Arizona summers can make cooking at home a heated task. Artisan by Santa Barbara Catering has the best summer dining recipes that don’t require you to turn on your oven. These summer dinner ideas highlight seasonal food such as juicy melons, creamy feta, and crisp summer vegetables. The summer recipes are easy to create, and are great to make as a family. These summer dishes are gluten-free and can be made vegetarian friendly.

Artisan by Santa Barbara Catering, Arizona’s best caterer, was invited to cook a “Summer Dinner Party” menu on GMAZ (Good Morning Arizona, Channel 3). To create the perfect menu for hosting a dinner party during summer, the Artisan by Santa Barbara Catering Executive Chef, Becky McIntyre, created recipes for a four course dinner party including an appetizer, summer salad, entrée and dessert.

Appetizer: Melon and Prosciutto Tart with Arizona Microgreens Pea Sprouts

Salad: Watermelon and Feta Salad with Reduced Balsamic, EVOO, Arizona Microgreens Basil, Fresh Cracked Pepper

Entrée: Citrus Grilled Shrimp, Cantaloupe Gazpacho, Watermelon and Honeydew Salsa with Pickled Rind topped with Micro Cilantro

Dessert: Honeydew Granita served with Micro Mint and Micro Edible Flowers and topped with Fresh Berries


Prosciutto Melon Tarts Recipe

Melon Tart Recipe

Ingredients:
• Cantaloupe (or melon of choice), cut into 24 one inch cubes
• Prosciutto, sliced thin – 12 slices cut in ½
• Citrus Salsa (see recipe below) – 4 oz
• Microgreen of your choice

Directions:
1. Make your citrus salsa, and set aside.
2. De-skin and de-seed to cantaloupe, then cut into cubes.
3. Using a melon baller, make a crater in your melon cubes.
4. Slice the prosciutto thin, set aside.
5. Fill the cubed cantaloupes with citrus salsa, then top with a ½ slice of prosciutto.

Citrus Salsa Recipe

Ingredients:
• Grapefruit, segments – ½ cup
• Orange, segments – ½ cup
• Red Onion, finely julienned – 1 oz
• Cilantro, minced – 1 tsp
• Lime Juice, fresh – 1 tsp
• Salt – ¼ tsp
• Black Pepper – 1/16 tsp

Directions:
1. Mix all ingredients together, season.
2. The flavor will intensify if left overnight in fridge.

Recipe makes 1 cup which is more than enough for melon tarts.

Watermelon and Feta Salad Stack Recipe

Watermelon & Feta Salad

Ingredients:
• Watermelon Slices ¼” – cut into 3 Triangles
• Feta Slices ¼” – cut into 2 Triangles
• Reduced Balsamic
• White Balsamic Dressing
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• Salt + Pepper
• Micro Basil

Instructions:
1. Begin by slicing your watermelon into ¼” thick triangle pieces. You may leave the green on, but we prefer it off.
2. Set the watermelon aside and slice your feta into ¼” thick triangle pieces as well.
3. Season each piece of watermelon with salt and pepper to your desired taste.
4. For plating, drizzle the reduced balsamic on the bottom of your plate, then drizzle with your olive oil.
5. Place one watermelon triangle in the center of the plate and top it with one feta triangle.
6. Repeat this with the left over watermelon and feta.
7. Drizzle the top with white balsamic dressing to your liking.
8. Garnish your watermelon feta stack with micro basil and enjoy.

Cantaloupe Gazpacho Recipe

Citrus Grilled Shrimp and Cantaloupe Gazpacho

Ingredients:
• Cantaloupe, cleaned – 11 ounces
• Cucumber, cleaned + remove seeds – 2 oz
• Simple Syrup – 1oz
• Lemon Juice – 1 Tbsp
• Chili Flakes, (rehydrate in 1 Tbsp Hot Water) – To Taste

Instructions:
1. Combine all ingredients into a blender and mix until it comes together.
2. Use spoon to spread across plate and top with grilled shrimp.

Honeydew Granita Recipe

Honeydew Granita

Ingredients:

• 1 Ripe Honeydew melon
• ¾ cup Granulated Sugar
• 2 Tbs. Lime Juice
• 1 Tbs. Grand Marnier Liquor
• 3 sprigs of mint leaves
• Pinch of salt

Instructions:
Prep: 15 minutes
Freeze: 3 hours
Serves: 6-8
1. Place sugar in a small pan with 3 Tbs water, lime juice, grand marnier, mint leaves and stir over medium heat until sugar has dissolved. About 3 minutes. Remove from heat. Strain out mint leaves.
2. Cut honeydew in half, remove seeds, peel and chop fruit. Transfer to a food processor or blender. Add reserved sugar mixture and salt. Process until slushy.
3. Transfer mixture to a 9”x13” metal baking pan and freeze for 1 hour. Stir with a fork to break up chunks around the edges. Stir with fork every 30 minutes to loosen ice crystals.
4. Shave granita with fork into chilled glass.
5. Top with micro mint, berries and edible flowers if desired.