Summer Solstice Dinner Menu

A Midsummers Night Dinner Party

Summer solstice occurs on the 20th or 21st of June, depending on the year and your time zone, making it a perfect night to have a dinner party. A summer solstice dinner is usually enjoyed al fresco and focuses on lighter fare. This is a blessing for the host because rather than focusing on heavy barbecue, your summer solstice dinner menu can feature lighter, brighter flavors.

Sipping Summer Satisfaction

What summer evening can be complete without a refreshing drink to savor as the day cools into dusk? You may want to start your dinner off with a light Campari drink and then break out the sangria.

The Negroni

The Negroni is a popular choice for Campari drinkers.

Ingredients

• 2 ounces Campari
• 1 ounce gin
• 1 ounce sweet vermouth
• 2 dashes orange bitters

Instructions Stir with ice for 30 seconds and strain, garnish with an orange slice.

Sangria

Sangria is a wine-based drink that is usually served in large chilled pitchers and is meant to be shared amongst friends. Chill the glasses before serving, and your summer solstice party will be the coolest in town. Use super fine sugar, or better yet some simple syrup, in the place of regular granulated sugar, which can take some time to dissolve.

Ingredients

• 1 large orange
• 1 large lemon
• 2-3 ripe peaches
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 bottle of red wine
• ¼ cup of brandy

Instructions

1. Cut the rind from the lemon and the orange.
2. Remove the pith from the peels and the fruits.
3. Slice the fruit into ¼ inch slices.
4. Peel and slice the peaches.
5. Place the fruit into a large pitcher.
6. Add the sugar.
7. Add the wine and brandy and stir to combine.
8. Refrigerate for at least one hour.
9. Serve cold.

Appetizers

Mango Shrimp

This cool appetizer is a crowd pleaser and delicious with tortilla chips or lettuce leaves.

Ingredients

• 1 ripe mango
• 8 ounces fully-cooked shrimp, finely diced (you can use frozen, pre-cooked shrimp if you like)
• ¼ cup finely-diced red onion
• 1 large avocado, diced
• 2 tablespoons finely-chopped cilantro
• 2 tablespoons fresh line juice
• ¼ teaspoon hot pepper sauce
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon freshly-ground pepper

Instructions

1. Peel and dice the mango.
2. Mix the mango and the shrimp together in a bowl.
3. Add the avocado, onion, cilantro, lime juice, hot pepper sauce, salt and pepper.
4. Cover and chill until time to serve.

Summer Solstice Dinner

The beauty of serving any kind of kabob for dinner is that they cook quickly and taste great. This recipe for tuna kabobs serves four.

Ahi Kabobs

The beauty of serving any kind of kabob for dinner is that they cook quickly and taste great. This recipe for tuna kabobs serves four.

Ingredients

• 1½ pounds of Ahi tuna cut into 1-inch cubes
• 3 tablespoons of rice wine vinegar
• 2 tablespoons of fresh-grated ginger
• 2 tablespoons of peanut oil
• 2 tablespoons sesame oil
• 2 tablespoons of soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons of honey
• 1 tablespoon of chopped cilantro
• 1 jalapeño chili, seeded, ribs removed and chopped fine
• 1 red bell pepper cut into 1-inch squares
• 1 large sweet onion cut into 1-inch squares
• Salt and pepper
• 6 12-inch skewers

Instructions

1. Mix together the rice wine vinegar, ginger, peanut oil, sesame oil, soy sauce, honey, cilantro, and jalapeño pepper.
2. Taste for salt and pepper.
3. Add Ahi to the marinade, toss to coat.
4. Cover and chill for one hour.
5. Place the Ahi on the skewers, alternating with the onion and red peppers.
6. Prepare your grill to a medium-high heat.
7. Grill the skewers about two minutes on each side (four minutes total).

Complementing the Summer Solstice Dinner Menu

Summer solstice dinners are light, refreshing and fun. With this summer solstice dinner menu, some good music and brightly-colored decorations your dinner party is sure to be a success. Be sure to have some refreshing desserts on hand, like a summer berry pudding or a fresh berry fool, to fill out your party menu.