Invented in the twentieth century in the United States, the Sunday brunch is a very popular concept across the Atlantic, which has gradually become established in England. For a few years now, it has been exported to France, to our great delight! The editorial staff gives you some ideas for a successful summer brunch, and a weekend under the sign of greed and lightness.
Mixing sweet and salty, seasonal fruits, pancakes, smoothies... Both breakfast and lunch at the same time, the principle of brunch is based on a varied, balanced, generous and tasty menu, which adapts to all seasons. While in winter it is generous and comforting, in summer it is light, fresh and fruity.
Simple summer brunch recipes: the editor's ideas
Our first piece of advice if you are in the mood for lightness for your brunch: leave out the croissants, cold cuts and other heavy scrambled eggs, in favor of a brunch made with recipes based on seasonal fruits and vegetables. The advantage of fruit is that it can be cooked in different forms, for an original and surprising menu: watermelon gazpacho, cucumber and mint soup, raspberry and fig smoothie, or a simple squeezed orange juice. The possibilities are endless! The result will be less calories and much more balanced. A winning combo!
Another principle of brunch: have everything on the table, at the same time, and pick what you want, in any order! This is what makes the experience fun and playful... No more starters, main courses, desserts of a classic meal. However, you still need to create a balance to have a successful home-made brunch. So, as an indication, the editors suggest a recipe for each part of the meal, which you can organize (and eat) as you wish.
Homemade brunch: salmon soft-boiled eggs as a starter
Soft-boiled eggs with salmon are a must for a homemade brunch. A soft-boiled egg is an egg that is cooked in boiling water and the yolk retains a very soft texture. With salmon and a little lemon, it is fresh, tangy and light!
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Cooking time: 6 minutes
Ingredients for 4 people:
- 4 slices of country bread;
- 4 slices of smoked salmon
- 4 eggs ;
- 1 lemon;
- Dill;
- Salt ;
- Pepper.
Preparation:
Bring a pot of water to a boil. Gently immerse the eggs. Count 6 minutes from the time the water resumes boiling, then remove them with a skimmer. Rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process. Roll gently on a work surface to crack and remove the shell.
Toast the bread slices and rub them with a little garlic. Place a slice of salmon on each piece of toast, followed by an egg. Season with salt and pepper. Add a light drizzle of lemon juice and a little dill.
Tip: if you want a creamy texture, mix a little whipping cream with the lemon juice.
Homemade brunch: avocado toast as a main course
What could be more classic and delicious than a slice of avocado on whole wheat bread, with a little lemon and salt? There is no successful summer brunch without a recipe for avocado toast worthy of the name... Avocados have many health benefits in addition to being delicious: they contain a lot of monounsaturated acids, which are very beneficial for cardiovascular function.
Preparation time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 1 minute
Ingredients for 4 people:
- 4 slices of whole grain bread
- 2 ripe avocados
- 1 lemon
- Flower of salt
- Sesame seeds
- Dried tomato flowers
- Olive oil
- Pepper
Preparation:
Toast the slices of whole wheat bread. Remove skin from avocados, cut in half and remove pit. Cut thin slices of avocado.
Drizzle olive oil over each slice of bread, place a few slices of avocado on top and sprinkle with a little lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper. Add a few sesame seeds and dried tomato flowers.
Homemade brunch: red fruit pancakes for dessert
Like brunch, pancakes are an invention of our North American friends. This type of thick pancake of small diameter is the food par excellence of the brunch across the Atlantic. The recipes of the traditional American pancakes made their appearance in France, with all the accompaniment which goes with: maple syrup, blueberries, raspberries... Be careful though: made with sugar, flour and butter, pancakes are quite caloric. If you want to make a light summer brunch, it's better not to overdo it!
Preparation time: 10 minutes
Resting time: 1 hour
Cooking time: 15 minutes
Ingredients for 4 persons:
- 250 grams of flour
- 30 grams of sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 sachet of yeast
- 65 grams of butter
- 1 pinch of salt
- 30 cl of milk
- 200g raspberries
- 200g of blueberries
- maple syrup
Preparation:
Combine flour, baking powder and sugar. Add whole eggs and mix again. Pour in the melted butter and gradually thin the mixture with the milk to avoid lumps. Let the dough rest for about an hour.
Heat the pan with a little fat. To avoid putting too much, soak a piece of sopalain with oil and pass it over the pan. Pour a small ladleful of batter and let it cook. When small bubbles appear on the surface, turn the pancake over and let it cook for a few seconds on the other side.
Serve with raspberries, blueberries and a little maple syrup.
Another dessert for a summer brunch: lime panna cotta
If pancakes are too heavy for you, then lime panna cotta may be a good alternative. This time, head to Italy with a dessert that literally means panna (cream) and cotta (baked). It is made with three ingredients: cream, sugar and a gelling agent. For a lighter dessert, you can opt for 0% cream, and counterbalance the sweetness with the acidity of lemon. Let's get cooking!
Preparation time: 25 minutes
Cooking time: 10 minutes
Resting time: 5 hours
Ingredients for 4 persons :
- 45 cl of 0% liquid cream
- 50g of cane sugar
- 1 sachet of vanilla sugar
- 2 sheets of gelatin
- 1 lime
Preparation:
Grate the zest of the lemon. Pour the cream into a saucepan. Add the zest, sugars and bring the mixture to a boil. When the cream boils, remove from heat. Squeeze half the lime and add the juice to the previous preparation. Soften the gelatine in cold water and add to the still hot mixture. Stir until gelatin melts. Pour the preparation into 4 cups and place in the refrigerator for 5 hours. Serve chilled with a red fruit coulis, if desired.
Homemade brunch: a fresh summer salad
If brunch can be hearty, then a 100% fresh salad to end on a light note is the perfect solution. There are lots of original and surprising recipes for summer salads, but the essential watermelon, cucumber, mint and feta salad will give your homemade brunch a southern feel and Mediterranean flavour. Freshness and taste will be the order of the day!
Preparation time: 10 minutes
Ingredients for 4 people:
- 1 watermelon
- 2 cucumbers
- 200g of feta cheese
- Mint
- Lemon
- Salt
- Pepper
Preparation:
Cut the watermelon into cubes and the cucumbers into slices, which in turn are cut into quarters. Place in a salad bowl. Add crumbled feta and chopped mint. Season with salt and pepper. Pour in the lemon juice. Serve chilled.
To complete the meal: the cherry smoothie
The smoothie was created in California in the 1960s. It is similar to its big brother the milkshake, except that it is more balanced and natural! Composed of fruits, vegetables, honey, yogurt, milk... its texture is thick and creamy. Thus, it has become during this last decade the flagship drink of the summer, combining freshness, flavor and nutritional benefits. It can be declined endlessly, with a multitude of associations of fruits, but also of almond milk, oats, coconut, etc. In the meantime, here is an original and balanced recipe based on cherry, milk and agave syrup!
Preparation time: 5 minutes
Resting time: 1 hour
Ingredients:
- 25cl of skimmed milk
- 1 0% Greek yogurt
- 300g of pitted cherries
- 1 tbsp of agave syrup
Blend all ingredients until smooth. Let stand for at least 1 hour in the refrigerator.
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