Make the most of in-season summer vegetables with this collection of our reader-favorite recipes for zucchini, tomatoes, eggplant, okra and more.

Summer is a great time to experience and savor all of the extraordinary seasonal produce available from the grocery store, farmer’s market, or if you’re lucky, your own garden.

In addition to our list of summer vegetable recipes below, we’ve also got some guidelines on how to preserve those delicious fresh veggies until you’re ready to use them.

How To Store Summer Vegetables

Regardless of the variety, to extend the shelf life of your vegetables, do not wash them before you’re ready to use them as that additional moisture can contribute to spoiling.

Zucchini and Summer Squash

In general, store-bought, commercially grown squash will last longer than its garden-fresh counterpart, but even then, it may spoil fairly quickly. Store summer squash loose in the vegetable compartment of your refrigerator for up to one week.
Our best recipe: Stuffed Zucchini Boats

Green Tomatoes

Green tomatoes should be arranged, stem side down, in a single layer, kept out of direct sunlight and stored in a cool place where they can take from 20 to 30 days to ripen.
Our best recipe: Fried Green Tomatoes

Ripe Tomatoes

Already ripe tomatoes can be kept on the counter at room temperature. Like unripe tomatoes, it is best to keep them out of direct sunlight. Although you shouldn’t plan to store tomatoes in the refrigerator, extremely ripe tomatoes can be refrigerated for up to three days if necessary.
Our best recipe: Fried Ripe Tomatoes

Eggplant

Eggplant should be kept in a cool, dry spot out of direct sunlight, and away from other fruits and veggies. It is always best to use eggplant within a few days, but if you have an eggplant that’s starting to soften, you can extend its shelf for a couple of days by storing it, unwrapped in the refrigerator.
Our best recipe: Italian-Style Eggplant Casserole

Now that your veggies safely stored, here are nine of our favorite summer vegetable recipes to help you make the most of these delicious seasonal goodies.

Best Summer Vegetable Recipes

Fried Green Tomatoes

Golden, cornmeal-crusted fried green tomatoes make a delicious side dish to serve with simple main dishes like pork chops or oven-fried chicken.

Stuffed Zucchini Boats

These hollowed out stuffed zucchini boats are stuffed with a simple mixture of sautéed sweet onion, zucchini, and mozzarella cheese.

Savory Pesto Zucchini Bread

A flavorful change from sweet quick bread, this savory zucchini bread is flavored with basil pesto and Parmesan cheese.

Roasted Okra with Bacon and Tomatoes

This simple recipe combines oven-roasted okra with fresh tomatoes and bits of bacon to make a versatile side dish that pairs well with a wide variety of entrees.

Eggplant, Tomato and Pesto Napoleons

Served with a side of pasta and a green salad these tasty rounds of roasted eggplant layered with fresh basil pesto, tomatoes, and mozzarella cheese make a great meatless meal.

Crunchy Oven-Fried Zucchini Sticks

These oven-fried zucchini sticks are coated in a combination of panko crumbs and grated Parmesan cheese and baked in a hot oven until crispy and golden.

Zucchini Parmesan Fritters

These zucchini parmesan fritters are flavored with fresh basil and can be served as either an appetizer or side dish along with marinara sauce for dipping.

Fried Ripe Tomatoes

Ripe tomatoes coated with seasoned flour and cornmeal and shallow fried until lightly crisped is a fabulous way to use fresh, in-season tomatoes.

Italian-Style Eggplant Casserole

Layers of roasted eggplant, homemade marinara, provolone, and mozzarella cheese are baked until bubbly. Serve with pasta and a salad for a meatless dinner.

Hungarian Summer Squash With Dill

This recipe for Hungarian Summer Squash with Dill combines shredded zucchini with a flavorful sauce of sour cream, vinegar, and fresh dill.