Recipes to Celebrate Litha

Whether you call it Litha, Midsummer, or Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year is certainly worth celebrating. I've got 100 awesome recipes to celebrate Litha in the most delicious way.

If you're anywhere in the Northern hemisphere, you can't help but notice that nature is bursting with life at the moment. Trees are full of green leaves, plants and flowers are overflowing in gardens, and the first herbs and vegetables are ready to be harvested. Litha is all about honoring the Sun and the abundance it provides. We're definitely spoiled for choice for this sabbat feast. Let's get into it.

What is Litha?

Litha is the turn in the Wheel of the Year that celebrates the summer solstice. This sabbat is all about honoring the sun and the abundance of the natural world. Many witches believe that Midsummer is the most powerful time to gather any botanicals as they are at the height of their energy at this time of year. Litha is celebrated with both fire and water, as this is also the start of Cancer season which is a water sign and the only sign ruled by the moon. You could definitely work with the energy of both elements in your celebration.

For a Litha feast, we'll obviously want to work in as many fresh herbs as possible. Remember that each one has its own individual magical properties, so call on those as needed. Fruits and vegetables are also abundant for this feast. I've also called in some sun colors with red and orange foods. Cinnamon is ruled by the sun, so it's definitely invited to the party. And this is the perfect time to cook with fire. Finally, we'll bring in some honey to celebrate all the flowers in bloom at this time of year. Let the feast begin.

Cooking with herbs

As mentioned, Midsummer is the optimal time for collecting botanicals for witchcraft. As modern witches, we may not be able to wander the woods naked picking baskets full of herbs, but we can still work them into our practice in whatever way is accessible.

• Garlic & Herb Focaccia Bread - It's so flavorful with lots of fresh parsley and thyme, I almost don't want to eat anything else.
• Lemongrass Gin Cocktail - Lemongrass has a beautiful scent and cleansing properties.
• Chicken & Goat Cheese Pasta - Made with fresh rosemary, this is absolutely delicious.
• Lemon Garlic Pasta - This meatless dish is made with lots of fresh parsley.
• One Pot Lemon Ricotta Pasta - With fresh basil and corn, it's a super sunny pasta dish.
• Mint Brownies - Bold mint flavored is sandwiched between two layers of chocolate, which can only be awesome.
• Gammon Steaks with Parsley Sauce - Fresh parsley tastes like summer to me.
• Mint Limeade - This is a simple money spell, so drink deep.
• Za'atar Potato Salad - Made with a delicious Middle Eastern herb blend, it's bound to become a favorite.
• Smoked Cheddar & Sage Biscuits - Clear away negative energy and eat something delicious.
• Mint Chocolate Mousse - Use your favorite mint-infused chocolate for this deeply indulgent dessert.
• Creamy Pesto Gnocchi with Chicken - Get a little help from the store to create a dish full of basil magick.
• Mint Cucumber & Lemon Infused Water - Stay hydrated this summer with this simple potion.

Cooking with sun colors

Red, orange, and yellow evoke fire, creativity, passion, and joy. Invite this energy to your feast by serving foods with these colors.

• Carrot Ginger Orange Mimosas - Start the celebrations with the sunrise with these beautiful mimosas.
• Roasted Tomato & Mozzarella Salad - Made with a fresh basil viniagrette, it's got gorgeous sun colors as well.
• Brazilian Sunrise Cocktail - Made with cachaca, it's a Brazilian twist on a classic sunny cocktail.
• Citrus Cocktail Cupcakes - With swirls of fiery orange, these would be a great treat for cakes and ale.
• Santa Lucia Mocktail - This golden citrusy mocktail is so refreshing on a hot summer day.
• Mexican Lasagna - Layers upon layers of fresh veggies and cheese.
• Red Bean Salad - A no-cook recipe made with red onion and cherry tomatoes.
• Raspberry Margarita - It's not summer until you've had a fruity marg.
• Harissa Hummus - With a hint of spice and a beautiful color, it's the perfect no-cook snack.
• Chicken Corn Chowder - A hearty soup that is easily a meal all on its own.
• Pink Lemonade Fudge - Indulge in the colors of a summer sunset with this sweet treat.
• Cheesy Potato Soup - Be sure to use colored cheddar for that sunny orange hue.
• Citrus Gin Fizz - Like the first rays of dawn, this orange and lemon cocktail is a thing of beauty.

