10 Easy Summer Dinner Recipes For When You're Too Tired To Cook

Ingredients for Vegan Chickpea Curry

• 2 tablespoons coconut oil
• 2 medium yellow onions, chopped
• 14 ounces canned tomatoes, drained
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 16 ounces canned chickpeas, drained and rinsed
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 teaspoon curry powder
• 1/4 teaspoon cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 package baby spinach
• 13.5 ounces canned coconut milk
• 1 tablespoon flour
• 1 lime
• Cooked rice

Directions for Vegan Chickpea Curry

1. Add the coconut oil to a deep pan over medium-high heat.

2. Add the onions, tomatoes, salt, and pepper to the pan, and stir. Reduce the heat to medium and cook the mixture until tomatoes release their juices and the onions soften, for about 10 minutes.

3. Stir in the chickpeas, garlic, curry powder, cumin, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cayenne pepper until well combined. Add spinach, coconut milk, and flour, and stir again. Bring the curry to a boil, then reduce to a simmer for 10-12 minutes.

4. Remove the curry from heat, top with lime juice, and serve over rice with naan.

So, when I booked my trip to India, I was a little hesitant about the food, considering pretty much all of my friends’ reviews of their experiences could be summed up in three sound bites: “Amazingly beautiful country,” “absolutely bonkers traffic,” and “spice levels off the charts!”

I knew I wanted to eat as much delicious Indian food as I could (give me all the naan), but after two days of ordering dishes that seemed like they might kill my tummy (I’m looking at you, spicy biryani), I needed help. After talking to some locals, I was able to pull together a solid list of tasty options that let me experience all the delicious flavors and spices of the cuisine without running to the restroom every 20 minutes.

When it comes to breakfast, most travelers opt to eat at the normally included hotel buffets. It’s a great chance to experience a little bit of each type of dish and decide for yourself what you can handle in terms of spice, but note that in more Westernized establishments they tend to go a little easy on the spice, knowing their clientele. There are three safe options that were fairly standard at every Indian breakfast buffet:

1. Idli

Idli is a type of savory steamed rice cake, not entirely unlike a Chinese bao in texture. It’s made out of fermented black lentils and rice, and normally served with coconut chutney with the option to sprinkle a little (or a lot) of curry spice on top.

2. Dosa

Dosa is similar to a pancake or crepe in appearance, but it’s made with rice and black gram (a type of bean grown on the Indian subcontinent). It’s spread thin on a hot skillet and cooked until crispy. Traditionally, it’s served with sambar, a warm, sometimes-spicy soup, and chutney. Sometimes it's stuffed with a mixture of potatoes and paneer.

3. Vada

Vada looks like an unglazed donut, but it’s actually a savory snack that’s made with ingredients ranging from legumes to potatoes. They’re generally fairly mild and also substantially dense, so they make a great non-spicy breakfast to power you through the day. They show up in another delicious dish called dahi vada, which is basically vadas soaked in a thick yogurt sauce — also an excellent option when you’re looking for something calming for your stomach!

Now that you’ve made it past breakfast and you’re out and about exploring, you’ll inevitably end up staring at a menu wondering what on earth you should order for your next meal. Breads and plain rice are always the safest, but you’ll want something to sop up with that freshly baked and buttery garlic naan.

4. Butter chicken or butter paneer

These are generally pretty safe choices when it comes to non-spicy Indian food. Paneer is normally a mildly spicy curry dish, as it includes lots of cream and yogurt in the preparation. Plus, if you order a side dish of yogurt, you can really control the spice level with the sauce and it makes a great dish for dipping all the breads.

5. Tikka chicken

Tikka is something you might be familiar with if you frequent Indian restaurants. It normally refers to a piece of chicken or meat that’s been marinated in yogurt and spices and then grilled. The spice can sometimes be a little hot, but if you order a side of raita (a condiment made with yogurt and raw or cooked vegetables) to cool the palate, it’s absolutely perfect.

6. Aloo gobi

Aloo gobi is a wonderful alternative to meat, as it’s made with potato and cauliflower spiced with all the delicious Indian spices. Vegetarian dishes are absolutely incredible in India, and even if you’re an avid carnivore, make sure you save room to try some of the vegetarian offerings!

