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What to cook in June: Our must-try recipes for your summer barbecues

From smoky favourites for the grill, to sweet strawberry delights, the vibrant flavours of summer are here.

From smoky favourites for the grill, to sweet strawberry delights, the vibrant flavours of summer are here

Jamey Ordolis · CBC Life ·
3 images side by side, left to right: strawberry cake; grilled lamb cutlets; platter of kale salad
(Photo, left to right: Dhivya Subramanian, Faith Mason, David Bagosy)

The grill is calling! With the longer, warmer days of June here, it's time to dust off the barbecue and enjoy the sizzling sounds of the season. Nothing says "hello, summer" like the first supper outside, not to mention the sweet arrival of fresh local strawberries.

This month, our focus shifts to dishes that are perfect for easy after-work grilling or for having guests over. From chef Dwight Smith's recipe for juicy jerk chicken, to chimichurri chicken and lamb burgers, this list has so many fresh takes on classic favourites. For vegetarians, the chickpea burgers with halloumi and roasted tomatoes are a hearty and flavourful alternative that won't leave you missing the meat. Finally, my go-to all season is the charred whole romaine with hard-boiled egg and anchovy vinaigrette. It's the perfect sidekick to so many barbecue mains.

As we approach Eid al-Adha, we have some lovely dishes for your festive table, like our lamb and apricot pine nut pilaf or tandoori lamb cutlets. Don't miss the elegant recipes for shahi tukda and spiced coffee kulfi for dessert.

Speaking of dessert, June's bounty of strawberries means you must leave room for them on your menus. A strawberry creation, like Lidia Bastianich's no-bake berry tiramisu, is the perfect end to any summer barbecue. 

So, shake up a margarita and let these recipes be your guide to a summer of great meals and gatherings.

Jerk Chicken

Closeup on a white plate of jerk chicken on a wooden cutting board. The plate contains jerk chicken on rice and beans, with a side of plantain and some coleslaw.
(Source: Dwight Smith)

Tandoori Lamb Cutlets 

Closeup on grilled lamb cutlets on a wooden cutting board.
(Photography by Faith Mason)

Chickpea Burgers With Halloumi and Roasted Tomatoes

2 chickpea burgers on a wooden serving platter.
(Credit: Shahir Massoud)

BBQ Chimichurri Chicken

Close up of chicken covered with chimichurri sauce cooking on a grill.
(Photo credit: Adrian Harris and Jeremy Inglett)

Lamb Rib Burger with Pineapple Salsa

Closeup on a lamb burger with pineapple salsa.
(Credit: David Loftus)

Smoky Stone Fruit and Bourbon BBQ Ribs

overhead shot of a rack of ribs on a wooden cutting board on a wooden table. peaches, plums, a small bowl of BBQ sauce and a bottle of bourbon sit around the board.
(Photography by Michael Gozum)

Lamb and Apricot Pine Nut Pilaf

Overhead shot of a plate of pilaf
(Photography by Leila Ashtari)

Charred Whole Romaine w/ Hard-Boiled Egg, Anchovy Vinaigrette, and Garlic Bread Crumbs

2 heads of grilled romaine lettuce with salad dressing and crumbled egg.
(Photography by EE Berger)

Grilled Potato Salad

A platter of grilled lettuce, potatoes and sweet potatoes.
(CBC Life)

Borani-yeh Kadoo

closeup on a yogurt dip topped with sauteed zucchini, tomatoes and fried onions. the dip is on a dark blue plate, with flatbread sitting next to it.
(Photography by Eric Wolfinger)

Sweet Potato and Lentil Salad in a Lime Vinaigrette

A bowl of lentil salad with chunks of sweet potatoes in it, and topped with microgreens and pomegranate arils. Small bowls of pomegranate arils and salad dressing sit next to the salad.
(Photo: Shayma Owaise Saadat)

Kale Salad with Tahini Ranch Dressing

Overhead shot of a white serving platter of salad.
(Photo: David Bagosy, Styling: Melissa Direnzo)

Spiced Coffee Kulfi 

overhead shot of 2 grey containers of coffee-flavoured kulfi, with a spoon in one of them, sitting on a black surface
(Photography by Nik Sharma)

Shahi Tukda 

Closeup on a white platter with slices of Shahi Tukda, sweet, fried bread topped with rose petals and cardamom. A ladle at the top of the image is pouring a milky sauce over the dessert.
(Photography by Diana Muresan)

Berry Tiramisu

overhead shot of a clear, rectangular baking dish filled with a tiramisu topped with sliced strawberries and blueberries. 2 bowls with slices of the tiramisu are sitting next to it. all of the dishes are sitting on a pale purple tablecloth.
(Photography by Steve Giralt)

Strawberry Cardamom Yogurt Cake 

A bird'seye view of a cake with strawberries on it with a large slice taken out of it. There are smaller individual plates with slices of cake on them.
(Photography by Dhivya Subramanian)

Strawberry "Shortcake" Drop Scones 

Sliced strawberries and whipped cream in between a scone sliced in half, and topped with more whipped cream. The strawberry shortcake is sitting on a shallow pink bowl on a table with more scones and berries in the background.
(CBC Life)

Cardamom Strawberry Country Slab Pie

Overhead shot of a rectangular pie on a red cooling rack. The pie crust design is latticed, and the filling is strawberry.
(Photography by Michael Gozum)

Spicy Margarita

Closeup on a short glass with ice and a light-yellow cocktail in it, garnished with a slice of jalapeño.
(Photography by Ashley Gollogly)

Garden Party Sangria

sangria with orange slices, strawberry slices and flower petals in a clear glass on a pink surface. a flower and blue drink umbrellas are beside the drink.
(Photography by Doan Ly)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jamey Ordolis

Jamey Ordolis is the senior producer of CBC Life.

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