Sun Correspondended Ingredients

Every plant has a planetary corresondence, and in witchcraft, the sun is one of those planetary bodies. One of the most important, actually, and the one that is honored at Litha. This includes hazelnuts, lemon, lime, orange, potatoes, and rice. Chicken and poultry are also ruled by the sun. In fact, you can get a more complete list of herbs for Sun energy here. These recipes are a great place to start.

• Pasta with Lemon Cream Sauce - A simple creamy sauce for a bright and delicious pasta dish.
• Chocolate Orange Scones - Add these to your Litha picnic for some indulgent sun vibes.
• Cheddar Cheese Risotto - Use colored cheese to add the vibrancy of sun colors.
• Nutella Oatmeal - Wake up to something sweet and hearty while evoking the power of the sun.
• Lemon Blackberry Pound Cake - A perfect blend of sunny vibes and sweet berries.
• Lemon & Za'atar Goat Cheese Dip - Gather 'round this bowl of sun energy and it's an instant party.
• Southwest Chicken Burritos - Bring some fire energy with a bit of spice.
• Buffalo Chicken Pinwheels - Create a delicious sacred spiral with this easy appetizer.
• Lemon Meringue Fool - The perfect dessert for witches who don't like baking.
• Vodka Lime Slush - Get out the blender and make it a party.
• Risotto Bolognese - Incorporating seasonal tomatoes, this hearty rice dish calls in prosperity.
• Whole Wheat Lemon & Chia Seed Waffles - Chia seeds are also ruled by the sun.
• Roasted New Potatoes with Dill - Dill is particularly associated with Litha.

Abundant fruits and berries

Trees and bushes are bursting with fertility and tempting us with their beautiful fruits and berries. Check your local area for fruits that are in season in late June. Make the most of what the earth has to offer with these recipes.

• Strawberry Soju Slushie - Nothing says party like grinding up a bunch of fresh berries and mixing them with booze.
• Cherry Brandy Cocktail - A sweet and simple cocktail with big Venus vibes.
• Red Currant Glazed Ham - A delicious centerpiece for your Litha feast.
• Bakewell Tart - Almonds carry the energy of the sun.
• Blackcurrant & Lemon Cocktail - This sweet and tart drink is so refreshing.
• Strawberry Poppy Seed Salad - Just about the prettiest salad I've ever seen.
• Brie Grilled Cheese with Ham & Cherry Jam - Made on brioche, this is a real treat.
• Raspberry Pancakes - The sun rises early on Litha, so an indulgent breakfast is a great way to celebrate.
• Strawberry Lemon & Basil Infused Water - Work with water energy by infusing it with fruit and herbs.
• Cherry Ginger Mint Cocktail - Add the power of fresh herbs to your drink.
• Raspberry Cooler - This bright red cocktail is sweet and refreshing.
• Cherry Berry Cocktail - This gorgeous red cocktail is bursting with fertility energy.
• Strawberry Banana Smoothie - Both fruits carry powerful fertility energy, plus the color is gorgeous.

Seasonal fresh vegetables

So I may not be the biggest fan of vegetables, but they definitely deserve to be celebrated at the height of their season. You'll get extra energy from anything you grow yourself, but it's certainly not required. Maybe this is the year you take yourself to the farmer's market and get to know your local growers.

• Black Pudding Hash - The chopped red jalapenos and green onions really brighten this intensely savoury dish.
• Mexican Spinach Dip - This gooey dip feels super summery.
• Cornish Pasties - Add whatever seasonal veg looks awesome right now.
• Pork & Onion Hand Pies - Use sigil magick in your pie dough to craft a Litha spell.
• Spinach Alfredo Mac & Cheese - This semi-homemade recipe is an easy weeknight dinner.
• Cider Braised Chicken Thighs with Spring Vegetables - A gorgeous dinner served over rice or couscous.
• Maple Glazed Carrots - A super simple preparation that adds the attraction energy of maple syrup.
• Bacon & Egg Salad - If you have to eat salad, make sure there's plenty of bacon to go along with it.
• Spinach & Ricotta Stuffed Shells - Covered in red sauce, the shell shaped pasta evokes a little sea magick.
• Corn & Green Onion Biscuits - Made with just a few ingredients, these are perfect for soup dipping.
• Chickpea & Spinach Curry - With a jammy egg for added fertility energy.
• Potato & Spinach Curry - A quick and easy vegetarian dish with plenty of spices.
• Fiery Halloumi Salad - Make your own sweet chili sauce with fresh red chilies and honey.

