Yummy Summer Vegetable Recipes from Pittsburgh Senior Living

Ring in the season with these Tasty, Garden-Inspired Dishes!

Warmer temperatures mean fresh new growth is happening all around, and what better way to enjoy that new growth than with some creative and delicious new recipes to add to your weeknight rotation! One of the healthiest lifestyle choices is to mainly eat plant-forward meals, and luckily in summer, it’s incredibly easy to adhere to this particular diet.

Our residents at Whitetail Springs Memory Care Community enjoy nutritious, chef-prepared meals in our restaurant-style dining room. And whenever they get hungry, they’ll have something delicious waiting for them with our 24/7 dining program! But for those of you at home who can’t join us for a meal, we’ve got just the thing. Drawing inspiration from some of our favorite vegetables, we’ve scoured the most popular recipes out there and have curated a list of our top four must-try dishes this season. From our staff to you and your loved ones, here are some of our favorites.

Crab Stuffed Artichokes

We’re starting off strong with these incredible crab stuffed artichokes. Decadent and definitely only a sometimes-food, these breadcrumb- and parmesan cheese-stuffed artichoke hearts are a new take on a classic dish. Nixing the inedible parts of the artichoke makes this dish perfect for picky eaters who just want a delicious morsel to pop into their mouths in one or two bites. Deep flavors of nutty parmesan, zesty lemon, tangy garlic, and bright fresh parsley bring the rich crab a solid base and the earthy artichokes a punch. With plenty of protein from the crab and parmesan cheese, and great nutrients from the dense artichokes and, yes, even the parsley, there are plenty of health benefits to go along with this splurge-dish. We cannot recommend this dish more!

Roasted Vegetables

There’s nothing more deliciously simple than a big sheet pan of roasted vegetables. It feels comforting and rich, but it’s one of the healthiest meals you can put into your weekly recipe rotation. The beauty of this meal is that it’s perfect for all seasons. Making use of seasonal vegetables, this traditionally winter dish can absolutely be summer-ified. Our favorite choices are peppers, carrots, tomatoes, and zucchini. Pairing the sweet peppers with tangy, juicy tomatoes and starchy zucchini creates a world of flavor and textures that everyone will enjoy. A little bit of olive oil, salt, pepper, and seasonings (we love miso or sesame), and you have an excellent side dish or even entree for a vegetarian evening dinner.

Lemony White Bean and Arugula Salad

Ah, salad. Nothing is more refreshing, but also so misunderstood. This dish screams to be understood – eschewing the reputation a basic garden salad has brought to the word “salad.” With peppery and slightly bitter arugula, rich creamy cannellini beans, tart and bright lemon, and our favorite secret ingredient – Dijon mustard, can easily be the star of your next dinner party. Perfectly filling for an entree for lunch or dinner, and easily proportioned to be a side or starter, this salad is easily our favorite meal on this list.

With so many options for plant-forward living, we think you’ll have a ton of fun discovering and doctoring these delicious dishes, and hope you’ll share them with friends and loved ones. Though don’t worry, we get it if you want to save every bite for yourself.

If you are interested in learning more about Whitetail Springs, our Pittsburgh memory care community, or if you’d like to schedule some time to take a virtual or in person tour, please give us a call. We’re happy to work with a time that works best for you to show you our amazing community.