7. Saag paneer

Saag paneer consists of leafy greens (spinach, mustard greens, or collard greens). It’s normally medium to mild in flavor and served with roti, a kind of flatbread. Especially since you’re traveling in a country where fresh salads aren’t the safest to eat, you’ll want to get your greens fix in for sure, and this is a terrific way to do it.

By and large some of the most appealing dishes in any country come from the streets, and India is no exception. However, whenever eating street foods always be aware of where they’re being made, as cleanliness is an issue. That said, if you come across some of these street food classics, give them a try.

8. Pani puri or dahi puri

Pani puri or dahi puri are very common street snacks and consist of round, hollow fried crisps called puri that are filled with a mixture of water, chutney, chili, chaat masala, potato, onion, or chickpeas. They’re very mild and delicious; the only thing you have to be really careful about is making sure they’re made with bottled mineral water.

9. Samosas

Samosas are wonderful pockets of deep-fried goodness that are generally stuffed with a variety of potatoes, peas, and onions. Now, I’m going to put a big warning on these, as they really do run the gamut from spicy to mild, so be sure to ask for non-spicy ones — or if you have a taste-tester buddy, let them take the first bite!

10. Gulab jamus

Gulab jamus are perhaps one of the most amazing things you’ll ever eat. These sweet and sticky fried dough balls soaked in a sugared syrup are not only the perfect way to end a meal, but they really do kill the spice from any dish! And if you do accidentally order something that’s out of your tolerance range, be sure to wash it down with a sweet mango lassi!

When is Wicked: Part Two coming out?

Wicked: Part Two Release Date

Wicked: Part Two will hit theaters November 21, 2025. While the movie was originally slated for November 26, 2025, Universal Pictures decided to bump up the release date.

The first Wicked movie also faced a schedule change, moving from November 27 to November 22, 2024, the same day as Gladiator II!

What happens in Wicked Part 2?

Wicked: Part Two Plot

While we don't officially know at what point in the story the Wicked movie ends, we do know that Act II of the musical is all about Oz's response to Elphaba becoming the "Wicked Witch of the West." Glinda becomes beloved public figure "Glinda the Good," but realizes just how much her dreams have cost her as Elphaba is gone and Fiyero, now Glinda's fiancé, is determined to find Elphaba no matter the cost.

Wicked: Part Two is sure to feature songs like "As Long As You're Mine," "No Good Deed," and "For Good" — and Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, and Jonathan Bailey are going to absolutely slay.

Who's in the cast of Wicked: Part Two?

Wicked: Part Two Cast

Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, and Jonathan Bailey will reprise their roles as Elphaba, Glinda, and Fiyero, respectively. Wicked: Part Two will also star Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater, Marissa Bode, Bowen Yang, and Keala Settle.

Why is the Wicked movie taking so long?

The Wicked movie has had a long road to get to its release! News of the movie adaptation originally broke in 2016, with an intended release date of 2019. But the COVID-19 pandemic, and a few behind-the-scenes details, pushed the movie to 2024 instead.

"As we prepared this production over the last year, it became increasingly clear that it would be impossible to wrestle the story of WICKED into a single film without doing some real damage to it," director Jon M. Chu tweeted in April of 2022, announcing the story would arrive in two installments.

"With more space, we can tell the story of WICKED as it was meant to be told while bringing even more depth and surprise to the journeys of these beloved characters."

Did they finish filming Wicked Part 2?

The good news is that, even though we have to wait a year to see Wicked: Part Two, filming is already done! On January 26, Cynthia Erivo shared a breathtaking photo of her silhouette as Elphaba flying on a broom. "I’ve been trying to think of what I’d say when this day finally came, and I’m failing miserably, because honestly there aren’t enough words to fully express what this experience has meant to me," she says on Instagram.

"The universe will take things away to make space for the grand gifts it has waiting for us," she continues. "THIS moment, this film, these people, this cast, this crew, this director, my Glinda, were the Grandest gift I could ever have asked for, and I am eternally grateful for the chance to bring you This Elphie. I hope when you meet her, you’ll love her as much and as fiercely as I do. And with that I say, that’s a wrap for me, Elphie out!! 💚💚💚"

Ariana Grande shared a similar image of her own silhouette on January 25, saying, "like a handprint on my heart," which is a lyric from "For Good." I love these women so much!