By August, we’re all deeply settled into our summer routines; we’ve shed the strictness of the school year in exchange for a more flexible day-to-day existence, leaning on peak produce to sustain us through every glorious minute of sunlight. Pop into the market, and you’ll discover stands piled high with vibrant tomatoes, sunny cobs of corn, glossy bell peppers and fragrant tangles of herbs just waiting to be turned into seasonal stunners. If ever there was a time to focus on seasonal produce, this is it!
When Mother Nature is at her best, it’s time to flex your cooking muscle with farmer’s market recipes that turn the late-summer bounty into can’t-miss dishes. Go beyond salads, harnessing the richness of the season’s tomatoes, the sweetness of the corn, and the deep aroma of every fragrant herb to make hearty meals that delight. Whether you’re cooking breakfast, making snacks, working on lunch or dinner, reach for Success® Rice grains and pasta for a foolproof formula for dishes that are seasonal, simple to make, and extremely satisfying.
Even if late summer signals a return to schedules, alarm clocks and responsibilities, there’s still plenty of time to enjoy the season—especially at the table! Stretch out every fleeting flavor with premium grains that add heft, texture and myriad possibilities to your cooking. Summer isn’t over yet! Make the most of the time that remains with fabulous farmer’s market finds and Success® Rice.
Why Tomatoes and Corn Dominate Late Summer Cooking
At their peak in late summer and early fall, tomatoes and corn are key to seasonal dishes that wow. Read on for tips on how to pick the best, how to use these ingredients, and what to pair them with.
- Seasonal, local produce has more flavor and better texture than imported fruits and vegetables. Not only does it taste better, but it also retains more of its nutrients as it is picked at its peak and sold immediately instead of being transported elsewhere.
- Easy to find and cook, tomatoes and corn can be used in countless ways! Use them fresh, in salads, cold soups and pastas, or lightly sauté them to add to tacos, rice bowls and casseroles.
- Loaded with flavor, these ingredients shine on their own, making them easy additions to any meal. They can also enhance other ingredients, such as rice, quinoa, and couscous. In sides, grain bowls, skillet meals, and other recipes, they add color, texture, and a delectably summery feel to every bite.
Fresh Corn Dishes That Deserve a Spot on Your Summer Table
Crisp and sweet, corn dishes are a welcome sight on any table. Grab the heaviest cobs you can find and serve them in these showstopping dishes.
Black Bean Corn and Mango Salad
When corn is at its peak, this Tex-Mex salad is a perfect place to show it off! Prepare this Success® boil-in-bag white rice salad as is or double the amount of corn to get more juicy pops of sweetness in every mouthful. Add shredded chicken for a complete meal that’s summery, light and popular with diners of every age.
Mexican Grilled Corn Salad
A quick stint on a hot grill gives the season’s ripest corn a seductively smoky edge. Pair the charred kernels with a simple blend of fragrant Success® boil-in-bag jasmine rice, feta, green onions, and chili-laced crema, and you’ll have a street-food-inspired salad that steals the spotlight from everything else on the table!
Summer Corn and Rice Salad
It’s hard to find fault with a dish that requires just a handful of ingredients, 2 simple steps, and is ready in just 15 minutes. Add to that the fact that it’s brimming with late-summer goodness—from juicy tomatoes and golden, plump kernels of corn—and you’ll immediately know that you have a winning dish on your hands. Reach for frozen corn when you’re making this in January, but in August and September, fresh corn is the way to go!
Jackfruit Burrito Bowl
Harness the sweetness of in-season corn to balance the smokiness of barbecue jackfruit in this crowd-pleasing dish. Though we love to build this vegetarian main on a fluffy bed of warm Success® boil-in-bag white rice, feel free to experiment with the garnishes, reaching for your favorite taco toppings.
Tomato Dishes That Taste Like Peak Summer
When life gives you an abundance of succulent tomatoes, there’s only one thing to do—use them in a slew of stunning tomato dishes, every day of the week! Plan ahead with these top-notch recipes.
Cherry Tomato Caprese Pearl Couscous Salad
Use any ripe tomatoes you have on hand—be they cherry, Roma, beefsteak or heirlooms—for this riff on Italian caprese salad. Not only do they add color and pops of sweetness to every mouthful, but they’re also the perfect complement to nutty Success® boil-in-bag pearl couscous, creamy bocconcini and the fresh punch of basil leaves. Ready in just 15 minutes, you can have this dish on the table whenever the mood strikes!
Garden Stuffed Tomatoes
Turn tomatoes into the star of a meal with this impressive (yet easy!) warm-weather recipe. With veggie-packed Success® boil-in-bag white rice, for heft, plus a silky, Dijon-spiked dressing, peak tomatoes become a delicious vegetarian main. Prefer a warm dinner? Simply pop these in the oven for 30 minutes, until they’re gooey and tender.
