When the summer heat reaches unbearable levels, even seasoned chefs like Ina Garten start looking for shortcuts. Garten, beloved for her approachable elegance and classic recipes, recently shared her favorite no-cook dish for scorching days. It’s a five-ingredient salad that highlights peak season produce and bold flavor, with no stove required.
Ina Garten’s Heirloom Tomato and Blue Cheese Salad
The Barefoot Contessa’s go-to summer dish is a simple Heirloom Tomato and Blue Cheese Salad that requires only five ingredients beyond the pantry staples of salt, pepper, and olive oil. She starts by slicing two pounds of heirloom tomatoes, and layering them on a serving platter. However, any large, juicy tomato will work in a pinch.
Next comes a sprinkle of salt and a drizzle of red-wine vinegar, which should sit for at least five minutes. Letting the tomatoes rest helps the salt draw out their juices.
After that, she adds crumbles of Roquefort cheese, torn basil leaves, and a generous glug of olive oil. A final touch of salt and pepper completes the dish. The result? A flavor-packed salad that tastes like summer on a plate.
The Power of Simple Ingredients
Beyond convenience, what makes Garten’s salad shine is its thoughtful balance of textures and flavors. The tomatoes are at their juicy peak in summer, bringing a natural sweetness and acidity that anchors the dish. Roquefort, a tangy blue cheese, adds creamy richness and savory depth, while basil lends a fragrant herbal lift.
Garten’s use of red-wine vinegar and olive oil isn’t just for taste, it also elevates the nutritional profile. Olive oil provides healthy fats that promote heart health, while the tomatoes are rich in vitamin A and lycopene, both known for their anti-inflammatory properties. The Heirloom Tomato and Blue Cheese Salad is versatile enough to serve on its own or as a vibrant side.
Ina Garten Has a Full Summer Menu
The salad isn’t her only go-to during the hot summer months. Garten’s Summer Skillet with Clams, Sausage, and Corn from her cookbook “Go-To Dinners” is an easy one-skillet meal that can be served with French bread.
Her Blueberry Ricotta Breakfast Cake is a fabulous way to start a summer morning, but it could also be the star of a summer brunch. The recipe features fresh blueberries and whole-milk ricotta, plus some lemon zest, pure vanilla extract, and a dusting of powdered sugar on top.
Another five-ingredient dish for the hot summer months is Garten’s Summer Garden Pasta. It features angel hair pasta, Parmesan cheese, cherry tomatoes, garlic, and basil leaves. To take the flavor to the next level, Garten says to soak the tomatoes, garlic, and basil together for four hours.
A sweet treat on the menu is the Food Network star’s Mocha Chocolate Icebox Cake. Garten once said that it is so good it “makes grown men weep.” Featuring 10 layers that include Tate’s Bake Shop chocolate chip cookies, Italian mascarpone cheese, Kahlua liqueur, and cocoa powder, this dessert is simply divine. And there’s no baking required.
Finally, it wouldn’t be a Garten summer menu without a cocktail. Her Watermelon Cosmopolitans feature fresh watermelon juice, vodka, Cointreau, lime juice and mint sprigs.
Tell us! Which one of Ina Garten’s go-to summer recipes do you want to try? Let us know in the comments below.
Comments
Ina Garten Revealed the 5-Ingredient Meal She Makes When It Is Too Hot to Cook