Impress your flatmates with these summer ready recipes...

July is here so what better time to try a new recipe and embrace the summer months?

Take this as your sign to up your cooking game and bring a bit of summer to your flat. Whether you're still trialling out your cooking skills or you're a pro by now, these dishes are perfect for all abilities.

We've selected a recipe fit for every occasion whether it's quick and easy, picnic perfect or BBQ inspired - enjoy!

1. When you need quick & easy 🕛

This veggie recipe has just a handful of ingredients which is perfect for a pick-me-up after a long day in the library. It takes less than 20 minutes to put together but the taste and aesthetics will not disappoint! 

2. Get picnic ready 🧺

Level up your picnic game and impress your friends with a fresh pasta salad. 

Ingredients: 

• 200g pasta of your choice
• Drizzle of olive oil
• Pesto of your choice - pick green or red pesto
• 1 tbsp mayo 
• Cherry tomatoes, cut into quarters
• Mozzarella chunks 

Method:

• Cook your pasta according to packet instructions and drain your pasta 
• In a bowl, add the pasta, a drizzle of olive oil, 2-3tbsp of pesto (depending on your taste), 1 tbsp mayonnaise and stir thoroughly (note that the mayo saves your pasta from drying up) 
• Add your tomatoes and mozzarella chunks to the bowl, season and stir (tip: add rocket and pine nuts for extra flavour and crunch)
• Store in an air tight container and in the fridge until your ready to go for your picnic 

This recipe serves about 2 people so just double up if you're impressing lots of friends!

3. On a hot evening 🌞

The last thing we all want to do over summer is to stand over a hob cooking for hours. When you need a quick, refreshing and light dish for a warm evening, this cherry tomato pasta is perfect!

4. BBQ inspired 🍔

Everyone loves a BBQ during the summer! Bring the flavour of a BBQ to your flat with a colourful, grilled halloumi burger and sweet potato fries.

Ingredients:

• Block of halloumi, sliced into 1cm rectangles
• Drizzle of honey 
• Lettuce, onion, cheese - your toppings of choice 
• Burger buns 
• 2 sweet potatoes sliced (the thicker they are, the longer they take to cook)

Method:

• Start with preparing your sweet potato fries as these will take longer than the burgers to make. Pre heat your oven to around 220 degrees Celsius. 
• Drizzle your sweet potato fries in olive oil or spray with an oil spray before adding salt and pepper and mixing well. Add to a baking tray and pop in the oven for 20-30 minutes depending on how thick you cut them.
• After about 10 minutes later, start cooking your halloumi. Heat up a pan on a low-medium heat and spray with cooking oil. Gently add your halloumi slices to the pan and cook on each side for 2 minutes until golden brown. Add a drizzle of honey and allow to cook again on each side for an additional minute (take care as the hot honey may spit from the pan). The longer you cook halloumi the tougher it can be so be careful to not over cook. 
• Tip: add chipotle chilli flakes or regular chilli flakes to contrast the sweet honey flavour on your halloumi.
• Time to stack your burger! Start with the halloumi first, then your cheese, onion and lettuce. Finish with any sauce to dip before serving with your sweet potato fries.

5. For a flat night in 

Since there's just a final few month left in Halls, there's no better time to organise a flat night in over some food and these quesadillas are an ideal sharer dish! Got leftovers? Consider your lunch sorted the next day!

You can swap and change some of the ingredients out for anything you prefer e.g. make it veggie, remove the onions, replace peppers with whatever you fancy! It's a good way to experiment with different flavours and ingredients. 

6. It's time to really impress... 🥑

Enhance your dishes with a freshly made guacamole dip! Bring along to a picnic, dip in your tortilla chips, add to your halloumi burger or serve on the side of your quesadillas. It takes a bit more effort to put together a homemade dip but trust us...it's so worth it!

Ingredients:

• 2 ripe avocados, with the peel removed and pitted
• 1 small red onion, finely chopped
• 1 ripe large tomato, finely chopped
• 1 clove of garlic, minced
• 1 lime

Method:

• Mash your avocado in a bowl until smooth before adding in the onion, tomato and garlic
• Season with salt and pepper, as well as adding the juice from the lime (tip: cut your lime in half and squeeze in one half before tasting. This way you can add more lime juice if you like)
• Let the flavours come together by covering up and leaving to chill in the fridge. Sprinkle with some chilli flakes if you like heat before you serve & enjoy!

Have you got a go-to recipe that you've loved while living in Halls? We'd love to hear from you to share with others! Get in touch hallslife@liverpool.ac.uk.

Happy cooking :)