By: Sandra Ortiz
Quick and easy recipes to share with your friends this 4th of July. Best of all, the ideas we present contain ingredients that you can find in the supermarket, already cut or canned. Perfect for those who have little time to cook!
I’m sure you already have plans for the 4th of July! And if you were lucky enough to be invited to celebrate at a friend or family member’s house, all you have to worry about is finding easy recipes to share with the other guests so you don’t arrive empty-handed!
Here we give you these options that won’t take up your time and will make you look great!
WATERMELON SALAD
Ingredients:
1 medium seedless watermelon (you can find it at the supermarket already cut)
1/2 cup feta cheese, diced
1 handful chopped mint leaves
1 handful of chopped parsley
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 pinch of black pepper
1/2 teaspoon olive oil
Preparation:
Mix mint, parsley, lemon juice, black pepper, and olive oil in a separate container. Set aside.
Place the watermelon in a larger bowl and add the reserved mixture.
Add the feta cheese and mix all the ingredients carefully so that the watermelon does not fall apart.
And that’s it! It’s delicious!
PASTA SALAD
Ingredients:
12 oz box of spring rotini pasta.
12 oz. cheddar cheese in cubes
8 oz. smoked salami in cubes or slices
1 cup whole or sliced black olives
1 cup halved cherry tomatoes
1 large red bell pepper cut into cubes
1 large yellow bell pepper, diced
1 small red onion, chopped
1/2 cup Italian dressing
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt
Preparation:
You can basically add whatever you have on hand to this pasta (e.g., if instead of yellow cheese you have feta cheese, or instead of salami you have tuna, go for it!).
Boil the spiral pasta according to the instructions on the box to make it al dente. As soon as the time is up, remove it from the heat, strain it, and put it in the refrigerator to finish the cooking process.
Meanwhile, chop the red onion and the peppers and cut the tomatoes in half. A perfect tip that will save you a lot of time is to get a vegetable cutter like this one. You don’t know how much time you will save on this task in the future!
Once you have cut all the vegetables, remove the pasta from the refrigerator and add the vegetables, cheese, and salami.
Add the Italian dressing, salt, and pepper. Mix all the ingredients together, and you’re done!
BEAN SALAD
Ingredients:
1 can of black beans
1 can of cannellini beans
1 can of kidney beans
1 can of corn
1 red onion, finely chopped
1 red bell pepper, diced
1 yellow bell pepper, diced
1/4 cup cilantro
3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime
1/2 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons cumin
1 1/2 teaspoon pepper
Preparation:
In a bowl, mix the beans with the corn, onion, and peppers.
Mix the cilantro, lime, salt, sugar, cumin, pepper and olive oil in a separate container. Mix well and add to the bean and vegetable mixture.
Adjust the dressing to your taste if necessary. Enjoy!
NACHOS WITH CHEESE
Ingredients:
1 can of refried beans
2 slices of smoked bacon
1 tablespoon of chipotle in adobo (if you like it spicier, add 2 tablespoons).
1 pinch of pepper
1 pinch of salt
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 cup diced tomatoes
1/2 cup sliced jalapeno pepper
1/2 cup crema Mexicana
1 bag of unseasoned corn tortilla chips
Preparation:
Place the bacon slices in a skillet and fry them. When they are ready, remove them and add the can of refried beans. Stir and let them soak up the flavor of the bacon you just fried. Add a tablespoon of chipotle sauce, a pinch of salt, and a pinch of pepper. Stir. If the mixture is too thick, add two tablespoons of water and let it heat over low heat.
Preheat the oven to 400 F.
Put oil spray in a baking dish, place the tortilla chips, and add the bean mixture on top, making sure it covers all the chips. Add the diced tomatoes, jalapeño slices, crema Mexicana, and shredded cheddar cheese. Put it in the oven and let it bake for 5-6 minutes (or until the cheese melts).
And that’s it! Garnish with a little more Mexican cream on top and cilantro.
CAPRESE SALAD
Ingredients:
3 ripe and flavorful tomatoes
500 gr fresh Mozzarella cheese in balls
1 sprig of fresh basil (large leaves)
Extra virgin olive oil
Modena vinegar
Salt and pepper to taste
Preparation:
Dry the cheese with kitchen paper to make it easier to cut. Wash the basil and dry it with paper towels. Cut the tomatoes into slices. Place them in a circle. First, put a slice of tomato, then a slice of cheese on top, and finally, a basil leaf. Do this with each slice of tomato until you close the circle.
Add salt and pepper to taste all the ingredients, and pour a little bit of Modena vinegar on top. And that’s it! It’s super easy, and everyone will love it!
What did you think of these recipes? Super simple and quick, don’t you think?
About the author: Sandra Ortiz
Sandra Ortiz Juárez studied Communication Sciences in her native Mexico and obtained a master's degree in Audiovisual Journalism in Spain. She has worked on radio, television and in digital media such as AOL Latino, Mamás Latinas and in the magazines Siempre Mujer and Ser Padres, where she served as digital director. She has interviewed celebrities such as Carolina Herrera, Isabel Toledo, Natalia Jiménez, Luis Fonsi, William Levy, among many other personalities. In her free time she likes to dance and experiment in the kitchen. She confesses to being addicted to the internet and sushi.
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