Warm weather means eating outside on the patio, but you need some healthy summer recipes because no one wants to eat a heavy, fatty meal when it's sweltering hot outside. Lightened up fare is pretty easy to find and you can enjoy loads of healthy summer recipes, including these delectable finds from CookingChannel.com. I'm talking fish, citrus, summertime veggies and much more. If you're stuck in a rut and need some delicious and refreshing healthy summer recipes, read on for everything you could ever want. The only hard part will be deciding which one you want to try first.
1 Grilled Mahi Mahi with Jerk Spice
Make your own jerk marinade ahead of time (it can be refrigerated for one week or frozen for up to two months) to prepare a flavorful fish dinner in only five minutes. Simply season the mahi mahi with the marinade, grill it on both sides and dinner is ready.
This five-star recipe has been described as "phenomenal" and "sensational" by reviewers, and the rosemary lime "mayo" (which is actually greek yogurt) continues to win the masses over.
Michael Symon seasons his pork souvlaki skewers with traditional Mediterranean flavors like oregano and garlic, but he dials them up a notch by adding sliced jalapeno.
By stuffing sweet red peppers with lean ground beef and loads of veggies and topping the halves with a sprinkling of lean feta cheese, Ellie creates a meal that tastes indulgent but will only cost you about 200 calories.
Paula spoons enough butter, chili, sour cream and cheese on her waffles to give them a whopping 841 calories per serving. Bobby Deen's savory waffles are made without butter or eggs; topped with a light and fresh ratatouille, they have just 477 calories per serving.
Grill zucchini and layer with hummus, slices of sweet red peppers, fresh spinach and mint for a colorful and crunchy wrap that's as delicious as it is nutritious.
If you love Buffalo wings (and who doesn't, really?), then this is one recipe that's worth a test drive. Ellie's blue cheese dressing delivers salty, creamy flavor with a fraction of the fat thanks to fat-free yogurt in place of mayo.
Bobby Flay marinates flaky white fish in lime juice, ancho chile powder, jalapeno and cilantro before tossing it on the grill. The result is a spicy, smoky fish taco that's mildly addictive.
Ellie's light quesadillas take only 20 minutes to prepare. Filled with chicken, mushrooms, spinach, three cheeses and a mixture of spices, this Mexican main packs plenty of oomph.
18 Sichuan Peppercorn Steak with Grilled Green Onions
A tangy, spicy rub of papaya seeds and both black and Sichuan peppercorns gives this steak distinct Asian flavor, complemented by aromatic grilled onions.
19 Grilled Vegetable Panini with Herbed Feta Spread
The salty, herby feta spread, made thick, creamy and tangy with cream cheese and sour cream, almost overshadows all the fresh veggies in this sandwich.
Romesco sauce, made with toasted Marcona almonds and roasted red peppers, makes the perfect accompaniment to shrimp grilled with smoky paprika and garlic.
This Pasta Primavera highlights crisp spring vegetables, such as grape tomatoes, asparagus and zucchini, for a refreshing, light dish with bright colors and aromatic herbs.
Satisfying and slimming, this salad pairs roasted pork tenderloin with potassium-rich produce — including strawberries, blackberries and baby spinach — which helps keep blood pressure in check. Toss with a no-fuss mustard vinaigrette that's whisked together in minutes.
Steaming this fresh fish in parchment paper, a healthy technique called en papillote, will result in a delicate, moist fish gently flavored with lemon, leek and thyme.
Get your fill of omega-3 oils and vitamin C with this dish — it's healthy and satisfying, with a slightly sweet touch from the braised cabbage with blackberries.
Since this yogurt-based curry sauce is filled with chunks of rotisserie chicken, sweet mango and apple, this dish is both healthy and incredibly flavorful.
Cumin, coriander, garlic and fresh mint give Bobby Deen's lamb kabobs authentic Mediterranean flavor. Dip them in his cool cucumber yogurt sauce, and it's like your mouth is on vacation to Greece.
This pulled pork, made out of pork tenderloin rather than fattier pork shoulder, is rubbed in smoky spices and steamed until fork-tender. Serve on a whole-wheat bun with a vinegar-based slaw.
Cedar-planked salmon, a smoky, earthy take on the favorite fish, is a dish commonly prepared in Washington state, where salmon are plentiful. To add this woodsy flavor to your fillet, brush the salmon with a honey-balsamic mixture, and then broil the fish atop soaked, browned cedar planks.
Giada bastes her salmon in a mixture of lemon juice, sweet Marsala wine and fresh rosemary and then sprinkles on capers for a briny touch before wrapping it in foil and throwing it onto the grill. The trio of Tuscan flavors nicely complement the oiliness of the salmon.
33 East Meets West Grilled Salmon with Mango Masala
Bal Arneson flavors her salmon with an "Eastern" rub made of ground garam masala, mustard seeds, curry leaves and asafoetida, a spice found in the Middle East and India that has a rich earthy taste (a cross between onions or even truffles).