8 Easy No-Cook Recipes to beat the heat 🌡️🥵
Summer heatwaves are rolling in and the last thing you want is to be stuck in a hot kitchen. Keep your kitchen cool with these simple and refreshing recipes that require minimal prep time and no kitchen heat at all. We've compiled our favorite no-cook recipes that work perfectly for lunch or dinner, using fresh produce and pre-cooked proteins.
Cold Soups 🥣
If you haven't tried gazpacho before, you're seriously missing out. By simply blending a few raw ingredients together, you can create a deliciously savory soup or drink - serve with bread and salad for the perfect summer meal.
Simple Gazpacho
- Chop up 5 tomatoes, 1 cucumber, 1/2 onion, 1 bell pepper
- Add to a blender with 1-2 cloves garlic, 2 tablespoons vinegar (e.g. apple cider, sherry), 3 tablespoons olive oil. Blend until smooth.
- Season with salt and pepper, add water for a thinner consistency
- Chill in the fridge and serve cold!
New York based author Ricardo takes this soup up a notch by salting and freezing his vegetables first to draw out more liquid, but you can always skip these steps to save time:
Try this avocado variation for a boost of healthy fats and a wonderfully creamy texture:
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Bean Salads 🫘
Get a kick of plant based protein with these no-cook salads. Eat them on their own, in a wrap, or even as a dip with some tortilla chips.
Sydney-based author Adrian packs a punch with this refreshingly easy salad, containing three types of canned protein (beans, lentils, and fish!) all found in your pantry.
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Got leftovers?
Use pre-cooked chicken or shrimp to create crunchy salads with fresh chopped produce like cabbage, tomatoes, and cucumber.
Search prawn salads, Chinese chicken salads
Summer Rolls ⛱️
With slightly more prep and a little bit of dexterity, you can also use cooked chicken or prawns to create Vietnamese summer rolls, the uncooked cousin of spring rolls. You might need some hot water to soften your rice noodles, but these rolls will be worth it. Yui Miles' recipe will show you how to use rice paper sheets to make beautifully presented rolls.
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What are your go-to meals when it gets too hot? Share them with us on Cookpad! 🍳
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