Summer's in full swing, which means your calendar is probably jam-packed with parties and backyard barbecues. Totally fun? Absolutely! But trying to cook enough food for a crowd can present challenges.
Thankfully certain recipes are easily scalable and perfect for laid-back gatherings. Here are 8 healthy and delicious ones worth bringing to your next bash:
Mediterranean Sweet Potato Hummus Bites
Hummus and parties go together like sand and the ocean. But instead of pairing the protein-packed spread with crackers, how about smearing it on baked sweet potatoes for a sweet and savoury bite? Anne of Fannetastic Food suggests taking the pairing a step further by using baked sweet potatoes rounds as a base for feta, tomato, basil and hummus—the combination is downright delicious! Want to heighten the rustic appeal? Share them with guests on a wooden board.
Watermelon Frosé
Pink is the colour of the year, and it doesn't get much prettier than a watermelon frosé. What’s frosé, you say? Yummy Mummy's take on the trendy wine-based beverage is made by freezing rosé then blending it with vitamin-rich watermelon chunks and lime juice. Garnish with mint if you want to get a little fancy, or trade the booze for a cup or two of ice to mix up some equally delectable watermelon slushies.
Grilled Corn, Tomato, Avocado Salad with Chimichurri
Big, beefy tomatoes. Roasted corn. Creamy avocado. You might think it's impossible to improve on that trifecta of summertime flavours, but you totally can. Jessica of How Sweet It Is recommends topping these veggies with generous drizzles of chimichurri made from some of summer's tastiest powerhouse herbs: coriander, oregano and parsley. Perfect for vegans and carnivores alike, this is one salad all your guests will have no problem polishing off.
Seven-Layer Taco Dip
The thought of refried beans may bring to mind those ill-advised visits to Taco Bell of yesteryear. But with a little know-how, this Tex-Mex favourite can be made healthy. To keep things light, Liz of The Lemon Bowl uses fat-free refried beans and protein-rich Greek yogurt instead of sour cream. She adds a layer of avocado for a punch of heart-healthy omega-3s, then tops everything off with tomatoes, spring onions and olives for a satisfying crunch.
Marinated Grilled Vegetables With Avocado Whipped Feta
Just look at those beautiful grill marks on these veggies. How Sweet It Is is back with a smorgasbord of marinated onions, radishes, zucchini, eggplant, sweet potatoes and capsicum. The combination is so delicious that you might not only meet, but exceed (!) your daily recommended veggie intake. The final touch? A savoury accompanying dip made with avocado, feta cheese and olive oil that perfectly offsets the veggies' caramelised sweetness.
Pineapple Veggie Chicken Skewers With Spicy Peanut Butter Sauce
Food on a stick isn't always healthy, but skewers generally are. In this recipe, Gina of Fitnessista pairs cubed chicken breasts with pineapple, peppers, zucchini and onion, and then kicks things up a notch by pairing the kebabs with a spicy peanut butter dipping sauce.
Spinach and Feta Turkey Burgers
The sizzle of burgers on the grill is part of summer's soundtrack. And when you follow a smart recipe, you can enjoy one without downing half a day's worth of calories. Eating Bird Food's burger is a cinch to make and clocks in at 690 kilojoules a pop. To whip them up, combine lean ground turkey with baby spinach, feta cheese, egg whites and parsley. Then, form patties and toss them on the barbecue for 15 to 20 minutes. Want to keep the kilojoules down? Skip the buns and serve the burgers on lettuce leaves and top with tomato slices.
Healthy Strawberry Shortcake
Cookie and Kate has devised a recipe that allows you to have your shortcake and stay trim, too. Whole wheat flour, coconut milk and maple syrup replace the white flour, sugar and whipped cream used to make the traditional recipe. And she advises using organic strawberries. Of course, strawberry shortcake's not strawberry shortcake without whipped cream, so top it off with her coconut version, rich in healthy fats.
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