It’s summer and many parts of the country are humid. Aside from taking cover indoors with your face flat against the air conditioner, pancakes and bags of frozen peas in places where bags of frozen peas should never be, you might be wondering what and how I like in a moment should eat this?
We can safely say that turning on the oven is an absolute no-go. Venturing outside in the heat to find food is also an extremely risky maneuver (even before considering the coronavirus).
Is there really only one option left and that is cooking at home – or should we cook at home? From snacks to apps, main dishes, desserts and even refreshing frozen beverages, we have some no-bake, no-boil, no-heat recipes to get you through any hot summer streak.
Mango sauce
The beauty of this homemade mango salsa is three fold. It has bright, fresh, refreshing ingredients like mango; it’s totally no-bake / cook; and it’s not very sharp, which could worsen a heat wave in ways you wouldn’t want. Add this to a salad or just eat with fries (and margaritas) and use the leftovers to top a salmon burger or chicken sandwich once the mercury has set. Get our Mango Salsa Recipe.
Avocado yogurt dip
Guacamole is a no-brainer and we’re not saying you shouldn’t make any servings, but maybe you mix things up with this avocado yogurt dip. Greek yogurt adds a flavor that works well with the tamer and creamier flavor profile of the avocado. Serve this with chips, crackers, or sliced vegetables for a healthier option. Get our avocado yogurt dip recipe.
Bell pepper feta dip
Yeah, I see this recipe calls for roasting the peppers yourself (don’t you dare @ me) and in normal times we would say “Go!” But these are not normal times, OK? You can find pre-roasted red peppers at any grocery or deli, and they work perfectly. Serve this fun dip chilled with pita chips, celery or carrot sticks. Get our Red Pepper Feta Dip recipe.
Herbal salad with peas and tomatoes
We are in the middle of the tomato season, so a heat wave would be the perfect time to kick it in. A nice tomato and herb salad like this one, if you have good tomatoes on hand, will definitely keep your internal temperature low. Add some fresh mozzarella or some no-bake proteins like beans or tuna salad to turn this side to main. Get our Herbal Heirloom Tomato Salad Recipe.
crab salad
Serve yourself a little elegance to distract your mind from the extinguishing heat trying to invade your home like a noxious gas. Crab salad couldn’t be easier to prepare and is delicious with good crackers, with avocado slices, or on a green bed – and I might add that it goes well with champagne, which you should have on hand even during a heatwave (or get our shrimp salad -Recipe.
Basic tomato gazpacho
This no-boil soup is a breeze with any heat wave. You can do everything you need in one blender, which not only makes it perfect for hot summer moments, but also easy and quick, giving you more time to sit down and revitalize yourself. Get our basic tomato gazpacho recipe.
Watermelon gazpacho with pickled watermelon rind
Watermelon is summer’s most refreshing fruit (also one of the healthiest), but have you ever used it to make gazpacho? If not, now is the time. Bonus points for inserting the watermelon peel for garnishing. Get our Watermelon Gazpacho Recipe.
Classic steak tartare
This is one of our top rated recipes. A classic steak tartare seems made for any carnivore experiencing a heat wave, and if you’ve never tried it, this might be the right time. Use good organic eggs for this. Worcestershire sauce and mustard provide the base flavors, and it’s best served over vegetables or with toasted bread. Get our classic steak tartare recipe.
Halibut ceviche with watermelon
The best thing about ceviche is the part that is not cooked. Just prepare the ingredients, toss everything in a bowl and let it harden. Serve over vegetables or with chips or crackers, with sliced avocado for a nice, light, no-cooking lunch. Get our halibut ceviche with watermelon recipe.
Curry Chicken Salad
Technically, this chicken has to be cooked at some point, but one of my hottest tips for a good and easy chicken salad is to get a fried chicken on the market or a good rotisserie place if you have one and use that meat. Saves you the hassle and heat of doing it yourself. Chicken curry salad swells over crispy vegetables; Feel free to add or remove any ingredients as you see fit. Get our curry chicken salad recipe.
Cold Asian peanut noodles
Okay, real talk. This isn’t technically 100 percent no boil since you have to boil some water, but that’s a small price to pay for a delicious cold pasta main course that the whole family will be pumped for. Add protein like shrimp or chicken, or keep it vegan. Soba or udon noodles are available in almost every grocery store. Get our recipe for cold Asian peanut noodles.
Summer pasta with tomato sauce without cooking
If you’re cool with boiling water for pasta, you may also want to top it with a no-cook pasta sauce with the sweetest cherry tomatoes of the summer and some soft cheese for creaminess. Get our no-cook tomato sauce summer pasta recipe.
Our buddy Jessie Sheehan wrote the book on Icebox Cakes and we’ve covered some of her favorite no-bake desserts here, including a divine strawberry and vanilla icebox cake.
But here are a few more no-bake sweets because you have to have dessert.
No-Bake S’mores Icebox Cake
This S’mores-inspired ice cream cake is also an ice cream cake and will keep the whole family happy no matter how hot it gets! Get the No-Bake S’mores Icebox Cake Recipe.
Lime Ice Box Cake
There is no wrong way to make a no-bake cake. It only takes five ingredients and a blender to achieve creamy, citrus-like perfection. Get our lime icebox cake recipe.
Summer berry salad
This is a crowd puller and also versatile. 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 recipe for summer berry salad.
Slushy Cherry Old Fashioned
For a hot day like this, you’ll want (need) a cold, fruity, frozen cocktail that bridges the gap between dessert and drinks. Grab the blender and a bottle of bourbon (nothing too expensive) and spin yourself into a cooler state of mind. Get our Slushy Cherry Old Fashioned Recipe.
Mud cake milkshake
Milkshakes more your speed? You can also provide these with spikes; Check out our guide to making boozy shakes if you’re curious. Or skip the alcohol and discover the secret of a perfect shake, then get our Mud Pie Milkshake recipe.
Cheers and stay cool guys!
