Delia Smith's Summer Collection: 140 Recipes For Summer by Delia Smith

    • Categories: Soups; Appetizers / starters; Summer; Spanish; Vegetarian
    • Ingredients: fennel; tomatoes; coriander seeds; mixed peppercorns; balsamic vinegar; dried oregano; tomato purée
    • Accompaniments: Olive croutons (ciabatta)
    show

Notes about this book

  • Serviam on June 11, 2011

    The leg of lamb roasted with rosemary and garlic is a lovely way to celebrate the brief British summer, It's easy to cook and delicious. Try it with fresh peas and new potatoes, followed by summer pudding

  • Jillwill on May 24, 2011

    all my friends and family love the couscous salad and the pesto rice salad. Highly recommend!

Notes about Recipes in this book

  • Roasted Mediterranean vegetable lasagne

    • Tommelise on June 29, 2012

      This is my kids favorite recipe for lasagne. They love the taste of the roasted vegetables. I tend to add more basil and garlic, but then I do that with a lot of recipes :) It is a very fast recipe, just cut up the vegetables and put them in the oven - take them out when they are done and layer the lasagne and return to the oven - it could hardly be easier.

    • veronicafrance on January 02, 2014

      I made this for family over Christmas, and everyone loved it. It's quite a lot of work to prepare, but as with all dishes of this type it's worth making two and freezing one of them for a quick meal. You can substitute veg -- no aubergine available, so I used a butternut squash instead, and added some tinned cherry tomatoes. Make sure your bechamel is copious and quite liquid if using no-precook lasagne.

    • CourtneyT on July 02, 2024

      Made this on a whim and my husband had three servings. It was quite straightforward to prepare (although not quick) and is certainly one that I would consider making again to freeze for a rainy day. I added a few mushrooms that I had leftover and if I make again I will add more herbs and garlic.

  • Fried halloumi cheese with lime and caper vinaigrette

    • Apollonia on June 20, 2023

      Wonderful little dish. Served salad-style over baby spinach and grilled asparagus--- a perfect lunch.

    • Hellyloves2cook on April 15, 2012

      One of my favourite starters ever!

    • scarlettchef on February 09, 2013

      This is a really punchy dish, a true taste sensation. Sadly, I could eat a whole block of halloumi all on my own, in one sitting. Fried cheese is definitely not diet food, so I try and make it an occasional treat. Wonderful, quick easy starter or lunch dish. Give it a go.....

    • KarinaFrancis on February 01, 2015

      Very easy starter, dressing can be prepped in advance so all you need to do is fry the cheese when guests arrive.

    • sdeathe on July 20, 2024

      Easy and sparky. Quick, light dinner for two, plus salad. Delicious and definitely worth repeating.

  • Pineapple cooler

    • lilham on June 19, 2015

      After 4 days, the pineapple was very moldy. The liquid also smelt funny. Delia didn't say whether the cooler is supposed to smell a bit funky. I was too scared to drink, afraid of food poisoning.

    • veronicafrance on June 20, 2015

      I tried making this once and I too binned it without tasting -- looked and smelled revolting.

  • Toasted sweetcorn salsa

    • lilham on June 11, 2012

      I haven't looked at this book for a long time. What a surprise EYB brought it to me when I was looking for a salsa to go with refried beans and tortilla chips. I wanted something that's summery and have a crunchy feel (ie not tomato or avocado based salsas). This one fits the bill perfectly. It comes togther quickly too if you discount all the cutting to get onions and the tomatoes similar size to the sweetcorn.

  • Piedmont roasted peppers

    • FJT on June 18, 2023

      Another vote for this simple but delicious side dish.

    • Hellyloves2cook on April 15, 2012

      Delicious red peppers served up as a starter served at room temperature. This is very summery and a regular dish in the Summer months for my family. Even my children can make these.

    • Leo on June 18, 2023

      We made this in quantity for my daughter's wedding buffet. Worked brilliantly. My husband got some funny looks asking for 30+ red peppers at the supermarket but other than that it was a good choice.

