Summertime Student-Friendly Dinner Ideas

Summertime cooking, there’s truly nothing better! As the nights get longer and warmer, we ditch the winter meals as fresh, crisp produce begins to appear. Here at Campus Living Villages, we want our students to make the most of living in our student accommodation. We believe some of the best memories at uni start in the kitchen, so today, we’re giving you some budget-friendly summer meals that you can enjoy with your housemates. Let’s get into it. 

1. Tacos! 

Did someone say Mexican night? We love Tacos, and so do our students! Tacos are fresh and delicious and can be made with various flavours! Whether you’re a pescetarian, meat eater, vegan or vegetarian, there’s a taco that’s right for you. 

Ingredients to add to your list: 

• Tacos (soft or hard shell) 
• Your choice of protein 
• Taco seasoning
• Lettuce
• Tomato
• Avocado
• Lemon
• Red onion
• Carrot 
• Coriander
• Sour cream
• Cheese

Directions: First, dice your salad ingredients and grate your carrot & cheese. Heat your pan and cook your choice of protein in the taco seasoning. 

Then it’s time for the guacamole: add 1 or 2 Avo’s to a bowl (depending on how many people you’re cooking for) and mash; add a squeeze of lemon or lime, salt, pepper the diced red onion and tomato and voila! You’re done. Serve with sour cream and cheese for the toppings. This is a crowd favourite that everyone will love! 

2. Pearl Couscous Salad 

Are you looking for something to bring to the next BBQ at your university accommodation? We’ve got a real winner for you, this pearl couscous salad is delicious and something everyone will enjoy! Fresh, filling and packed with goodness! Pearl couscous is a fantastic source of fibre and plant-based protein. Not only is it rich in nutrients like selenium, but it also helps to stabilise blood sugar levels and aid digestion. Pearl couscous is much like pasta in its texture and is super easy to prepare.

Ingredients to add to your list: 

• Pearl Couscous
• Cucumber
• Tomato 
• Spinach 
• Feta cheese
• Lemon
• Garlic aioli 
• Pumpkin seeds

Directions: Heat 1 tbsp of olive oil in a saucepan and add 300g of pearl couscous, Sautee until it turns a light brown, add 3 cups of boiling water, cover and simmer for 16 minutes or until the water is absorbed. It's that simple! We like to cook ours with one vegetable stock cube for added flavour. Let the couscous cool & keep it in the fridge while you chop your salads. 

Chop your salads and then add to the cold couscous; add a squeeze of lemon, the garlic aioli of your choice, salt, and pepper, crumble the feta and add the pumpkin seeds for extra crunch! 

3. Vietnamese Vermicelli Noodle Salad 

This is a crowd favourite! Full of freshness and flavour, you’ll want to give this one a try! Vermicelli Noodles are fat- and cholesterol-free, so they’re perfect if you want a healthy dinner option. They’re also super cheap, which is a bonus. 

Ingredients to add to your list: 

• Vermicelli noodles
• Cabbage
• Beansprouts
• Spring onion
• Coriander
• Carrots
• Avo 

Dressing ingredients

• 1 Tbsp Rice vinegar
• ½ tsp  Sugar
• 3 Tbsp Olive oil
• Garlic
• Chilli 
• 2 tsp Honey
• 2 Tbsp Soy sauce

Directions: 

1. Fill a pot with boiling water and bring it to a boil. Add your noodles and cook for 2-3 minutes. Do not overcook as they may become mushy. Run cold water over them and drain and set them aside. 
2. Chop up your veggies/salad ingredients. 
3. Shake the dressing ingredients in a jar. 
4. Plate up your noodles, veggies & drizzle over the dressing and enjoy! 

So there you have it, our top 3 fresh summer meals packed with nutrients! These are perfect for meal prep or to serve at a summer dinner with friends. 

At Campus Living Villages we’re known for our potluck dinners and trivia nights! Our events calendar at Macquarie University Village is packed full of great events like these, as is UNSW Village and all our other locations! Will you be joining the fun in 2023? Book today!