Summertime means finding shortcuts in the kitchen so I can spend as much time outside as possible (because before long it will suddenly be November in New York City and I’ll be hunting for my hat and gloves). Taking advantage of ready-to-cook grocery items is key, as is quickly grilling meat, fish, vegetables or fruit on an indoor grill or outdoor BBQ. I recently ordered ‘lamb shish kebobs’ through my home grocery delivery service. Already cleaned, cut to size, marinated, skewered, and ready to cook, in just 8 minutes these lamb kebobs get a good sear on the outside and are perfectly medium-rare on the inside.

Photo source: FreshDirect

The next time you’re at the supermarket or butcher, see if they have prepared kebabs like these. For a super quick dinner you can tuck the charred boneless lamb into a soft pita with a spread of smoky hummus or enjoy it over a bed of couscous dotted with raisins and parsley. For a meal that easily feeds 4 hungry people, I served one skewer of lamb (about 4 pieces) over some leftover basmati rice with cumin and sweet green peas and a tomato chutney. The richness of the lamb combined with the fluffy rice and sweet & spicy tomato chutney was filling but simple at the same time. The only thing missing here is a fresh zucchini & mint yogurt raita to drizzle all over it. Now, that’s what I call a summer supper.

BASMATI RICE WITH SWEET GREEN PEAS AND CUMIN

THE BEST TOMATO CHUTNEY EVER: SOUTH INDIAN “TOMATO GOJJU”

ZUCCHINI & MINT RAITA