6 Delicious Recipes and Wine Pairings For Your Next Summer Get Together

I’m so grateful to live in a place where it feels like summer nine months of the year but there is something particularly special about the months of June, July and August that inspire people to get social. Summer is all about getting together with family and friends to share experiences, and of course, delicious meals together. But figuring out what to make can sometimes be a challenge.

Thank you to HelloFresh for expanding my kitchen repertoire and filling my tummy. All opinions are my own.

You don’t want to spend all of your time in the kitchen but neither do you want to serve your friends the same old burgers and dogs on the grill. That’s where a company like HelloFresh comes in. It’s a meal delivery service unlike any you’ve tried before. With seasonal menus reflecting the social nature of summer and ingredients that can be thrown on the grill, doubled to feed a pot-luck crowd, or eaten with your fingers, you’re able to spend more time catching up with friends and less time doing dishes. Check out these easy recipes and wine pairings for your next gathering.

Stuffed Summer Squash Boats with Mushroom Duxelles, Quinoa, and Parmesan

Growing up I lived on summer squash, usually thrown in the oven with some olive oil and seasonings or made over the campfire. But who would have thought it’s also the perfect vessel for stuffing? This recipe fills them with finely chopped mushrooms, folded into a quinoa stuffing. Not only was this recipe delicious, but as a thorough carnivore who eats meat with most meals, I didn’t find myself missing the meat in this dish.

Download the complete recipe at HelloFresh. 

Wine Pairing Suggestions: As a good rule of thumb, pair earthy wines with earthy dishes. So for this veggie based dish, it’s all about the reds from light to medium and even the big boys. Try anything from a Pinot Noir or a Merlot to a California Cab or Malbec.

 

Seared Steak and Crispy Potato Salad with Tomatoes, Green Beans, and Shallot Pan-Sauce

I started to drool a bit just reading the name of this recipe so it was a no brainer for my second July box. I can’t think of anything better than a juicy pan-seared steak with a spanish-inspired potato salad. The salad consists of crispy potatoes, briny olives, and crisp green beans.

[infobox]P.S. This was my family’s *favorite* dish. Luckily, HelloFresh sends their recipes on sturdy card stock so I can keep them to make again later. [/infobox]

Download the complete recipe at HelloFresh.

Wine Pairing Suggestions: Red wines are notoriously good with beef. For seared steak, try a medium red like Merlot or a medium-weight Australian Shiraz.

Juicy Lucy Burger with Tomato-Red Onion Jam and Charred Romaine

This was another one of those recipes where I instantly liked the sound of it. I was raised in a “steak and potatoes” house so red meats are always a hit for me and nothing beats a perfectly cooked burger, right? Or so I thought until I tried said burger with the Tomato-Red Onion Jam. To be honest, at first I was a bit dubious about this so called “jam” but the minute I bit into the burger and experienced that burst of flavor in my mouth? Done.

This recipe was another family favorite but it’s also a great party hit. You could easily make all but the Jam on the grill and the recipes can easily be increased for larger servings.

Download the complete recipe at HelloFresh.

Wine Pairing Suggestions: At our house, this one would end up washed down with a favorite beer.  So for this pairing you get two. For beer, try an Ale, IPA, or Bock. For wine, try a a Merlot, Zinfandel, or Syrah.

Garlic-Lime Chicken with Avocado Salsa Verde and Spiced Honey-Butter Corn

This recipe intrigued me as I’m not a huge fan of cooking with avocado and neither had I ever seen a tomatillo. It ended up being a wonderful pair, although a few picky eaters in my house wouldn’t touch the avocado. Thankfully, the recipes are designed to be easily swappable so adding or subtracting an ingredient is no big deal. However the spicey honey-butter was a hit with everyone! 

Download the complete recipe at HelloFresh.

Wine Pairing Suggestions: Between the zesty lime and the fresh avocado, a white wine is the way to go with this dish. Try an Ugni Blanc, Colombard or Grenache Blanc. 

Chicken and Cold Soba Noodle Salad with Snow Peas, Mango, and Garlic-Scallion Vinaigrette

I’ll admit at first, this recipe seemed a bit out of the box for me. I’m not usually a huge fan of spicy sweet and I had never heard of Soba Noodles. However, when I was choosing my HelloFresh menu, I wanted to pair things I knew I would like with recipes that would challenge me. This was one of them and it turned out to be a hit – with a few modifications like less chilies please! 

Download the complete recipe at HelloFresh.

Wine Pairing Suggestions: Give a German-style Riesling a try for this dish. 

Peruvian Shrimp Ceviche Tacos with Pico de Gallo and Avocado

Ahh, now this I have made before, but it’s nice that the HelloFresh menu offers the familiar with something exciting and new. Composed of “raw” seafood, fresh citrus, onions, chilies, and spices this one will be a hit with any seafood lover. 

Download the complete recipe at HelloFresh.

Wine Pairing Suggestions: Another wine rule of thumb is to serve an unoaked white with anything you can squeeze a lemon or lime. Try an Albarino or a Sauvignon Blanc with this dish. 

If you’d like to give HelloFresh a try for yourself, they are offering Surf and Sunshine readers a huge 40% discount on your first box! (expires 8/31/15). Just click on any of the above links or use code 40SNS at checkout.

Thank you to HelloFresh for expanding my kitchen repertoire and filling my tummy. All opinions are my own.