    • Foodycat on July 09, 2014

      So delicious - brilliant side dish for a barbecue, or on its own as a starter.

    • Pamsy on June 30, 2019

      Love this dish, so easy and a great starter or accompaniment to griddled chicken or steaks. I omit the anchovies as not a fan but chopped black olives make a nice addition.

    • Ezair92 on January 12, 2024

      One of my favorites and so easy.

  • Salmon with a saffron cous-cous crust

    • sharifah on November 11, 2011

      V easy to make, and v nice too

    • Ezair92 on October 21, 2024

      I love salmon and I love couscous. I think I would rather serve separately. It was a little dry

  • Roasted vegetable cous-cous salad with harissa-style dressing

    • sharifah on November 11, 2011

      My all time favourite

    • Hellyloves2cook on January 11, 2016

      Although I haven't personally made this, I have tasted it numerous times and really enjoyed it.

    • luluf on June 06, 2020

      This was wonderful and loved by everyone at the table. It would be a good way to clear the veggie crisper at the end of the week too, as long as tomatoes are part of the salad. I used quinoa instead of couscous, as I had a coeliac eater and it was great

  • Spiced pickled runner beans

    • sharifah on July 08, 2014

      Nice - sweet, tangy, crunchy.

  • Chicken with sherry vinegar and tarragon sauce

    • veronicafrance on December 05, 2011

      I'm not a huge fan of Delia, but this is my favourite recipe of hers, and I make it often. As with many of Delia's recipes, you can cut down on the cream considerably and it will still be good.

  • Mixed fruit cobbler

    • veronicafrance on August 22, 2014

      Pretty good! I used it to disguise some indifferent peaches, adding plums to them. I felt there was a little too much topping -- I ended up not using quite all of it because I was worried it would be stodgy.

  • Rigatoni and asparagus au gratin

    • veronicafrance on April 07, 2012

      Delia says this stretches a small quantity of asparagus to serve 2 people as a main course and she's right, it does -- but you can't really taste the asparagus! It's more there for appearance than anything else, and you could substitute another green veg, e.g. broad beans or fresh peas. However it has a lot going for it. It tastes good, looks nice, and I had it on the table in not much more than half an hour from starting to cook. I would recommend cooking the pasta almost completely before putting it in the oven, rather than the 6 minutes she recommends, because it was a bit too al dente, even for someone who likes al dente pasta.

  • Hot and sour pickled prawns

    • veronicafrance on December 05, 2011

      This recipe is really excellent. It's become a standby for garden party food, perfect for hot summer days, and can be prepared the previous day.

    • Hellyloves2cook on January 11, 2016

      My mother got me on to this recipe. A lovely starter for the summer. A definite winner!

  • Chicken Basque

    • scarlettchef on December 18, 2012

      This is one of my standby one dish meals. No accompaniment required. Really tasty. Even after work, it is something I can bung in the oven for an hour and get on with other things, whilst it sees to itself. Practically foolproof and is great heated up the next day for lunch. My work colleagues are so jealous!

    • LuTravers on May 08, 2014

      Delicious, great standby dish.

    • Vanessa888 on September 12, 2014

      Has been a foolproof favourite of mine to cook for friends. Easy and delicious one pot supper. I prefer to cook it in the oven rather than hob, but that's probably because I once burnt it doing the latter!

    • Pamsy on June 22, 2019

      Excellent one pot recipe. Great for weeknights. This is from Delia's Summer Collection and in her Winter Collection she gives a variation with chickpeas and Moroccan spices which is just as good!

  • A terrine of summer fruits

    • Foodycat on July 09, 2014

      Pay attention to the bit about weighting it, and the extra liquid to finish it off! Very impressive, and tastes really good.

  • Thai salmon filo parcels

    • Pamsy on June 30, 2019

      This was very tasty and simple to prepare. Would be good for entertaining. Served with tiny new potatoes and steamed asparagus. Lovely summer meal.

