Tamarind Paneer and Mango Salad with Ginger Lime Dressing

Salads are of course a must anytime of year, though during the summer months serving them up as a focal point of a meal is an ideal way to cut down on time spent hovering over a hot stove. Admittedly, there is some cooking time involved in this salad, as the paneer cheese cubes are browned up along with the shallots, but when you experience the fresh and vibrant flavors that feature in this salad, you'll find it was well worth the effort.

Hummus Dressed Quinoa Fusilli

Hummus never goes to waste in my kitchen because there are so many ways to enjoy it. Simply serving it with chopped vegetables and flatbreads and crackers is a treat in itself. But after enjoying a recent batch of homemade hummus for a few days, it occurred to me to incorporate the small quantity that remained into a main for dinner, and so this ridiculously easy pasta dish made with staples I had on hand in the kitchen ended up serving as a satisfying summer meal solution.

Though it hardly seems like much of a recipe, I assure you it's one worth remembering next time you have hummus on hand. Serve it hot, or cold as you would a salad. And the possibilities are endless really. Just consider the garnishes alone, such as fresh herbs, dry roasted nuts, slivered almonds, or walnut or cashew pieces, or some even some grated cheese or vegan Parmesan if you want something even more substantial.

Asparagus and Peas in a Creamy Mustard Sauce

Asparagus doesn't appear in traditional Indian dishes, but Indian cooking features such a variety of spices, flavors and techniques that any vegetable can find a delicious role to play in an Indian fusion-style recipe. This was certainly the case with an Indian-style asparagus with spiced tomato and crumbled paneer cheese that I've made on more than one occasion. And as summer is alas always too short in Canada, and hence the asparagus season, I once again approached this treasured vegetable with the flavors of India in mind.

And while asparagus and mustard sauce are not an uncommon pairing, this recipe enhances the flavor of the creamy mustard sauce with ginger, chilies, cumin seeds, turmeric, coconut milk and lemon juice to give it that extra Indian flair. Combined with tender pan-fried asparagus spears and plump green peas, this is another Indian-style summer dish that I'll be sure to make again too.

Vegetarian Samosa Wraps

The "samosa" that feature in these filling wraps are not the ever-popular savory Indian appetizers, but little patties inspired by the elements that commonly feature in the pastry version. The first time I made the samosa cakes, I made them larger, pan-fried them, and paired them with some tamarind chutney as part of Indian-themed meal.