Cinnamon

This fiery spice is ruled by the sun. Even though I often associate cinnamon with autumnal foods, I'm happy to eat it at the height of summer as well. It calls in prosperity, blesses the home, and is beautiful for love magic.

• Biscoff Trifle - For when you need to really impress a crowd at your Litha celebration.
• Cookie Butter Cake - This cake has gotten more compliments than almost anything I've ever made.
• Chocolate Cinnamon Cake - This delicate loaf cake is loaded with cinnamon energy.
• Chaitini - A lovely little cocktail full of prosperity spices.
• Double Glazed Chai Spice Muffins - A portable cake filled with fire energy.
• Biscoff Waffles - Start your day with a bit of fire energy.
• Cinnamon Pull Apart Cake with Lemon Glaze - A unique cake made with yeasted dough.
• No-Bake Biscoff Cheesecake Bars - If it's too hot to bake, this is the dessert you want.
• Italian Ricotta Doughnuts - These are so delicious when they're still warm.
• Cinnamon Ginger Tea - Give yourself a moment to pause and connect to the earth's energy with a bit of tea magick on Litha.
• French Toast Muffins - Great for packing up and bringing on a Midsummer walk.
• Hint of Cinnamon Chocolate Cake - This layer cake starts with a box mix and has a surprise ingredient.
• Homemade Cinnamon Rolls - Honor the sacred spiral of life with this most delicious treat.

Cooking with fire

Make use of your bonfire if you can, or just fire up your backyard grill to bring some flames to the party.

• Grilled Chicken Skewers with Chili Mint Yogurt - Incorporate fresh mint and seasonal chilies.
• Jalapeno Cream Cheese Stuffed Burgers - This one's got spicy cream cheese hidden in the center of the burger.
• Grilled Potato Foil Packets with Lemon Dill Creme Fraiche - Incorporate fresh summer herbs in this delicious side.
• Lemon Chicken Marinade - Evoke the energy of the sun and moon with this tasty grilled chicken marinade.
• Peanut Butter & Jelly Burger - This is my favorite burger creation with spicy chili jam.
• Basic Burgers - Learn to make a really great burger and you'll eat well for life.
• Bacon Egg & Cheese Grilled Potatoes - A campfire breakfast feast.
• Cuban Burgers - Wrapped in foil and smashed with a brick, this burger invokes sunny Cuban climes.
• Flame Burger - Okay I really love cheeseburgers. This one is for spice lovers.
• Mexican Chicken Marinade - This chicken is great straight from the grill but also makes a great burrito or quesadillla filling.
• BBQ Bacon Cheeseburger - A backyard bbq classic.
• Spicy Southwest Burgers - This spicy burger incorporates seasonal veg.
• BBQ Pork Burger - This one is simple and oh so delicious.

Honor the flowers with honey

Buzzing bees are a sure sign of an abundant summer. They really need all our love and attention, so check to make sure your honey is sustainably sourced. You could also incorporate edible flowers themselves or infuse your food with flavors like lavender and rose.

• Lavender Cake - This simple loaf cake is infused with calm.
• Crispy Honey Chicken - Chinese takeout at home full of flower power.
• Rose Quartz Cocktail - A beautiful spell for all types of love, but especially self-love.
• Hot Honey Sauce - The perfect combination of sweet and spicy to attract your desires.
• Goat Cheese Crostini with Macadamia Nuts & Honey - Use an herb goat cheese for extra flavor and magic.
• Spiced Honey Vodka - Also contains cinnamon for a punch of sun energy.
• Honey Chili Chicken - I wish I could eat this every day.
• Honey Wheat Bread - Bread baking is such a beautiful sabbat tradition.
• Honey Whole Wheat Pancakes - Make breakfast magical and call on the abundance energy of wheat.

I hope you have the most beautiful Litha feast. You deserve it. If you make one of these recipes to celebrate Litha, I’d love to see it. Share your photos on Instagram, and hashtag them #awesomeon20.

And be sure to check my Kitchen Magick page for specific correspondences of various ingredients.