10 Recipes Our Editors Are Making as Summer Winds Down

"The other January" is what author and podcaster Gretchen Rubin calls September, and I agree completely. This month is a great time for a fresh start on habits like cooking more often or making healthier meals. Even though I don't have kids, I still get plenty of back-to-school, back-to-reality vibes right now. After a summer of travel and play, I am returning to a more regular routine, as are most of my Serious Eats colleagues.

Part of that return to routine—and one of the more rewarding aspects—is getting back to cooking regularly. One of my most frequent August meals involved simply dumping a can of oil-packed tuna into a bowl with some cherry tomatoes and herbs, then dressing it all with lemon juice or vinegar and olive oil. That's a great meal, but once the temps start to dip this month, I am looking forward to doing just a bit more in the kitchen. I am not letting go of those summer ingredients, though—markets are still full of corn, tomatoes, eggplant, basil, and other fresh herbs, and I am not ready to say goodbye yet. None of us are!

Here's what my fellow editors and I are excited to make this month, from dishes that cling to summer, like one-pot ratatouille spaghetti, salmorejo, and corn salad, to those that welcome the first days of fall, such as roasted delicata squash and apple hand pies.

01 of 10

Grilled Zucchini and Corn Salad

"This summer is the summer I learned to love zucchini. (It took me way too long to discover this.) I've been making up for lost time, and this salad's pairing of zucchini with corn and halloumi will let me hold on to my summer cravings properly until at least September 21." — Amanda Suarez , associate visuals director

Grilled Zucchini and Corn Salad

02 of 10

Sheet-Pan Gnocchi With Sausage and Broccoli Rabe

"If you also find yourself panicking about what to make for dinner every night, let me introduce you to this recipe. There are no pots of water to boil or fussy prep steps. Instead, everything comes together on a sheet pan, where store-bought refrigerated gnocchi get crispy alongside sausage, broccoli rabe, and cherry tomatoes. (It's still tomato season, folks!) It's the epitome of a weeknight meal, perfect for back-to-school chaos." — Brenna Donovan , senior editor

Sheet-Pan Gnocchi With Sausage and Broccoli Rabe

03 of 10

One-Pot Ratatouille Spaghetti

"This dish epitomizes the transition from summer to fall for me: vibrant veggies made comforting and hearty with the addition of pasta and a savory tomato sauce that coats it all. Oh, and everything cooks in one pot (even the spaghetti), making it that much more doable for busy weeknights."— Ashlee Redger , writer

One-Pot Ratatouille Spaghetti

04 of 10

Salmorejo (Spanish Chilled Tomato Soup)

"We've got one month left of real, actual summer, and the tomatoes are still good. I will be making this fantastic Spanish tomato soup because soon we'll be trapped in an extended period of winter squash and root vegetable recipes, and I am in no rush to get there." — Daniel Gritzer, editorial director

Salmorejo (Spanish Chilled Tomato Soup)

05 of 10

Frijoles Charros (Mexican Pinto Beans With Bacon and Chiles)

"OK, I might've already made these, but I'm making them again because they're so easy and so good. I used some fancy Rancho Gordo buckeye beans and added a can of green chiles, and the beans were smoky, rich, and perfect for the impending cooler weather." — Grace Kelly , senior editor

Frijoles Charros (Mexican Pinto Beans With Bacon and Chiles) Recipe

06 of 10

Egyptian Mesaka'a With Eggplant and Tomato Sauce

"Nermine Mansour's mesaka'a is an iconic Egyptian eggplant dish with tender fried eggplant and peppers smothered in a garlicky tomato sauce sharpened with vinegar and cumin. I'd happily make a meal of it with a stack of warm pita." — Laila Ibrahim , associate culinary editor

Egyptian Mesaka'a With Eggplant and Tomato Sauce

07 of 10

Corn Salad With Furikake and Shiso

"I got shiso and corn at my farmers market this weekend, and I am so excited to make this summery salad inspired by one I had last summer at the NYC restaurant Bessou ." — Megan O. Steintrager , associate editorial director

Corn Salad With Furikake and Shiso

08 of 10

Roasted Delicata Squash

"September may be pushing squash season a bit, but see if I care? Lately I've been craving perfectly roasted delicata squash. Because its skin is so thin, you don't have to peel it." — Rochelle Bilow , editor

How to Roast Delicata Squash

09 of 10

Spiced Apple Hand Pies

"Apple picking is one of my favorite September activities. This year, I plan on using my haul to prep and freeze a bunch of these hand pies for easy snacking." — Genevieve Yam , senior editor

Spiced Apple Hand Pies

10 of 10

Chicken Shawarma Sheet-Pan Dinner

"The first hint of fall always makes me want to turn my oven back on and settle into a steady weeknight dinner routine again. This new chicken shawarma sheet-pan dinner is at the top of my September list." — Leah Colins , senior culinary editor

Chicken Shawarma Sheet-Pan Dinner

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