Food Recipe Collections & Favorites 5 Delicious Ways to Use Your Fresh Summer Fruit Think fruit is just for breakfast and snacks? These easy recipes show off the savory side of summer's sweetest produce. By Betty Gold Betty Gold Betty Gold is the former senior digital food editor at Real Simple. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Updated on October 13, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email There is a small subset of issues we would delightfully file under 'Good Problems to Have.' One such circumstance? Having such an abundance of fresh summer produce that you're unsure how to use it all up. Freezing fruit is always an option, but cooking with your rich-hued rhubarb, raspberries, peaches, pineapple, and sweet little pint-sized strawberries is so much more satisfying. Here are six of our favorite fruit-filled dishes—from a classic berry crumble cake to green gazpacho (made with grapes, honeydew, and fresh cucumber) and pineapple and seared swordfish kebabs—that we promise will leave no piece of produce behind. The 6 Best Practices for Baking With Fruit, According to a Cookbook Author 01 of 05 Peach and Arugula Salad With Burrata Greg DuPree Creamy burrata (or mozzarella) highlights the sweet acidity of perfect summer peaches (but you could use nectarines or apricots, too). Add salty prosciutto for an effortless salad you'll be making all season long. Get the recipe: Peach and Arugula Salad With Burrata 02 of 05 Green Gazpacho With Grapes, Honeydew, and Cucumber Greg DuPree Grapes, melon, and cucumber blend to create a slightly sweet version of the refreshing chilled soup. Don't forget a drizzle of olive oil before serving for a silky finish. Get the recipe: Green Gazpacho With Grapes, Honeydew, and Cucumber 03 of 05 Skillet Chicken Thighs With Balsamic Glaze and Fresh Cherry Salsa File this cooking method under “Smartest Back-Pocket Chicken Recipes.” Roasting the thighs in a hot oven means you can get evenly cooked, juicy meat and still have crispy skin on top, all without having to splatter your cooktop. While the chicken cooks, you’ll make a quick, buttery balsamic glaze that balances the rich chicken and a tart cherry salsa. Speaking of the salsa, it’s the kind of fresh take on a side that is as good a match for chicken as it is with white fish, steak, or even crispy tofu. Get the recipe: Skillet Chicken Thighs With Balsamic Glaze and Fresh Cherry Salsa. Greg DuPree Pan-roasting is the key to juicy chicken thighs with crackly golden skin. Start them skin-side down in a hot skillet and let them cook, undisturbed, until golden brown. Transfer them to the oven, skin-side up, to finish cooking while you make the easy and delicious cherry salsa; try it on grilled pork chops or white fish filets as well. Get the recipe: Skillet Chicken Thighs With Balsamic Glaze and Fresh Cherry Salsa 04 of 05 Mixed Berry-Rhubarb Crumble Cake Greg DuPree This cake showcases the perfect ratio of cake to fruit to crumble. We like the tartness that rhubarb offers but you can skip it if you prefer: just keep the amount of fruit at an even 6 cups and you'll be golden. Get the recipe: Mixed Berry-Rhubarb Crumble Cake 05 of 05 Sparkling Cantaloupe Lemonade Greg DuPree Make a big batch of this pretty peach-colored lemonade for your next backyard gathering: set aside half for the kiddos and spike the remaining pitcher with gin, vodka or tequila. Add more sliced lemons and juicy pieces of cantaloupe for a pretty presentation. Get the recipe: Sparkling Cantaloupe Lemonade Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit