7 No-Cook Recipes for Hot Summer Days

The sun is beating down, the asphalt is hot to the touch, and even the thought of flicking on the oven makes you sweat. But fear not, there’s no need to turn on the oven at all. These no-cook recipes involve zero flames, minimal chopping, and enough coolness to rival your backyard pool. Create refreshing salads, vibrant veggie dishes, and flavor explosions that require only the bare minimum. Crank up the AC, grab a chilled beverage, and look forward to not having to interact with the stove thanks to these 7 no-cook recipes perfect for hot summer days. 

No-Cook Recipes for Hot Summer Days

Best Tropical Smoothie Bowl

An overhead photo of a colorful tropical smoothie bowl with banana, kiwi, passion fruit, berries, and granola over a vibrant purple yogurt blend in a tan bowl with a gold spoon on a tan and light blue wood surface.

Start off your day with a Tropical Smoothie Bowl in vibrant colors and with an even more vibrant flavor. Greek berry flavored yogurt, a Dragon Fruit Smoothie Pack, oat milk, fresh fruit, and your daily dose of Vital Protein Collagen Peptides makes sure you get through the day with energy and a smile on your face.

Cucumber Rolls Stuffed with Goat Cheese

Hue Chan Karels, Open Kitchen cooking class based on Farm Fresh Journey, The Santa Fe Farmers Market Cookbook. Hue Chan and particpants at Santa Fe Farmers Market, cooking at Open Kitchen, and prepared food dishes..Just made a trip to the farmers’ market for fresh produce but don’t want to make a basic salad? Try our Cucumber Rolls instead that have a goat cheese and piñon nut filling. You can even use an edible stand of chive to tie the cucumber roll closed for one-bite accessibility. 

Summer Salad with Blueberries & Blue Cheese

A fresh summer salad with blueberries and blue cheese.

Blueberries and blue cheese? They don’t sound like they have much in common besides starting with a B. But in our Summer Salad, these two elements marry together a blend of salty and acidic-sweetness. Top it with a tangy, oil-based, homemade dressing for the perfect finishing touch. 

Breakfast Smoothie Pops

Two glasses of yellow and berry smoothies sit beside two smoothie popsicles in the same colors.

Children especially need a nutritious breakfast to fuel their love for outdoor activities. Create a Breakfast Smoothie Pop that lets you make a healthy, simple breakfast ahead of time. You can use our base and come up with your own flavors or make things even easier by following our recipes for Blueberry Protein and Peach ‘n’ Porridge Pops.

Citrus Salmon Carpaccio with Green Goddess Sauce

A Citrus Salmon Carpaccio recipe plated in bright colors.

Take to your local fishmonger for a slice of sushi-grade salmon and you can whip up a no-cook lunch or dinner that pleases the summer palette.  Our Citrus Salmon Carpaccio uses seasonal citrus and thin slices of salmon to match a homemade Green Goddess Sauce. It’s a little sweet, a little tart, and full of healthy ingredients. 

Peach and Corn Salsa with Tortilla Chips

A bowl of peach and corn salsa sits to the top right of the frame, with a bigger bowl of tortilla chips in the bottom center.

Wishing for a quick snack that doesn’t take much prep time? As long as you have peaches, corn, tomatoes, onion, and jalapeños, you can make this fresh salsa to go with tortilla chips or whatever you’re craving. You can even save the leftovers for dinner the next day on tacos or burrito bowls. 

Bombay-Style Sandwiches with Peanut Mint Cilantro Chutney

A person holds a Bombay Style sandwich with a pink blanket below their hands. A while plate with various food item sits at the top of the photo.

When it’s summer and the sun is shining, there’s no better time for a picnic. Have an outdoor (or indoor) picnic of your own with our Bombay-Style Sandwiches. These little pockets of soft bread contain a Peanut Mint Cilantro Chutney along with layers of softened butter, tomatoes, cheese, and cucumber. You could grill or broil these sandwiches if you’d like but that’s not required if you really wish to have a no-cook meal. 

Story by Kylie Thomas

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