are lovely in summer, but drained tinned tomatoes or roasted jarred peppers can help if the fresh drawer is empty. Serve it warm, room temperature or cold the next day. Very picnic-friendly, very low-drama.
For an easy, effective meal that's a little different from the ordinary, we suggest our savory clafoutis recipe ! And when it comes to flavour, the combination of tomatoes and tuna is always a hit with us, so why not try it? While the clafoutis...
4. Crispy gnocchi salad
The fun part is the contrast: golden gnocchi, cool sauce, fresh vegetables. It feels like a salad but eats like a proper meal. Keep a packet of gnocchi in the cupboard and you have one of the easiest warm-weather dinners ready whenever the evening needs something playful.
It's the star of the networks, and it's easy to see why: crispy gnocchi salad is the perfect combo of indulgence and freshness! Easy to prepare and super trendy, it's made with crispy golden gnocchi , a yoghurt sauce spiced up with fresh herbs,...
5. Onion frittata
This is perfect for summer because you can cook it once and serve it in several ways: with salad for dinner, in a sandwich for lunch, or cut into squares for a picnic. Add jarred peppers, leftover potatoes, tinned sweetcorn or herbs if you want to dress it up. The base idea stays wonderfully simple: eggs, onions, pan, dinner.
Let's make a classic of Italian cuisine: The onion frittata ! This economical , easy to make and tasty dish that the whole family will definitely love ;-) You simply cook some onions in a pan with a lid, combine eggs and parmesan , then cook...
6. Rice noodles with mushrooms and egg
If you do not have fresh mushrooms, use whatever you do have: frozen vegetables, shredded cabbage, jarred baby corn, edamame, leftover chicken or tofu. The real storecupboard heroes are the noodles and sauce ingredients. Finish with chilli oil, sesame seeds or a squeeze of lime if the cupboard is feeling fancy.
Not sure what to do with your rice noodles ? Here is a recipe that should save your meal! Because yes, it is easy but also very quick to do ;-) And on the garnish side, we play it simple with mushrooms , a sauce based on soy sauce and a...
7. Wholegrain rice with broccoli and shrimp
The best part is flexibility. Replace shrimp with chickpeas, falafel, tofu or leftover chicken. Swap broccoli for peas, spinach or green beans. Add teriyaki, chilli sauce, soy sauce or lemon depending on what you have. It is the kind of bowl that can change every week and still feel fresh.
For a healthy, balanced and delicious meal without spending hours in the kitchen, there's nothing like delicious brown rice with shrimps and broccoli ! Today we're presenting a classic version, but you can also add sauces to make this dish even...
8. Cheese omelette with a cupboard salad
This is a great summer dinner because it is light but satisfying, quick but not boring. Add toast, leftover rice or a few boiled potatoes if you need more substance. The omelette brings warmth and softness; the salad brings freshness and crunch.
Heat up your frying pan to prepare your best omelette in no time! Nothing is better and easier to make than an omelette for breakfast, brunch or just for lunch accompanied by a salad for a balanced meal ready in just a few minutes . And for even...
9. Instant noodles upgraded into dinner
The summer trick is to keep the toppings fresh and fast: cucumber ribbons, grated carrot, spring onion, coriander or crunchy peanuts. The noodles bring comfort; the toppings keep it lively. This is a very good dinner for nights when cooking energy is low but appetite is very much present.
Fancy a delicious dish without spending hours in the kitchen ? Our Juliette -inspired "lazy" recipe is for you! Ready in a flash, it's super-easy to prepare thanks to a few simple tricks: cut the vegetables while the meat is cooking, and toss the...
10. Crispy rice omelette
This dinner is especially useful after making too much rice for curry or bowls earlier in the week. It transforms leftovers into something that feels completely new. Serve with cucumber, tomatoes or a quick yoghurt sauce to keep the plate fresh.
This omelette combines pre-cooked basmati rice sautéed in neutral oil, enriched with a Korean fermented chili paste ( gochujang ) and butter for a savory base. Beaten eggs are poured over crispy rice and cooked covered, then topped with edamame...
The storecupboard formula to remember
For a better summer cupboard, stock pasta, rice, couscous, rice noodles, gnocchi, chickpeas, beans, lentils, tuna, coconut milk, chopped tomatoes, olives, curry paste, soy sauce, chilli oil and a few nuts or seeds. Then add fresh extras when you can: lemons, herbs, cucumber, tomatoes, salad leaves, eggs and yoghurt.
The result is a kitchen that can handle hot days, lazy evenings and surprise hunger. And honestly, that is the dream: less shopping, less stress, more sunny dinners.
Juliette HessI love traveling and discovering new dishes, trying out new culinary trends, and exploring new restaurants.
I’m a pasta fan in all its forms ❤ from udon noodles to tagliatelle, I love cooking it and even making it homemade!
Right now, I’m preparing, filming, and photographing your next recipe, and I hope you’ll love it!
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