Quick answer
What do you cook for midsummer?
Lean on the grill and fresh seasonal produce. Grilled meat and vegetables, a strawberry salad, bread on the coals, and elderflower cordial or lemonade for the long evening.
Midsummer
Midsummer is the longest day of the year, celebrated outdoors on the eve of St. John. The table calls for what the grill does best: meat and vegetables off the coals, fresh strawberries, crisp summer salads, and elderflower cordial over ice. Pick what to cook for the light evening.
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Frequently asked questions
Why are strawberries and elderflower tied to midsummer?
Both peak right now. Strawberries ripen around St. John's Day and elderflower blooms through June, so people make cordial from it that carries the taste through summer.
How do you make elderflower cordial?
Pour a hot sugar syrup with lemon over the elderflower heads and let it steep somewhere cool for a day or two. Then strain, bring to a boil, and bottle — it keeps all summer.
Can I pull off the whole feast without a kitchen?
Mostly yes. Chill the salads, dips, and drinks during the day, then fire up the grill in the evening — meat, vegetables, and bread all finish on the grate, no hot kitchen required.