Lighter / fresher meals

[headintheproverbial]

I make a lot of salads in the summer but have also realised that many of my 'show cooks' or more special/ entertaining recipes are really quite rich and heavy. Love roasts, creamy sauces, pastry etc.

Hit me with any ideas for special or entertaining recipes which are light ish at the same time please!!

I've found that many Yotam Ottolenghi recipes are lighter and, in the circles we move in, sufficiently interesting for entertaining anyone predisposed to veg-heavy food.

I've also found that heavier dishes where people can help themselves to as much or as little as they like work in warmer weather. Risotto is a good one, but a Brazilian type spread with rice and beans to help yourself, a variety of salads, and maybe a bit of grilled fish or meat to top off works well.

I'm a big fan of adapting the heavier options for lighter moments. So I might still do a roasted joint, but instead of serving with roast potatoes and all the trimmings, I'll serve it room temperature with a range of interesting salads and carbs in the form of good bread/new potatoes/couscous salad etc. Meditteranean flavours are particularly good for this - eg a lemony, garlicky leg of lamb served with couscous with roasted veg, perhaps some baba ganoush and some tzatiki. Or do lamb cutlets on a big platter with similar side dishes.

Fish is also good but I'm always a bit shocked at the cost of fish if you're entertaining. eg cod wrapped in parma ham served on a bed of lentils goes well. A friend likes to do a side of salmon served with salads.

Large Steak (or a beef joint like a sirloin) on the table cut into generous slices with really good oven chips, some roasted tomatoes, some kind of sauce (from creamy mushroom to chimchirri), maybe some wilted greens is lovely and feels lighter.

Oh, and a good salad can still be good for entertaining, especially if you do a good starter and/or dessert. One of my favourites for admittedly a small group - eg a girlfriend or two coming over after kids in bed - is a thai steak salad. I make them with noodles (but remove for anyone who is low carbing) so they're still substantial. And then something rich and delicious for desert can be more easily justified!

I keep it simple, use high quality, seasonal ingredients and let them do the talking.
This fillet of beef with chilli, lemon, and cumin is lovely. I just serve with salads and buttered new potatoes.
Or something like a simple linguine with fresh crab, chilli, cherry tomatoes, garlic and herbs.

I love this courgette and chickpea curry - its super quick to make and isn't too heavy like a traditional curry

www.spicepots.com/blogs/recipes/courgette-chickpea-curry