It doesn’t get much more nostalgic than a late-summer cookout to celebrate Labor Day. This holiday offers the opportunity to get outside with friends and family, enjoying delicious eats and refreshing libations. If you’re planning a gathering for Labor Day Weekend, you’re in luck. These recipes, courtesy of Food Lab’s Casey Easton, are sure to impress your guests.
Puttanesca Pasta Salad
Take some of September’s fresh produce to create a refreshing pasta salad, easy to transport for picnics and potlucks.
1 lb pasta, cooked
½ cup olive oil
¼ cup sherry vinegar
3 TBSP parmesan, grated
1 clove garlic
2 TBSP capers, divided
¼ cup peppadews or mini pickled peppers
½ cup mixed olives, chopped
1 tomato, diced
handful basil leaves
burrata ball
salt and pepper, to taste
Chill cooked pasta. With a hand blender, blend oil, vinegar, parmesan, 1 tablespoon capers and garlic. Pour into a bowl and toss the rest of ingredients in. Serve chilled with a dollop of burrata. Enjoy!
Grilled Peaches
2 peached, halved
5 leaves basil
3 oz Delice de Bourgogne
3 TBSP sesame seeds, black and white
1 TBSP honey
Olive oil
Salt
Pepper
Grill each peach half until it begins to darken, then set aside. Heat a pan to medium heat and add sesame seeds, toasting until they begin to darken and are fragrant. Add honey and salt, then turn out onto parchment paper to cool. When the honey mixture is cool, break it up into pieces. Spread cheese on plate and peaches on top. Sprinkle with honey and seeds, basil oil, salt and pepper, then serve.
Shaved Zucchini Salad
1 zucchini, shaved with a vegetable peeler
handful parsley
1 squash blossom, sliced
3 oz comte cheese, sliced thin
3 TBSP toasted sunflower seeds
2 oz pancetta cubes, cooked until crisp
1 TBSP maple syrup
¼ cup olive oil
Juice of one lemon
Salt
Mix oil, lemon, salt and maple syrup in a bowl. Carefully add in zucchini to coat. Toss in blossom, parsley and cheese, place on a plate and top with sunflower seeds and pancetta. Serve chilled.
Hot Dog Bar
Mix it up with hot dogs and sausage for an easy, “fancy” looking display! Shoot for fun toppings and some basics for a true crowd-pleaser that gives you the freedom to relax and not just be cooking.
Hot dogs
Brats
Pretzel buns
Regular buns
Coleslaw
Bacon bits
Raw onion
Relish
Mustard
Ketsup
Sauteed Onions
Shredded Cheese
Feta Cheese
Chile
Kraut
Place ingredients on display, then let your guests self-serve. Enjoy!
Watermelon Salad
Nothing beats an easy and cool watermelon salad on a hot summer day! We found the yellow melon to shine and add a whole new element to this rendition.
4 cups watermelon, cubed
3 sprigs mint, torn
2 limes, juiced
1/4 cup toasted pumpkin seeds
1/3 cup cotija cheese
salt
olive oil
red chili powder, for dusting
Toss all ingredients with each other, chill until served. Dust with chili powder. Serve and enjoy.
Happy Labor Day!