10 No-Cook Recipes to Beat the Heat

There was a crazy heat wave in good old NYC last week, and I almost died.

Am I being melodramatic? Obviously. But it was truly, madly, deeply terrible, and despite my best efforts to remain indoors—where it’s acceptable to practice air-conditioned nudism—I was forced to brave the “hot soup” several times for both professional and social purposes. (Cue teeny-tiny violins.)

These 98-degree field trips reminded me that a few things that are unforgivable in extreme summer heat:

1. Wearing jeans (I saw several New Yorkers on the street in jeans last week, and I was legitimately concerned for their mental health) or light colored silk garments (think about it).
2. Walking faster than 3mph. It’s not safe.
3. Drinking anything without ice.
4. Holding hands. (This is actually my roommate’s rule that I re-learn the hard way every summer.)
5. Turning on the oven.

The latter is actually my biggest personal dealbreaker because there’s no AC or fan in my kitchen, and the oven instantly creates a sauna-like environment. (WHY?!) So, I tend to gravitate toward dishes of the no-cook variety during the summer months. In case you happen to be in the same sweaty boat as your weird blog lady, I’ve rounded up some awesomely chill(ed) recipe ideas below. Stay cool, friends…

10 No-Cook Recipes to Beat the Heat:

Spicy Mango-Avocado Poké Lettuce Wraps. If you’ve never made poké before, be not afraid, peeps!! All you have to do is whisk a simple dressing, cube some tuna, and toss. That’s it. Howeva, poké does seem totally impressive, so feel free to make this deliciousness for friends should you be in the mood for compliments.

Chopped Greek Salad with Chickpeas and Avocado. This chopped salad is light but still super satisfying and can easily be modified to include whatever veggies happen to be hanging out in your fridge. Serve it with some pita or flatbread and have yourself a fancy no-cook dinner or #sassydesklunch in 15 minutes flat. Virtual chest bump.

Zucchini Noodle Salad with Spicy Almond Dressing. This salad gets an insane amount of love in my kitchen during the sweatier months. Not only is it fresh AF and very pretty, but it’s also loaded with all kinds of fabulous health benefits. And dear God, THE DRESSING. I highly recommend making a double batch to slather on everything from veggies to grilled meat and fish. Trust me on this one. (No spiralizer? No worries. You can use a julienne peeler or regular old vegetable peeler to thinly slice your carrots and zucchini.)

Ahi Nachos with Pickled Red Onions and Wasabi Crema. These fresh, spicy ‘chos are great as a weeknight dinner with an icy cold beer, but they’re also excellent finger food for a crowd, so keep them in mind for your summer hang sessions.

Sriracha Chicken Salad Collard Wraps. Soooo, technically this recipe isn’t no-cook because of the chicken, but you could always use a store-bought rotisserie bird to make it fit the bill. I love this spicy, mango-studded chicken salad in a fiber-rich collard wrap (#nakedseason), but it would also be great over chopped greens, in a sandwich, or wrapped up in your favorite whole grain wrap/tortilla. You do you.

Summer Squash Noodles with Carrot Top Pesto. Love me some zoodles and pesto, and this combo is particularly bright and refreshing. If you don’t buy carrots with tops (no judgment), you can sub your favorite pesto greens in their place (arugula, spinach, kale, etc.).

Peanut Butter and Banana Overnight Oats. When it comes to no-fuss breakfasts, these cool, creamy oats will always be my number one. FYI, this is the most highly trafficked Domesticate ME! recipe of all time. Just throwing that out there for those who respond well to numbers.

Lemon-Coconut Energy Bites. Loaded with fiber, protein, and omega-3s, these tart-sweet bites are the perfect warm weather snack or on-the-go breakfast. I keep mine in the freezer to make sure they stay extra chilly.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Icebox Cake. Imagine melt-in-your-mouth chocolate chip cookies sandwiched between layers of fluffy, ice cold Nutella-cream cheese frosting on a hot summer day. Are you picturing it? Good. My work here is done.

Vegan “Orange Julius” Smoothie. This smoothie is the most delicious and nutritious way to beat the heat all summer long. The recipe is also awesome frozen in popsicle molds, and for those looking to turn up while they cool down, I highly recommend adding a healthy splash of vodka into the mix…