Happy Saturday. I can’t explain this logic — or, perhaps more accurately, lack thereof — but by the time summer officially begins, I feel like it’s already halfway over. That said, I plan to dive into my summer 2025 bucket list this weekend. That includes:
Trying the viral Tomato Flight, which will undoubtedly become my go-to summer snack (it might be one of the most ingenious things I’ve seen yet).
Finally, while this technically isn’t a bucket-list item, I’ll also investigate the royal family’s “new style icon.” Because, after seeing the pictures, I need to know everything.
— Melissa Goldberg / Senior Editor / Washington, DC
Prepare to Make This Easy, Protein-Packed Salad Your Entire Summer Personality
theSkimm
We know, we know: You’ve been burned by “exciting” summer salads before. But this Scoop It Up Kale Couscous Salad from Ambitious Kitchen actually delivers. A happy jumble of flavors and textures, the protein-packed bowl of goodness is loaded with finely chopped kale, tender chickpeas, pebbly pearl couscous, salty feta crumbles, tangy pickled red onions, plump Castelvetrano olives, and a zippy lemon vinaigrette. Scoop it up, as the name suggests, with pita chips, tortilla chips, or even a boring old spoon — and either way, you’ll feel like you’ve got your life together. Even if you’re eating it over the sink.
The Time Commitment: Just 30 minutes. Plus, if you double the recipe, you won’t have to worry about lunch for a couple of days.
Key Tips: This dish is endlessly adaptable. It’s hearty enough to stand on its own, but also plays well with salmon, chicken, or any protein you’ve got on hand. No couscous? Use orzo or quinoa instead. Not a fan of parsley? Cilantro or basil are fine substitutes. And, for extra crunch, add a handful of pistachios or sunflower seeds.
Other Takes:For more summer salads that you’ll happily eat week after week, try…
This wildly unfussy Couscous Halloumi Salad, featuring fresh corn, crunchy pine nuts, and — most important — irresistibly crisp cubes of cheese.
Poolside Sesame Slaw, which, to be clear, does not require a pool — just an obsession with crunchy, colorful vegetables tossed in a crave-worthy miso-sesame dressing.
Warm Zucchini Feta Salad. The base of this Mediterranean-inspired dish is delightfully small ditalini, so really it’s more pasta than salad. But, honestly, when it tastes this good, who cares?
