Summer food ideas from Sarah Tuck

On a wet summer day, food writer Sarah Tuck likes to make pasta with peak-season tomatoes, eggplant and zucchini.

"I just absolutely love pastas made with stuff that's well in season," the dish magazine editor tells Anna Thomas.

Sarah makes a summer pasta sauce from an oven-roasted tray of halved cherry tomatoes, black olives, garlic, chilli flakes, olive oil, oregano and the finely grated zest and juice of an orange and a lemon.

The cooked sauce is then stirred through cooked spaghetti and topped with buffalo mozzarella, ricotta or burrata, basil leaves and a good grind of salt and pepper.

For a simple zucchini pasta, Sarah tosses through sliced zucchini that's been fried up with a diced onion, lemon zest and garlic.

For a simple eggplant pasta, she loads a baking tray with sliced eggplant (topped with lots of olive oil), tomatoes, olives, lots of salt and pepper.

Roasted eggplant is great in salads, too, Sarah says.

Here's her recipe for Eggplant, Spinach and Couscous Salad with Lemony Yoghurt Dressing

A big salad like this with added protein is one of Sarah's favourite one-dish dinners - and, in summer, pizzas and burgers.

Here's her recipe for Spicy Salami, Prosciutto and Mozzarella Pizza.

Sarah's favourite sweet treat for summer picnics is Salty Peanut, Raisin and Dark Chocolate Bars. "It's like scroggin but better."

The new cookbook dish SUMMER out is now. Find more summer recipes from dish here.

Sarah Tuck on RNZ:

Listen - Sarah Tuck on 'sad-arse dinners for one' and her debut cookbook Coming Unstuck

Listen - Sarah Tuck on her cookbook Stuck Together

Listen - Sarah Tuck talks about The Well - a mental health-focussed gym in Wellington
 

More Sarah Tuck recipes from the RNZ collection: 

• Salmon & Rice Salad

"This is so bloody delicious, the flavours work like magic together and it is ready in no time - a perfect sad-arse dinner!"

• Chilli Prawn Pasta 

"Ready in a flash, this pasta with a kick is the perfect midweek meal solution, but also delicious enough to serve to friends."

• Roasted Pumpkin, Buckwheat & Herb Salad

"I always leave the skin on when roasting the pumpkin as it adds a lovely texture and flavour to the salad."

 

• Chilli, Orange and White Chocolate Brownies

"These brownies are outrageously addictive with their sneaky, surprise hit of chilli heat."

• Mini Doughnuts with Orange Sugar, Citrus Curd & Mascarpone

"These fabulous zesty morsels are deceptively simple to make but a sure-fire party hit."