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Spring/Summer dutch oven recipe suggestions?

I got a 6 quart Dutch oven about a month ago, and have really been enjoying cooking with it. As things start to get warmer - I was wondering what might be some good recipes that utilize the Dutch oven but are more geared towards warmer weather? Suggestions?

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  1. You might get more responses if you edit your title, it might be confusing some people (Dutch over).

    My summer cooking tends more toward grilled chicken, fish or meats and a salad, but I do still use my Dutch ovens to cook beans and grains (farro, quinoa, bulgur) for my salads. You can do a good-sized batch and freeze the right-sized portions for your household to minimize heating up your kitchen when it gets hot.

    2 Replies
    1. re: GretchenS

      Do you actually cook bulgur? I just soak it in boiling water.

      1. re: magiesmom

        I like coarse (rather than fine) bulgur; it does need cooking.

    2. I rarely use the Dutch ovens I have in the summer. One exception is baked beans.

        1. re: Antilope

          I tried that only once. The very loosy goosy dough was difficult to transfer from a mixing bowl to the searingly hot Dutch oven without burning myself. I find kneading dough a good way to relieve stress.

          1. re: ChiliDude

            In case you want to try No-Knead again, what makes the transfer a snap is parchment paper. Just lift up the paper and move the dough to the hot pan. So easy. This was the suggestion from ATK.

        2. I am in the same boat. Just received my enamel dutch oven 6 qt but have only used it twice so far. This weekend it's supposed to be 90 so I'm at a loss what would be reasonable to use this pot for.

          1. I use mine the most for cooking or braising beans or grains- i like wild rice for salads and i always have beans on hand. In the summer lentil salads are great.
            You can use the dutch oven for baked fruit cobbler and making jams.
            Its also good for making popcorn!