5 Cold Girl Summer Recipes That Don’t Require An Oven

Some things just don’t belong together, for instance, the boiling summer heat and a 250℃ oven. Your kitchen shouldn’t feel like a realm of Dante’s inferno, and dinner recipes shouldn’t come with a side of sweat. I’m not sure about you, but my cooking style in the summer is drastically different from how I cook at any other time of year. 

Fresh, fruity, chilled, and outdoor-friendly ingredients inevitably end up in my shopping basket and recipes; meanwhile, my ability to stay in the kitchen for longer than 30 minutes evaporates.

That’s not to say we can’t still have great tasting meal ideas that will keep you cool and satisfied.

Here are some ovenless recipes you can try (and thank me for later) this summer.

1. Pesto Chicken Wrap

Ingredients:

• Cooked chicken breast
• Tomatoes
• Red peppers
• Pesto sauce
• Sour cream
• Tortilla wraps
• Lettuce leaves

Preparation:

Step 1:

Slice the tomatoes and red peppers into thin strips.

Step 2:

In a bowl, mix the cooked chicken breast with the pesto sauce until well coated.

Step 3:

Lay out the tortilla wraps and spread a thin layer of sour cream on each. Add lettuce leaves, then top with the pesto chicken and sliced vegetables.

Step 4:

Fold the wraps tightly. Heat a lightly oiled pan over medium heat and cook each wrap for about 2 minutes on each side, until the tortilla is golden and slightly crispy.

2. Salmon Poke Bowl

Ingredients:

• 1 cup steamed rice 
• 1 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tsp honey
• 1 tsp white wine vinegar
• 1 tsp sesame oil
• Edamame beans 
• 100g smoked salmon, sliced
• Avocado
• 1 spring onion, thinly sliced
• 1 tsp sesame seeds (optional)
• Nori sheets

Preparation:

Step 1:

Cook the rice using a rice cooker or a saucepan with water. Set aside once cooked.

Step 2:

In a small bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, honey, white wine vinegar, and sesame oil to make the dressing..

Step 3:

Thinly slice the spring onion, then peel and slice the avocado.

Step 4:

Assemble your bowl by placing the cooked rice as the base. Top with smoked salmon slices, avocado, and edamame beans. Drizzle the dressing over the top and sprinkle with spring onion slices and sesame seeds if using.

Step 5:

Serve with nori sheets on the side.

3. Honey Mustard Turkey Bagels

Ingredients:

Turkey slices

1 tbsp Dijon mustard

1 tbsp honey

2 tbsp mayonnaise

Spinach leaves

Cheddar cheese slices

Bagels

Preparation:

Step 1:

In a small bowl, mix together the Dijon mustard, honey, and mayonnaise, then season with salt and pepper to taste. Stir until smooth.

Step 2:

Slice the bagels in half and toast until golden.

Step 3:

Spread the honey mustard sauce on each toasted half. Layer with spinach, turkey slices, and cheddar cheese.

4. Greek yogurt cold pasta

Ingredients: 

Pasta (of your choice)

Greek yogurt

Olive oil

Lemon

Oregeno

Dill

Feta cheese

Chickpeas

Cucumber 

Sun-dried tomatoes

Chopped shallot

Garlic

Preparation:

Step 1: 

In a mixing bowl, combine Greek yogurt, a drizzle of olive oil, lemon zest, lemon juice, oregano, and dill. 

Step 2:

Crumble in the feta cheese. Add the drained chickpeas and let them marinate in the sauce.

Step 3:

In a pot of salted boiling water, cook your pasta of choice for 10–12 minutes. Drain and let cool slightly.

Step 4: 

Dice the cucumber and finely chop the shallot. Also, chop the sun-dried tomatoes into small pieces.

Step 5:

Add the cooked pasta to the bowl with the yogurt sauce, along with the cucumber, shallot, and sun-dried tomatoes. Stir until everything is evenly coated.

Step 6: 

Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving. Enjoy!

5. Bruschetta

Ingredients:

• Fresh mozzarella
• Tomatoes
• Fresh basil leaves
• Olive oil
• Balsamic Vinegar
• Salt and ground black pepper
• Baguette or rustic bread

Preparation:

Step 1:

To prepare the vegetables, chop the tomatoes into diced pieces and thinly slice the basil.

Step 2:

In a bowl, combine diced tomatoes, chopped basil, a drizzle of olive oil, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Mix gently.

Step 3:

Slice to desired thickness and toast the baguette or rustic bread slices until golden and crisp.

Step 4:

Top each toasted bread slice with the tomato mixture and pieces of fresh mozzarella.

Viola! Hearty meals don’t always have to come out of the oven. If you’re stuck this summer on what to make, try one of these recipes for something refreshing and delicious. Remember. Stay cute and stay cool.

Featured image via Askar Abayev on Pexels