25 No-Cook Dinner Recipes For When It's Just Too Hot
(Produced by Aimee Nishitoba. Photo by Christie Vuong. Food styling by Sage Dakota. Prop styling by Madeleine Johari.)
Turn off your stove and step away from your oven! Keep things cool in your kitchen with these no-cook meals that'll help you get dinner on the table in a pinch. From cold noodle salads to a can't miss classic chilled soup, these are the dishes are you want to be eating in the middle of a heat wave.
Classic Gazpacho
Too hot to cook dinner? A cool bowlful of gazpacho is the perfect solution. When laid out with a few snacks, such as almonds and serrano ham, it truly feels like a guest-worthy meal—one that tastes even better if made ahead and chilled. Get our classic gazpacho recipe.
Tomato And Prosciutto Open-Faced Sandwich
Toasted sour dough, goat cheese, juicy tomatoes and prosciutto—this meal is almost too easy. Get this tomato and prosciutto open-faced sandwich recipe.
Modern Tuna Cobb Salad
The American cobb salad classic gets an Italian makeover with flaky tuna and thinly sliced prosciutto. Get this tuna cobb salad recipe.
Antipasto Salad
The test of a good picnic salad is whether it can make it to the main event without getting soggy. This one gets tossed right before it’s served, but the ingredients are safe to hang out in the cooler for hours. Packed with marinated vegetables, salami and cheese, it’s basically a meal in a bowl. Get Michelle Rabin's antipasto salad recipe.
Chickpea Banh Mi
Turn that can of chickpeas into a quick, no-cook hearty sandwich filling packed with protein and flavour. Get our chickpea banh mi recipe.
Tex-Mex Taco Salad
Add a little Southern spice to dinner with this hearty vegetarian taco salad. Get our Tex-Mex taco salad recipe.
Tuna Panzanella Salad
Fresh, vine-ripened tomatoes, crusty bread, refreshing cucumbers and mini bocconcini pearls round out this tuna salad. Get this tuna panzanella salad recipe.
Easy Hoisin-Chicken Salad Rolls
Rotisserie chicken makes this an-under-30-minute meal. Get our easy hoisin-chicken salad rolls recipe.
Open-Face Pea And Smoked Salmon Sandwich
Avocado on toast? Why not spice it up a bit with some smoked salmon and mashed peas for a hearty snack or light lunch. Get this open-face pea and smoked salmon sandwich recipe.
Peach And Chicken Couscous Salad
Take advantage of rotisserie chicken when the weather is too warm to cook. To make, pour boiling water on couscous and let it sit. Shred the chicken and stir into fluffy couscous along with fresh-chopped peaches and herbs. Voila! An easy summer salad. Get this peach and chicken couscous salad recipe.
Vietnamese Shrimp Salad With Tomato And Mango
A lightly spicy vinaigrette (vinegar, oil, sugar, soy and jalapeño) coats the noodles and shrimp, and meets the juicy mango slices in a spicy-sweet finish. Garnish with fresh cilantro and chopped peanuts right before serving. Get this Vietnamese shrimp salad with tomato and mango recipe.
Carrot, Halloumi And Chickpea Salad
Chickpeas are a friendly pantry protein easily added to dinner dishes. Tossed in a zesty vinaigrette with crunchy vegetables and fresh cheese, this salad is perfect for busy, too-hot-to-cook summer days. Bonus: You can parcel this salad into whole-wheat pita wraps with a dollop of tzatziki for a no-cook meal on the go. Get this carrot, halloumi and chickpea salad recipe.
Arctic Char Ceviche
This recipe is the same one that Inuit chef Sheila Flaherty submitted to season four of MasterChef Canada—earning her a spot in the top 24 competitors. Get her Arctic char ceviche recipe.
Chef’s Salad With Blue Cheese And Ham
The chef’s salad is making a comeback! We’ve added low-sodium deli ham and avocado to dress up our version. Get this chef’s salad with blue cheese and ham recipe.
Chicken And Kimchi Lettuce Wraps
These healthy wraps are another way to make the most out of a rotisserie chicken. Mix shredded chicken with spicy kimchi, a little vinegar and honey (to make it saucy) and top with toasted sesame seeds to add some nuttiness to this Korean-style dish. Get this chicken and kimchi lettuce wraps recipe.
No-Cook Summer Spring Rolls
Check out our five fresh takes on the traditional summer roll. PS. Don’t forget the dips! Try them with spicy peanut sauce or miso dressing.
Shrimp and cucumber salad rolls recipe
Lobster, mango and avocado salad rolls recipe
Grilled asparagus, edamame and crab salad rolls recipe
Canteloupe, honeydew, prosciutto and basil salad rolls recipe
Cucumber, radish and chicken salad rolls recipe
Kale Salad With Creamy Cashew Dressing
This one requires a bit of prep—the cashews need to soak overnight—but it’s well worth it. With the addition of chickpeas, this salad makes a worthy main meal or a very satisfying side. Get this kale salad with creamy cashew dressing recipe.
Cold Noodles With Shrimp And Peaches
Fiery chilies and fresh herbs offset the sweet shrimp and peaches in this cold-noodle dish. Best of all, you don’t even need a stove—just use boiling water from the kettle to soften the noodles. Get this cold noodles with shrimp and peaches recipe.
Miso Couscous Tofu Bowl
Just pour boiling water over the couscous and then whisk up the miso dressing for this super-easy meal. But be warned: the dressing is addictive! Get this miso couscous tofu bowl recipe.
Thai-Style Chicken Salad
Grab a rotisserie chicken on your way home tonight, and whip up this fresh and crisp salad in just 25 minutes. Get this Thai-style chicken salad recipe.
Shrimp, Avocado And Mango Salad Rolls
Keep a bag of cooked shrimp in the freezer (and rice paper rolls in the cupboard), and a no-cook meal is just minutes away. Get this shrimp, avocado and mango salad rolls recipe.
Couscous Pilaf With Smoked Salmon
Any smoked, cured or tinned fish works well here. Try hot-smoked trout, mackerel or olive-oil-packed tuna. Get this couscous pilaf with smoked salmon recipe.
Shrimp And Watermelon Tostadas
Crunchy, zesty, fresh and lively, this modern shrimp dish has it all. Simply substitute pre-cooked shrimp, and this fresh Mexican-inspired dish is a completely no-cook recipe. Get this shrimp and watermelon tostadas recipe.
Chilled Tofu With Ginger-Sesame Sauce
Cold soft tofu and wilted spinach, drizzled with a punchy ginger dressing, is a great refresher on a hot day. (P.S. This recipe is a test-kitchen favourite.) Get this chilled tofu with ginger-sesame spinach recipe.
Serrano Chili Ceviche
Zesty and a little bit spicy—this dish is inspired by some truly delicious Latin American flavours. From fresh fish to creamy avocado and ripe tomato, it’s packed with summer ingredients we love. Get this serrano chili ceviche recipe.
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