Start Summer Right with These 5 Solstice-Ready Recipes

We’re celebrating the longest day of the year with bountiful, sunshine-ready, picnic-worthy recipes.

Recipes and food styling by Lawren Moneta
Prop styling by Paris Forrer
Photography by Mark Gibbon

1. Abundant Collard Green Veggie Rolls

Kick off your summer solstice celebration with a dish bursting with colour and flavour. These rolls are packed with a medley of crisp, seasonal vegetables all wrapped up in sturdy collard greens for a satisfying crunch. Paired with a creamy sunflower seed dipping sauce— rich, savoury and allergy-friendly—this dish is a delicious, modern twist on classic summer flavours. Feel free to play around and get creative with the filling ingredients and use what you have on hand. For extra crunch, you can skip blanching the collard greens.

2. Midsummer Salad

This take on a traditional Swedish midsummer potato salad brings together simple, seasonal ingredients to create a dish that is as refreshing as the long, sun-filled solstice itself.

3. Salmon Pan Bagnat

This twist on the classic Niçoise pressed sandwich is the perfect dish for an alfresco meal in the summer sun. Think of it as a salad disguised as a sandwich. It needs to be assembled and left to chill to let all the rich flavours mingle, so it’s a great make-ahead option for any outdoor entertaining: simply slice and serve when ready.

4. Solstice Vegetable Torte

Similar to a crustless quiche or a frittata, this torte has a round shape that nods to the sun during the summer solstice. Any leftover torte keeps well and reheats nicely, making it a perfect grab-and-go meal the next day.

5. Turmeric Honey Cake with Pickled Strawberries

The perfect ending to any meal, this cake evokes the brilliance of the solstice sun’s warmth and glow with its yellow hue. Paired with tart pickled strawberries that provide a lively contrast to the cake’s sweetness and crowned with a dollop of silky whipped cream, this dessert offers a great balance of light, tangy and indulgent in every bite.