What to Cook the Week of August 3 - 9: 10 Dinner Ideas from a Chef
Every Sunday I write one week of dinners: five Classic and five Plant-Based, chosen around what is actually good at the market that week. This is the plan for August 3 - 9, 2026. Take the ideas, cook the ones you want, or let SEASON hand you the whole week with the shopping list already done.
The Classic five
- 1
Spanish Chicken
Smoked Paprika · Baby Potatoes · Olives
Sheet-pan chicken thighs and baby potatoes roasted in smoked paprika with olives and lemon
Sheet Pan, 45 Minutes · serves 4
- 2
Korean Beef Bowl
Sesame-Soy Glaze · Cucumber Pickle · Rice
Thin-sliced bulgogi-style beef seared hot over rice with a quick cucumber pickle
Skillet, 25 Minutes · serves 4
- 3
Chicken Chilaquiles Verde
Tomatillo Salsa · Crema · Cotija
Tortilla chips folded into bright tomatillo salsa verde with Instant Pot shredded chicken, crema, and cotija
Instant Pot, 40 Minutes · serves 4
- 4
Fig & Balsamic Pork Chops
White Beans · Broccolini · Fig-Balsamic
Seared pork chops with a fig-balsamic pan glaze over creamy white beans with charred broccolini
Skillet, 35 Minutes · serves 4
- 5
Shrimp Tomato Risotto
Riviera-Style · Fresh Tomato · Basil
Creamy tomato risotto with seared shrimp, white wine, and basil in the style of the Italian Riviera
Stovetop, 45 Minutes · serves 4
The Plant-Based five
Fully plant-based, every week, built to stand on its own rather than as a substitution.
- 1
Mushroom Tacos
Chili-Lime · Warm Tortillas · Build Your Own
Seared chili-lime mushrooms crisped at the edges, piled into warm tortillas with all the fixings
Skillet, 30 Minutes · serves 4
- 2
Mediterranean Chickpea Salad
Cucumber · Olive · Lemon-Herb
Chickpeas, cucumber, and olives tossed with parsley, mint, and lemon over fluffy couscous
No-Cook, 20 Minutes · serves 4
- 3
Yaki Udon
Cabbage · Snap Peas · Savory-Sweet Glaze
Thick udon noodles stir-fried with cabbage, snap peas, and bok choy in a savory-sweet soy glaze
Skillet, 30 Minutes · serves 4
- 4
Vegetable Paella
Saffron Rice · Artichoke · Sweet Peas
Saffron-scented Spanish rice loaded with artichoke, sweet peas, pepper, green beans, cherry tomato, and blistered shishitos, crisped into a golden socarrat
Skillet, 60 Minutes · serves 4
- 5
California Melon Salad
Farro · Avocado · Lime-Chili
Ripe summer melon and avocado over farro with little gem, basil, pistachio, and a lime-chili dressing
No-Cook, 20 Minutes · serves 4
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The recipe above is the cooking. SEASON membership is the system around it:
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See every SEASON weekly dinner plan → · More August dinner ideas →