With 2024 being the hottest year on record, 2025 is proving to be a worthy successor. Heatwaves are sweeping the country, and we need everything we have to beat them. One surprising way to stay cool? Thinking about how we cook! It turns out that using your stove or oven can significantly raise your home’s temperature. To help beat the heat, here are some no-cook dishes to help you survive the summer heat!
Naengmyeon
Let’s start with something you may not have tried before: naengmyeon, or Korean cold noodles! It’s a noodle dish consisting of thin, chewy noodles served in a cold beef broth. While ingredients may vary, it’s typically served with brisket, sliced cucumbers, radish, boiled eggs, Asian pears, and more. The noodles are typically made from buckwheat, but they can also be made with potato or starch. And for anyone who doesn’t eat meat, don’t worry: you can easily leave out the beef ingredients and substitute them with vegetable broth!
What makes this a perfect no-cook dish for the summer months is its cooling properties! The broth is served chilled, and the chewy texture of the cold noodles is a refreshing bite for any hot day. This is complemented by a naturally tangy flavor profile, which makes for a heat-busting meal! This savory recipe for homemade naengmyeon by South Korean cooking influencer Maangchi is a great addition to your summer palette.
Gazpacho
Sticking with refreshing cold soups, gazpacho is another delicious way to quench your summer thirst. Originally hailing from Spain, it’s a tomato soup blended together with different raw ingredients such as cucumber, bell peppers, bread, onion, and more. What results is a colorful assortment of healthy ingredients complete with a fresh, ripe aroma!
Like naengmyeon, gazpacho is a classic for those searing, muggy summer days. Since most vegetables are at their freshest and in season during the summer and early fall periods, it makes the dish perfect to have during this time. Its blended texture also allows for a hydrating, no-cook dish to whip up and eat. This recipe for authentic gazpacho by Ali Martin from Gimme Some Oven will make any hot day a little cooler!
Ceviche
Need something good to pair with your summertime party chips? Look no further than ceviche, the popular Latin American dish known for being light yet flavorful. It’s a cold dish usually made up of fresh, raw seafood, limes, cucumbers, tomatoes, red onions, cilantro, avocados, and more. And if you’re hesitant to eat raw seafood, there’s no need to be concerned. The raw seafood marinates in the lime juice, undergoing a process called, “denaturation.” According to The Spruce Eats, this process breaks apart and rearranges the seafood’s proteins. It “undergoes some of the changes that take place during regular cooking,” yet it becomes “firmer and flaky” and “retains its fresh, raw flavor.” In other words, cooking without cooking, the definition of a no-cook dish!
The acidic, citrusy bursts of flavor combined with fresh ingredients make it ideal for hot weather. It’s also fairly versatile, meaning you can choose to remove or add ingredients to your recipe as you wish. Lastly, it’s also a great dish to bring to parties, as it’s easy to make in batches and goes great with tortilla chips! This recipe for ceviche de camarón (shrimp ceviche) by Ana Frias from Muy Delish is a great starting point. It’s also a fantastic addition to our list of healthy summer seafood recipes!
Charcuterie Boards
If you’re craving a fancy summer picnic with friends, charcuterie boards are a natural go-to for a no-cook dish. Originating from France, it’s an iconic appetizer platter filled with a plethora of cured meats, cheeses, carbs, fruits, and other ingredients, all served on a wooden board. The “3-3-3-3 rule” is a staple in charcuterie crafting. It upholds ingredient synergy (three soft/hard cheeses, three melty/savory meats, three crunchy/sweet accompaniments, and three carbs/starches) while providing aesthetically pleasing picture opportunities for cute summertime Instagram posts.
The customizability and casual nature of charcuterie boards make it the perfect addition to a relaxing day out. Its variety of ingredients also makes sharing incredibly easy. Lastly, preparation is straightforward; all you have to think about is how you want it to look! This guide for the perfect charcuterie board by Lauren Allen from Tastes Better From Scratch will make those summer days better! And while you’re at it, you could pair some select wines to go with those cheeses.
Lettuce Wraps
Are you hungry for the crunch of salad with a little more flair? Lettuce wraps are a reliable, easy-to-make dish that requires no cooking! The lettuce itself offers that refreshing, hydrating crunch while the fillings can be as healthy and fresh as you desire. While chicken is a popular filling, you can also opt for tuna, tofu, or other substitutes to satisfy your dietary needs.
Again, the possibilities are endless. You can customize and switch ingredients as you need, and it can be a healthy, low-carb alternative to regular wraps. If you’re looking for something easy to make for your weekly meal prep, it’s a great option! This recipe for healthy chicken lettuce wraps by dietitian Abbey Sharp is another perfect launching point for those looking for something simple!
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