This summer, we're going to explore some tasty dishes and refreshing drinks that are delicious and easy to make. Whether you feel totally at ease in the kitchen or are a not-so-experienced home chef, you should find these tasty recipes really fun and stress-free to make. You might also impress your guests so much that they'll keep on coming back for more – which is always the perfect complement for any cook – don't you think?
So read on and whet your appetite with these seven summer delights!
Treat #1: Fresh Spring Rolls with Prawns
Ideal for the sweltering summer heat, and a refreshing change from their deep-fried cousins, these tasty favourites make brilliant appetisers and is perfect for dipping in mouth-watering sauces.
1/3 tablespoons chopped fresh Thai basil
3 tablespoons chopped fresh mint leaves
3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
2 leaves lettuce, chopped
4 teaspoons fish sauce
1/4 cup water
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 clove garlic, minced
2 tablespoons white sugar
1/2 teaspoon chili garlic sauce
3 tablespoons hoisin sauce
1 teaspoon finely chopped peanuts
50 minutes
Tip
Use all-fresh ingredients, just like they do at the award winning Wrap & Roll. And to give your sauce an extra oomph, roast the peanuts until they are light-brown before chopping so you get a little smokey texture in the dip!
Try this recipe or grab a roll or two from the pros: Fresh Spring Rolls with Prawns & Pork available for $5.90 (2pc) / $11.90 (4pc) at Wrap & Roll, Changi City Point #B1-26/27.
Treat #2: Mango Fruit Tart
With fresh, clean flavours of lime, mango and kiwifruit, this fabulous fruit tart makes for a tropical delight your guests won’t be able to resist.
Recipe
Crust
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup confectioners' sugar
1/4 tablespoon salt
8 tablespoon cold butter (no substitutions)
3 tablespoon ice water
Lime Pastry Cream 1 cup whole milk
3 large egg yolks
1/3 cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoon corn-starch
2 tablespoon butter (no substitutions)
1 teaspoon grated fresh lime peel
Fruit Topping
2 mangoes
1 peeled and sliced kiwifruit (optional)
The Crust
2 hours, 30 minutes
TipMake sure you choose sweet ripe mangoes but remember, colour is not the best way to tell if the fruit is ripe. Instead, look for fruit that’s slightly soft to the touch, and has a beautiful fruity mango aroma. If it feels good and smells great, chances are it’s ripe, just like the mangoes used by Fruit Paradise! They make tasty fruit tarts using only the freshest and most delicious fruits.
Mango Fruit Tart is available for $7.80 before GST (per slice) / $50 before GST (19cm cake) / $80 before GST (23cm cake) at Fruit Paradise, Waterway Point West Wing, #01-65.
Everybody loves a luscious milk pudding, so it’s bound to be a hit at your sensational summer soirees. It’s versatile, sweet and best of all, easy to make, so be sure to put it on your to-do list for the next family gathering.
Recipe
4 cups (1 liter) milk, divided
1/2 cup (125 milliliter) granulated sugar
1/3 cup (75 milliliter) cornstarch
2 tsp (10 milliliter) rosewater (optional)
1 to 3 tsp (5 to 15 milliliter) vanilla
1/4 cup (60 milliliter) raisins
1/2 tsp (2 milliliter) cinnamon
20 minutes, 4 hours to chill
TipIf you’re not familiar with rose water, it adds a beautiful subtle flavour and is often used in Middle Eastern and Indian cooking. You’ll find it in most large supermarkets and specialist stores. You can also garnish your tasty pudding with just about anything you like, including pomegranate seeds, pistachios and a mixture of dried fruit or nuts
The experts at Dessert Story suggest using fresh Australian milk for its full, fresh flavour.
Milk Pudding is available for $3.80 at Dessert Story, Northpoint #B1-21/22.
Treat #4: Sugarcane Juice with Vitamin C
Sugarcane juice is a real favourite throughout Asia and a popular street-side treat. You’ve probably seen the cane being put through a wringer to squeeze out the juice then poured into a bag or cup full of ice – really thirst-quenching! In this recipe, we’re going to take a peek at how you can make it at home.
Recipe
4 cups of sugarcane juice (sugarcane to be skinned / peeled and cut into small pieces)
1 lemon or 1 orange
2 cups of ice
10-15 minutes
Tip
As the experts at CocoCane suggests, use only 100% pure fresh sugarcane juice for a richer taste. Lemon juice contains Vitamin C and has multiple health benefits. By adding lemon juice to sugarcane juice, it stabilises the juice and slows down the oxidation process. You can also replace lemon with orange if lemon is too acidic for you.
There are so many reasons why fresh sugarcane juice is so good for you. It’s an instant energy-booster, helps with the development of bones and teeth, aids liver function, and helps combat cancer, just to name a few – Oh, and it’s delicious and refreshing on a hot summer’s day!
100% Pure Sugarcane Juice is available for $2.00 (regular cup) / $2.50 (large cup) at Cococane, Waterway Point West Wing, #B2-K7.
Treat #5: Piña Colada
Originally created in 1954 in Puerto Rico by a man called Monchito, the Piña Colada is a classic and has even had well-known songs written about it. It's creamy, sweet and not to mention delicious which makes it easily the cocktail of choice for men and women alike. And if the kids are curious - you can use ice-blocks instead of crushed ice on their Virgin Piña Colada, and of course, leave out the rum!
Recipe
1/2 cup crushed ice
6 fluid ounces pineapple juice
2 fluid ounces rum
1 fluid ounce sweetened coconut cream
1 fluid ounce heavy cream
1 pineapple wedge
1 maraschino cherry
15 minutes
TipIf you’re making alcoholic drinks for the grown-ups who aren’t driving, make sure you choose a good quality rum. You can start with white rum then move up to aged or other flavoured rums. If you’re making non-alcoholics drinks for the kids and grown-ups who prefer them soft, simply leave out the rum.
RessRoom recommends using a good quality pineapple juice (canned) or better yet, fresh pineapple juice. You should also always opt for Cream of Coconut (rather than Coconut Cream or Coconut Milk), because it’s thicker, richer, creamier, and has natural sugar added.
Pina Colada is available for $14.00 at Ressroom, Changi City Point #01-72/73.
Treat #6: Strawberry Milkshake
Remarkably refreshing on a hot summer’s day, this healthy, creamy smoothie has so many possibilities – You can serve it as is, or if you want to give a bit of extra punch for the grown-ups, add a splash of rum! You can even add a dash of cinnamon for an intriguing twist.
Recipe
6 ice cubes, or as needed
2 cups strawberries, hulled
1/2 cup kefir (optional)
1 tablespoon fresh mint leaves
1 tablespoon vanilla-flavoured syrup
1 splash orange juice
15 mins
Tip
Don’t be afraid to experiment with this refreshing cocktail of flavours. You can easily combine strawberry and banana; strawberry, banana, and Nutella; strawberry and pineapple; or strawberry and pear.
Strawberry Smoothie is available for $5.50 at A-Gantea, Bedok Point #02-24.