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The 20 best summer vegetable recipes

Local shops and supermarket shelves are stacked with prime summer produce. Piles of fragrant, sun-ripened tomatoes, crisp sweetcorn, freshly picked French beans. It’s the perfect time for Nigel Slater’s burrata with peas and basil, Richard Olney’s bagna cauda, or Yasmin Khan’s moussaka. From Malaysia to northern Spain, Australia to the US, we have scoured the world for vegetable recipes. We devoured the best books. Whether you make Simon Hopkinson’s classic lettuce, cress and egg salad or bake Claire Ptak’s definitive carrot cake, savour this collection. Literal summer on a plate.

Nigel Slater’s burrata and peas

The simplest of lunch or supper dishes, ready in a few minutes

Burrata and peas.
Burrata and peas. Photograph: Jonathan Lovekin/The Observer

Caponata by Jacob Kenedy

A versatile Sicilian stew with many variations – and a handy way to use up leftover veg

Sweetcorn, rosemary and smoked cheddar soufflé by Gill Meller

In the 1970s, soufflés were everywhere – now they are a rare beast. Time to celebrate them again

Courgette, sweetcorn and chermoula by Helen Graham

A celebration of two summer stars, given a north African twist

Chilled summer garden soup with nasturtium pesto by Anna Hedworth

Gather the ingredients, season, blitz and serve – couldn’t be simpler

Bagna cauda – raw vegetables with hot anchovy dip by Richard Olney

A great party canapé, if a little messy, so best eaten outside

Yotam Ottolenghi’s oven chips with oregano and feta

An elegant Aussie twist on the humble chip, baked to perfection

Oven chips with oregano and feta.
Oven chips with oregano and feta. Photograph: Jonathan Lovekin

Roast chicken with sweet-and-sour cucumber salad by Trine Hahnemann

A Danish seasonal classic with the salad staple as star – just like grandmother used to make

Hangzhou aubergines – rou mo qie zi by Fuchsia Dunlop

Flavoursome home cooking, Chinese style – serve with or without meat

Gado gado – Malaysian peanut salad by Elizabeth Haigh

The peanut goes centre-stage in this classic south-east Asian dish

Rotolo di spinaci by Ruth Rogers

An Italian treat for a perfect seasonal lunch or dinner

Dry-fried French beans with minced pork by Andrew Wong

A zingy way to cook and eat the humble bean – just don’t shrivel the skin too much

Simon Hopkinson’s lettuce salad with eggs, mustard cress and a creamed dressing

Dressed green leaves and sunny egg yolks conjure up the lightest summer dish

Beetroot and feta galette with za’atar and honey by Sami Tamimi and Tara Wigley

Complementary ingredients swaddled in flaky pastry make for a heavenly seasonal tart

Yasmin Khan’s vegetable moussaka

A classic dish (minus the meat) that brings back memories of a holiday in Cyprus

Broad bean, dill and tomato salad by Georgina Hayden

A Greek-style seasonal salad – just like yiayia used to make

Nigel Slater’s baked sea bass, courgette and spinach stuffing

Served whole, this fish dish makes an elegant centrepiece at dinner

Baked sea bass, courgette and spinach stuffing.
Baked sea bass, courgette and spinach stuffing. Photograph: Jonathan Lovekin/The Observer

Sweet or tangy potato salad by Marie Mitchell

This works well for a picnic lunch or as a side with a main meal

Swiss chard sandwich by Nieves Barragán Mohacho

An old Spanish recipe takes the humble sandwich and makes it something really special

Carrot cake by Claire Ptak

A supercharged recipe for this sweet, ever-popular classic

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