It’s summer, and it’s sweltering in many parts of the country. In addition to taking cover indoors with face pancaked flat against the AC unit and bags of frozen peas stuffed in places bags of frozen peas should never be, you might be wondering what and how am I supposed to eat in a moment like this?
We can safely say turning on the oven is an absolute no-go. Venturing outside in the heat to find food is also an extremely high-risk maneuver (even before you take coronavirus into consideration).
That really just leaves only one option and that’s cooking at home—or should we say “cooking” at home? From snacks to apps, main courses, desserts, and even refreshing frozen drinks we’ve got some no-bake, no-cook, no-HEAT recipes to get you through any sweltering summer streak.
Pro Tip:
A Vitamix may just be your best friend to make cold foods like gazpacho, salsa, and smoothies in a snap and if you own an Instant Pot you already know it contains all the heat inside and won’t warm your kitchen so that’s a great option.
Snacks and apps
Mango Salsa
The beauty of this homemade mango salsa is three-fold. It’s got bright, fresh, refreshing ingredients like mango; it’s fully no-bake/cook; and it’s not very spicy which could exacerbate a heatwave in ways you don’t want. Add this to a salad or just eat with chips (and margaritas) and use the leftovers to top a salmon burger or chicken sandwich once the mercury settles. Get our Mango Salsa recipe.
Avocado Yogurt Dip
Guacamole is kind of a no-brainer and we’re not saying you shouldn’t make a batch, but maybe mix things up with this avocado and yogurt dip. Greek yogurt adds a tang that works nicely with avocado’s more tame and creamy flavor profile. Serve this with chips, crackers, or cut vegetables for a healthier option. Get our Avocado Yogurt Dip recipe.
Red Pepper and Feta Dip
Yes, I see that this recipe calls for roasting the peppers yourself (don’t you dare @ me) and in normal times we’d say “go for it!” but these are not normal times, OK? You can find pre-roasted red peppers in any grocery store or deli and they’ll work perfectly. Serve this fun dip chilled with pita chips, celery, or carrot sticks. Get our Red Pepper & Feta Dip recipe.
Soups and salads
Herbed Heirloom Tomato Salad
We’re in the heart of tomato season and so a heatwave would be the perfect time to put them to use. A nice herbed tomato salad like this one, if you’ve got good tomatoes at hand, will definitely keep your internal temp down. Add some fresh mozzarella or some no-bake proteins like beans or tuna salad to turn this from side to main. Get our Herbed Heirloom Tomato Salad recipe.
Crab Salad
Serve yourself a little elegance to take your mind off the obliterating heat trying to invade your home like some noxious gas. Crab salad couldn’t be simpler to make and is delightful served with good crackers, with avocado slices, or over a bed of greens—and I might add, pairs well with Champagne, which you should also have on hand during a heatwave (or any event, really. Get our Crab Salad recipe.
Basic Tomato Gazpacho
This no-cook soup is a full no-brainer during any heatwave. You can do everything you need in a blender, making it not only perfect for hot summer moments but easy and fast, leaving you more time to sit and fan yourself back to life. Get our Basic Tomato Gazpacho recipe.
Watermelon Gazpacho with Pickled Watermelon Rind
Watermelon is summer’s most refreshing fruit (one of its healthiest too), but have you ever had it blitzed into gazpacho? If not, now’s the time. Bonus points for pickling the watermelon rind for a garnish. Get our Watermelon Gazpacho recipe.
Main courses
Classic Steak Tartare
This is one of our best-rated recipes. A classic steak tartare seems custom made for any carnivore going through a heatwave and if you’ve never tried it, this may be the time. Use good organic eggs for this. Worcestershire sauce and mustard provide the base flavors and it’s best served over greens or with toasted bread. Get our Classic Steak Tartare recipe.
Halibut Ceviche with Watermelon
The best thing about ceviche is the no-cooking part. Just prep the ingredients, toss it all in a bowl, and let it cure. Serve over greens or with chips or crackers, with sliced avocado for a nice, light, no-cook lunch. Get our Halibut Ceviche with Watermelon recipe.
Curry Chicken Salad
Technically someone has to cook this chicken at some point but one of my hottest tips for good and easy chicken salad is to buy a roasted chicken from the market or a good rotisserie spot if you have one and use that meat. Saves you the hassle and also the heat of doing it yourself. Curry chicken salad goes swell over crunchy greens; feel free to add or subtract any ingredients as you see fit. Get our Curry Chicken Salad recipe.
Cold Asian Peanut Noodles
OK, real talk. This is technically not 100 percent no-cook as you will have to boil some water, but that’s a small price to pay for a delicious cold noodle main dish the whole fam will be pumped for. Add protein like shrimp or chicken or keep it vegan. Soba or udon noodles can be found in nearly any grocery store. Get our Cold Asian Peanut Noodles recipe.
No-Cook Tomato Sauce Summer Pasta
If you’re cool with boiling water for noodles, you might also want to top them with a no-cook pasta sauce starring summer’s sweetest cherry tomatoes, plus a little soft cheese for creaminess. Get our No-Cook Tomato Sauce Summer Pasta recipe.
Desserts
Our pal Jessie Sheehan wrote the book on icebox cakes and we covered some of her favorite no-bake desserts here, including a divine strawberry vanilla icebox cake.
But here are some more no-bake sweets because you have to have dessert.
No-Bake S’mores Icebox Cake
This s’mores-inspired icebox cake is also an ice cream cake and will keep the whole family happy no matter how hot things get! Get the No-Bake S’mores Icebox Cake recipe.
Lime Icebox Cake
There’s no wrong way to make a no-bake cake. It only takes five ingredients and a blender to achieve creamy, citrusy perfection. Get our Lime Icebox Cake recipe.
Summer Berry Salad
This is a crowd-pleaser and versatile too. You can add some whipped cream or vanilla ice cream and blend any leftovers into a decadent smoothie for breakfast the next day. I mean, who doesn’t love berries? Get our Summer Berry Salad recipe.
Slushy Cherry Old Fashioned
For a hot day such as this, you’re going to want (need) a cold, fruity, frozen cocktail, which bridges the gap between dessert and drinks. Bust out the blender and a bottle of bourbon (nothing too expensive) and spin your way to a cooler state of mind. Get our Slushy Cherry Old Fashioned recipe.
Mud Pie Milkshake
Milkshakes more your speed? You can spike those too; check out our guide to making boozy shakes if you’re intrigued. Or skip the alcohol and see the secret to a perfect shake, then get our Mud Pie Milkshake recipe.
Cheers, and stay cool, people!
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