Garden Rice Cucumber Salad with Tomato
Soy sauce, garlic, vinegar and black pepper join forces to create a flavorful dressing for this satisfying Success® boil-in-bag brown rice salad. A dish that includes cucumber, peak tomatoes, and zingy green onions, this 15-minute option is for days when you want to enjoy familiar ingredients in a decidedly new way.
French Herb Tomato Soup with Quinoa
Simply satisfying, this fragrant soup will warm you and the family up when temps begin to dip. Despite its brief ingredient list—carrots, tomatoes, shallots, broth, herbs and Success® boil-in-bag tri-color quinoa—it’s deeply savory and more comforting than you might expect. Choose the season’s best tomatoes for the richest flavor.
Sun-dried Tomato Bruschetta Pearl Couscous Bowl
Two types of tomato—fresh and sun-dried—add heaps of flavor to this weeknight-friendly Success® boil-in-bag pearl couscous main. A take on tomato-topped bruschetta, this dish feels familiar yet fun, with couscous and sausage adding the hearty bite you crave at the end of a long day.
One-Pot and Easy Dinner Recipes for Busy Summer Nights
With summer-ready recipes for every mood, there’s no limit to what you can make during the year’s sunniest season! For the freshest flavor, opt for peak produce instead of frozen or canned, whenever you can.
Jumpin’ Jambalaya
The type of weeknight-friendly dinner every meal plan needs, this quick jambalaya relies on a number of pantry staples for its flavor and flair. Use Success® boil-in-bag white rice, or your favorite variety, plus shrimp, andouille sausage, and Cajun seasoning for its unmistakable flavor. When tomatoes are in season, use fresh in place of canned.
Curry in a Hurry
Chicken night gets an Indian spin with this subtly spiced 30-minute dish. Paired with aromatic Success® boil-in-bag basmati rice, tender morsels of chicken cooked in curry-scented tomato sauce are pure comfort in a bowl. For more flavor, add your favorite vegetables—think spinach, zucchini, peas, or mushrooms—to the curry as it simmers.
Street Corn Chicken Rice Bowl
Bring Tex-Mex flavors to the table with these street-food-inspired Success® boil-in-bag jasmine rice bowls. Grilled corn and juicy tomatoes are must-have toppings, with additional garnishes, like cilantro, hot sauce, and jalapeños, ranging from the fresh to the fiery. Top these with shredded chicken, as we did here, or try shrimp, black beans, pulled pork, or veggie ground round
How to Shop the Farmers Market Like a Pro
Whether you’re new to the farmer’s market or are a seasoned veteran, these tips will help you pick the best produce there is on every visit.
- Generally, the best produce is heavy for its size, is smooth and unblemished, and isn’t soggy, mushy, or overripe. Pick tomatoes that are glossy and firm, but not hard. Fresh corn should have bright green husks, not look dried out, and be free of pests and mold. The kernels should be plump, and there shouldn’t be gaps between the rows. If you can, make sure that the corn silks are golden and moist, not wet or blackened.
- The best late-summer produce includes tomatoes, eggplant, corn, zucchini, and bell peppers. Stone fruits are also in season during this time, along with certain melons (honeydew, cantaloupe), and some berries (blueberries, blackberries). Apples and pears might also start to appear in the market in late summer.
- Bulk-buying produce can save you money and set you up for success when it comes to meal prep. If you’re dedicated, there’s no limit to what you can do! Turn bushels of tomatoes into sauce; cut corn kernels off the cob and freeze them for future meals; roast bell peppers and pack them in oil in sterilized jars; make jam or compote with stone fruits or apples; or pickle veggies to use at a later date.
How to Use Up Extra Tomatoes and Corn Before They Go Bad
We’ve all been there; you buy too much produce and don’t have time to eat it before it starts to wilt! Instead of giving up, turn to these useful tips to avoid waste.
- Batch-cooking grains is a great way to ensure that other ingredients don’t go to waste. Why? With that step taken care of, you’ll be more likely to focus on other ingredients that need attention. Cook up a pot of rice, quinoa or pearl couscous, and you’ll be ready to assemble a quick grain bowl, salad, sauté or casserole with any excess corn, tomatoes or other produce hanging around the crisper.
- When produce looks like it’s on its way out, take action by roasting, grilling or sautéing it for another meal. Add cooked corn to tacos, salads, stir-fries and casseroles. Tomatoes can add acidity, color, and flavor to ground meat, pasta sauces, soups, and more.
- If you have far more tomatoes than you can handle, sauces and soups are your best friends! Simmer tomatoes down into pasta sauce or toss a few into a minestrone or roast vegetable soup. You can also roast tomatoes with a little olive oil, salt, and pepper. Then, freeze them in batches to add to sauces, soups, casseroles, and risottos all winter long.