Simple Summer Party Recipes: Caprese Salad, Quinoa Salad, Banana Sushi and Arnold Palmer (in under 4 steps)

With the abundance of summer parties emerging as the weather warms up, planning the  menu for a get-together with friends may become stressful. Fortunately, I have gathered four easy and healthy recipes that will satisfy your guests but will not be complicated- all recipes are under four steps!

Appetizer: Mini Caprese Skewers

This recipe was inspired by Iowa Girl Eats.

What you’ll need:

• Cherry or grape tomatoes
• Fresh basil leaves
• Mini mozzarella cheese balls
• Balsamic vinegar, to dress
• Toothpicks

Directions:

1. Cut tomatoes in half. Spear the halved tomato onto the toothpick, followed by the mozzarella ball and a basil leaf. Repeat for desired amount.
2. Drizzle balsamic vinegar over the caprese skewers.

Main Course: Quinoa Salad

What you’ll need:

Salad:

• 2 cups quinoa
• 2 tomatoes
• 1 baby cucumber
• ½ bunch cilantro
• ½ onion
• 6 garlic cloves
• 1 jalapeno
• ½ green bell pepper
• 1 can of black beans
• 1 can of corn
• 1 avocado

Dressing:

• 1/3 cup olive oil
• 1 tbsp cumin
• 1 tsp salt
• Juice of 2 limes

Directions:

1. Cook quinoa as instructed and let cool.
2. Dice the remaining ingredients, aside from the black beans, corn, and avocado, into bite-sized pieces. Drain and rinse the canned beans and corn. Pour all the salad ingredients into a large bowl.
3. Mix the dressing ingredients in a separate bowl. Once fully mixed, pour into the salad bowl and stir.
4. Chill and serve topped with avocado slices. It’s best eaten on its own or with multigrain tortilla chips.

Dessert: Banana Sushi

This recipe was inspired by Fit Foodie Finds.

What you’ll need:

• 1 banana
• 3 tbsp peanut butter (see last week’s post!), I used Trader Joe’s Chia and Flax Seed Peanut Butter
• Grated coconut, pistachio, or other desired toppings

Directions:

1. Peel the banana and spread peanut butter just on the top portion when the banana is flat on the plate.
2. Sprinkle the desired toppings on top of the peanut butter portion, and slice the banana, in which the slices will resemble a piece of sushi.

Drinks: Hibiscus Arnold Palmer

This recipe was inspired by Vegetarian Ventures.

What you’ll need:

• 4 cups of cooled hibiscus tea
• Juice from 4 lemons
• 1/3 cup agave nectar
• 3-1/3 cups water
• 1 lemon slice, mint leaves, and blueberries for garnish

Directions:

1. Pour 1/3 cup of water and the agave in a small saucepan. Heat and stir until it boils. Simmer for 3 minutes and transfer to a heat-resistant pitcher.
2. Pour the lemon juice, hibiscus tea, and the remaining 3 cups of water into the same pitcher and stir.
3. Serve with ice and garnish.

So I would love to know:

• Which of these recipes would you try first?
• What is your favorite part about summer parties?

With assistance from future RDN Christina Chu. Photos credited to Christina Chu.