Lighter brighter dinners
Freshen up your menu with dishes that pack a punch
As the days stretch longer and the evenings hint at the warmth of summer to come, my home cooking begins to shift towards lighter fare, big on bold flavour. It’s a gradual transition, helped along by a recent trip to Los Angeles, which was a nice reminder of the joys of outdoor cooking and eating.
One of my current favourites is the grilled cumin chicken and halloumi salad here. The simplicity of tender grilled chicken dusted with toasted cumin, paired with the salty richness of halloumi cheese atop a bed of crisp greens, is a reminder that you don’t need too much to bring a little freshness to your kitchen. Quick to prepare and bursting with flavour, it’s a perfect go-to dinner on those evenings when inspiration eludes you.
Another dish that is a proper blast of fresh cooking is the harissa fried chicken with garlic and herb aioli. There’s something completely addictive about the crispy exterior of the chicken, tingling with the fiery heat of harissa spice. Served alongside a crisp green salad or with roasted potatoes, it’s the kind of treat dinner to look forward to. Don’t skimp on the accompanying garlic and herb aioli — it’s the second-best part of this recipe.
Lastly, a recipe for vibrant salsa verde steak tacos. Tender slices of steak (get the best you can afford and bear in mind, sliced thinly, you can stretch one large steak between two), perfectly grilled and smothered in tangy salsa verde, nestled within warm tortillas and topped with all the fixings. It has the type of flavours and textures I look forward to this time of year to catapult our kitchen into the lighter, brighter months. Whether enjoyed as a casual weeknight dinner or served up for a festive gathering, it’s always a hit.
What ties these dishes together is their celebration of fresh, vibrant ingredients and bold, punchy flavours. From the zesty salsa verde to the fiery kick of harissa spice, each dish has that kick which might help awaken your spring-summer cooking routine.