7 tropical recipes to maximize summer fun
Summer’s here, and we’re turning the dial on sunshine all the way up with these tropical eats. They’re easy (think minimal prep). They’re breezy (with bright fresh flavour in every bite). And they serve up beachside vibes for backyard BBQs, pool parties, and beyond. Your summer flavour escape starts here!
1. Spicy Grilled Chicken Kabobs with Mango Slaw
Quick weeknight meals deserve a symphony of flavour, too. Marinated in a blend of yogurt, lemon, and spices, these succulent chicken skewers make dinner really sizzle–especially when paired with a zesty mango slaw. Hot tip: A bag of pre-shredded coleslaw saves you some of the prep work.
2. Tropical Sweet and Spicy Chicken Tacos
These aren’t your average chicken tacos. Packed with volumes of mouth-watering flavour and texture from a coconut-ginger marinade, lime-chili crema, and tropical fruit salsa, these tantalizing tacos are sweet, spicy, fresh and juicy. Even better? If you marinate your chicken in advance, you can put them on the table in less than 20 minutes.
3. Hawaiian-Ribeye Steak
This summer steak is tenderized by a tropical marinade–pineapple juice, brown sugar, vinegar, garlic and ginger–but the secret to making the meat truly shine is to marinate for at least four hours (but no longer than 24). And this is true of any steak: Always, always, let it rest before slicing into it.
4. Lime-Coconut Cheesecake
Transport your taste buds to flavour paradise. In a crisp coconut-graham cracker crust, the creamy zesty lime filling shines brightly. Topped with toasted coconut and extra lime zest, it's a slice of tropical indulgence that whisks you away to an (imaginary) white sand beach under the shade of (imaginary) palm trees.
5. Basque Citrus Cheesecake & Granadilla Citrus Sauce
Light, airy, and creamy, the crustless Basque cheesecake is completely different than its more common crusted counterpart. Topped with a sweet-tart citrus granadilla (part of the passionfruit family) sauce, it’s rich (but not too rich), sweet (but not too sweet) and elegant to serve (but not hard to make). Win-win-win!
6. Banana Coconut Cake with Seven-Minute Frosting
Sure, this super-moist and slightly sweet banana-coconut cake will be the hit of any summer soirée – but the best part about it is that the base can be made a day ahead and stored in an airtight container. On the day of, all you’ll have to do is make the frosting. That’s what we call a piece of cake!
7. Pineapple Coconut Crush with Black Pepper
Do you like piña coladas? You’ll LOVE this coconut-pineapple slushie, which tastes just as good with or without the alcohol. The black pepper garnish adds a touch of spice, and a maraschino cherry is just the way they do it in the tropics. Want to make it even more on-theme? Serve it in a hollowed-out coconut or pineapple for added whimsy.