We all know summer is the best season in the Pacific Northwest (PNW). So while you’re enjoying these Oregon family vacation spots, taste the local food too. Oregon and Washington have great seasonal summer dishes you need to try. We’ve put together our favorite Pacific Northwest recipes for summer so you can try them all from the comfort of your own home.
Pacific Northwest Recipes for Delicious Dinners
Grilled Cedar Plank Salmon
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 2.5 hours
Difficulty: Moderate
The Pacific Northwest is famous for delicious fresh salmon, so we had to include a salmon recipe on our list. To make your delicious PNW salmon, you need to be careful when choosing your fish. We recommend going to a local fish market to get the day’s fresh catch. In addition, this specific recipe adds a great smoky flavor to the salmon from the cedar plank. Don’t forget to soak your cedar plank ahead of time because you’ll need two hours before you start grilling!
Lemon Parsley Baked Cod
Cook Time: 12-15 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Difficulty: Easy
If salmon isn’t your fish of choice, give this Pacific Northwest cod recipe a try. Cod is a mild fish that’s dense and flaky. Therefore, it’s always a good choice for hot summer days. Baked with lemon and parsley, this recipe has a classic and straightforward blend of flavors. So consider serving it with asparagus or kale for a light and healthy meal.
Grilled Oysters With Roasted Red Pepper Butter
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 1.5 hours
Difficulty: Moderate
We’re not done with the seafood yet! In addition to salmon and cod, the PNW has fantastic local oysters too. If you take a day trip to the Oregon or Washington coast, you’ll find plenty of small shops with freshly caught oysters along the way. So start with this recipe if you’re looking to impress dinner guests with a unique and delicious seafood dinner. This recipe is more challenging than the others, but it has a depth of flavor and a buttery finish!
Pacific Northwest Sides Recipes
Spicy Marionberry Jam
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Difficulty: Easy
Nothing says summer in the PNW better than marionberries. The marionberry is a specific variety of blackberry that grows in Oregon. And this sweet berry jam is perfect for making a spicy jam with jalapenos. To make this a classic Pacific Northwest Recipe, you need to swap marionberries for the blackberries. Once you try this spicy jam, there’s no looking back to traditional berry jams. It is the perfect combination of spicy and sweet. It also makes for the most delicious addition to crackers and brie!
Watermelon, Heirloom Tomato, and Feta Salad
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Difficulty: Easy
First of all, a crisp, fresh salad is great for a warm summer day. We love the unique blend of flavors in this Pacific Northwest summer salad recipe. Not to mention that it has a delicious balance of sweet and savory flavors. And the bright colors make it a beautiful dish to serve to guests or bring to a party. Also, you can take this recipe to the next step by growing your own heirloom tomatoes at home. The Oregon and Washington weather is perfect for growing tomatoes! All you have to do is chop up all the ingredients to make this salad. After that, mix them and you’re ready to serve. In just under 20 minutes, you’ll have a light, healthy PNW-inspired summer salad.
Sundried Tomato Risotto
Cook Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
Difficulty: Moderate
Sometimes you need a break from seafood, and that’s where a delicious risotto recipe comes in. Plus, we just had to add another tomato recipe to our Pacific Norwest recipes list. This creamy sundried tomato risotto is a filling vegetarian meal or an excellent side dish.
Risotto is a classic, fan-favorite dish that you can make in various ways. The basic steps for making risotto are generally the same. Arborio rice is cooked slowly while warm liquid (broth or water) is added over time. What makes risotto exciting is that you can stick to this method and change up the extra ingredients to create an infinite number of new flavors.
Spicy Summer Mushrooms
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Difficulty: Easy
Like tomatoes, the PNW is mushroom heaven in the summer! So don’t miss out and make these easy spicy summer mushrooms. They make the perfect side dish for summer nights. The combination of soy sauce and heat is tangy and fun. This is one of our easiest Pacific Northwest recipes, so make sure to try this one!
Sweet, Summery Pacific Northwest Dessert Recipes
Rainier Cherry Crumble
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
Difficulty: Moderate
Rainier cherries are a special, extra sweet cherry variety found near Mt. Rainier. Luckily, these sweet cherries are in season throughout the summer. In addition, their bright color and taste make for a delicious dessert. So pair this warm and easy dessert with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, and you’ll be enjoying summer in classic PNW fashion.
Peach Cobbler
Cook Time: 35-45 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour
Difficulty: Easy
Peaches flourish during summer in the PNW, and this cobbler recipe highlights the delicate sweetness of fresh peaches. Plus, it’s so easy you probably have all the ingredients at home already. This dessert is also perfect for big get-togethers. So if you’re attending a summer barbecue, be sure to whip up a pan of this cobbler. We promise it’ll be a hit!
In Oregon and Washington, summer is a special time, as the sun peaks through after months of clouds and drizzling, so consider finding a secure spot in Oregon or a safe place in Washington to store your stuff. Northwest Self Storage has affordable, secure, and clean storage units. So rent one today and get ready to have fun this summer! Then, check out these delicious soups, stews, and chowders once you’ve made all of these delicious Pacific Northwest recipes!
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