Beach food—or, really, any midsummer meal—should be utterly uncomplicated, the loudest notes sung by the ingredients most in season (tomatoes! corn! herbs galore!), seafood-heavy if you are indeed by the shore, hearty enough to get you back to the beach tomorrow, and quick enough that you don't have to head home early to get the cooking started.

Here are the recipes we make when all that's on the docket for the next day—and the one after that—is floating on our backs in the closest body of water.

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[Photos courtesy Food52]