Few can resist fresh mozzarella. As a child, I would steal stray pieces of mozzarella from the kitchen whenever my mom would make lasagna (nowadays, my daughter does the same). Caprese salad is another classic showcase for the fresh cheese: Ripe tomatoes and basil perfectly complement mozzarella slices or bocconcini (“little balls”). It’s hard to wait all season for this treat, so we assembled five flavorful recipes that showcase the spectrum of produce available throughout the summer, introducing notions of tang and sweetness that cut through mozzarella’s richness. As the weather warms and your desire to turn on the oven wanes, these recipes will help you keep your cool by using the grill, toaster oven, or skipping heat altogether.

1. Mozzarella Panini with Pressed Apricot and Pickled Red Onion

Sweet Spanish apricot-almond cake and tangy pickled red onion cut through mozzarella’s creamy richness in this pressed sandwich.

2. Grilled Herb and Onion Flatbread with Mozzarella,Grilled Carrots, Braised Radishes, and Dandelion Salad

3. Fresh Mozzarella, Plum, & Kumato Stacks with Lemon-Herb Drizzle

4. Bocconcini & Pickled Cherry Skewers

5. Mozzarella-Stuffed Arepas with Sherry-Mango Slaw

Stylist Leslie Orlandini

Leslie Orlandini is a chef and an accomplished food stylist in print and television. She has been nominated for both James Beard and Emmy awards and is a veteran of thousands of cooking shows and segments. You can learn more about her through her website: http://leslieorlandini.com/