    • BasicStock on July 29, 2018

      These are delicious, such a nice combination of flavours wrapped in the phyllo. Great entertaining dish as you can make it ahead and refrigerate until baking. I served it with matchstick carrots, turnip and zucchini, blanched and then finished by sauteing in butter with crushed garlic. This mixture offsets the bland look of the phyllo parcel on the plate.

  • Californian grilled fish

    • Pamsy on April 10, 2024

      Made with Tilapia from Costco. Instead of grilling, I baked in the oven @200c for 17 mins. Served with french fries and lime aioli. Tasty, light, weeknight dinner.

  • American blue cheese dressing

    • Pamsy on June 30, 2019

      This is what burgers are made for! 5 star recipe!

  • Salmon rösti fish cakes

    • Pamsy on June 30, 2019

      This is a fairly adaptable recipe, you can use pretty much any fish including smoked. The herbs can be varied to go with whatever fish you have. A finely chopped chilli makes a good addition. Served the salmon version with Avocado Salsa (p51). Some sort of Mayo (aioli/lemon/red pepper/herby) served alongside is good.

    • Pamsy on January 17, 2022

      Made again using crab meat, with the addition of chopped red chilli and lime zest. Used small burger press to shape and chilled in fridge for 1 hour before shallow frying. Worked well, especially as I was trying to avoid mayo and nearly all crab cake recipes include it. Versatile recipe. Oven cooked the 2 spare for lunch next day, just as good.

  • Rösti crab cakes

    • Pamsy on June 30, 2019

      This was a massive disappointment. I'm not sure why as all the ingredients are tasty but put together it failed to deliver on flavour. Won't be repeated.

  • Middle Eastern tabouleh salad

    • Pamsy on June 30, 2019

      Lovely summery salad.

  • Roasted tomato salad

    • Pamsy on June 30, 2019

      Good way to deal with summer tomato glut. Simple and tasty.

  • Pesto rice salad

    • Pamsy on June 30, 2019

      Colourful and different rice salad. Great as part of a buffet.

  • Avocado salsa

    • Pamsy on June 30, 2019

      Good salsa, especially with salmon. No need to skin tomatoes in my opinion.

  • Twice-baked goat's cheese soufflés with chives

    • Pamsy on November 17, 2019

      Great freeze ahead starter. Serve with rocket and roasted baby plum tomatoes. Can substitute cheddar or stilton. Double the recipe makes 9 souffles. Easy and impressive.

  • Lamb's liver with melted onions and Marsala

    • Pamsy on November 07, 2021

      This is really just posh liver and onions and very nice. The recipe doesn't say to use sweet Marsala and I only had dry, so I needed to add 1tbsp sugar. The onions take about an hour to cook but the liver only needs 3-4 mins. Served with potato and parsnip mash and tenderstem broccoli.

  • Pork saltimbocca

    • Pamsy on June 23, 2020

      Lovely dish for entertaining or Sunday evening dinner. Although 170 mls marsala seemed a lot you do need it all. Also added 1tbsp cream to finish sauce. Served as suggested with saute potatoes.

  • Baked lamb with rosemary with redcurrant and mint sauce

    • Pamsy on January 04, 2020

      I particularly like the Redcurrant and Mint Sauce which is served with the roast lamb. My go to leg of lamb recipe.

  • Oven-roasted potatoes with garlic and rosemary

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  • ISBN 10 0563488700
  • ISBN 13 9780563488705
  • Published May 08 2003
  • Format Paperback
  • Language English
  • Edition New edition
  • Countries United Kingdom
  • Publisher Ebury
  • Imprint BBC Books

Publishers Text

Delia Smith is Britain's best-selling cookbook author, and this seasonal collection amply demonstrates why. As her millions of followers have come to expect, her cookbooks are written to reassure the least confodent while at the same time offer inspiration to the more experienced.


In Delia's Summer Collection, she presents 140 international dishes, including Roasted Tomato Soup with a Puree of Basil, Thai Fish Cakes with Cucumber Dipping Sauce, Chicken Basque, Rhubarb Compote, Lemon Meringue ice Cream, and Pineapple Cooler.



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