20 Cooling Summer Recipes for When It’s Too Hot to Cook
Summertime is one of our favourite seasons: the gloriously vibrant summer produce, the lingering hours of sunlight, the relaxed vacation vibes from everyone around us, traveling with kids, lazy weekends spent with friends. When the heat is blistering, though, you don’t always feel like standing over a cooktop in the kitchen. That’s why we love making cooling summer recipes for when it’s too hot to cook.
The summer can lure us away from healthy habits, especially when a hot kitchen deters us from whipping up a homemade meal. However, we need energy for those exciting summer activities – and that comes from eating real, nutritious foods.
Here are some of our favourite cooling summer recipes for when it’s too hot to cook. These gems will help you stay cool, stay nourished and enjoy the fresh bounty of fruits and vegetables that summer has to offer.
(And, if you’re looking for even more summer-friendly recipe options, you can also check out our 20 Best Guacamole Recipes, 20 Best Dairy-free Ice Cream Recipes, or 20 Best Slow Cooker Recipes.)
Spiralized Sesame Noodle Salad
Spiralized Sesame Noodle Salad by My Fresh Perspective
Spiralizers are a fun kitchen tool to use in the summertime. You can make noodles out of anything, and they make the veggies you might not normally eat raw taste wonderfully palatable. In this vegan salad, you’ll be tantalized by a variety of textures tossed in a bright citrus dressing.
Paleo Blueberry Beach Parfaits
Blueberry Beach Parfaits by A Saucy Kitchen
Layer upon layer of dairy-free coconut cream, fruit and grain-free granola – we can’t decide if we want to eat this for breakfast or dessert!
Strawberry Mint Salsa
Strawberry Mint Salsa by Sheena Scott (*ACN Program Coach)
An unconventional salsa that is loaded with flavour twists like mint and jalapeno. You’ll have no problem digging into this recipe with your favourite gluten-free chips.
Salmon Salad Salad
Salmon Salad Salad by Sarah J. Hauser
Nope, we didn’t miss a typo. This quick + easy salad recipe is a green salad with a salmon salad – perfect for lunch or dinner when it’s too hot to cook.
Chilled Avocado Cucumber Soup
Chilled Avocado Cucumber Soup by The Simple Veganista
All you need to make this chilled vegan soup is 10 minutes and a blender. We know you can make it happen – and then have more time for lounging on the patio.
Berry Pitaya Smoothie Bowl
Berry Pitaya Smoothie Bowl by Bakerita
Take advantage of summer berries while they’re here and use them to blend up an awesome vegan smoothie bowl. And you know what’s a perfect topping for your smoothie bowl? More berries!
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Raw Peach Cream Pie
Raw Peach Cream Pie by Meghan Telpner (*ACN Founder and Director)
Don’t worry, this roundup isn’t all salads and smoothies. Case in point: this delectable raw, gluten-free and grain-free peach cream pie. Instead of the oven, your food processor and freezer do all the work.
Vegan Mocha Frappe
Vegan Mocha Frappe by Delightful Adventures
A dairy-free and vegan frappe that has a nutritious protein boost. And since there isn’t any sugar in this recipe, you can add your own natural sweeteners as you see fit. For a coffee-free version, try substituting Dandy Blend.
Garlic Scape Pesto
Garlic Scape Pesto by Vanilla and Bean
Kale pesto is old news. Try this ultra-flavourful garlic scape pesto, which is dairy-free and can be used in a multitude of ways – dip chips or crudites in it, spread it on toast, toss into pasta, or dollop onto salads.
Gluten-Free Andalusian Gazpacho
Gluten-Free Andalusian Gazpacho by The Endless Meal
The beautiful thing about this gluten-free and vegan recipe is there is no need to blanch the tomatoes! Instead, there is a secret technique to getting the veggies soft and smooth.
Berry Cashew Cream No Bake Bars
Berry Cashew Cream No Bake Bars by Food Faith Fitness
This gorgeous tri-coloured treat is like a cross between vegan cheesecake and Neopolitan ice cream. With the freezing time for each layer, you’ll need to wait awhile to devour them, but there isn’t a lot of active prep time to make up for it. The best things come to those who wait, right?
Zucchini Squash Salad
Zucchini Squash Salad by Feed Your Soul
A simple and elegant salad that you can make using a mandolin, a vegetable peeler, or a sharp knife.
Rice Noodle Salad with Sesame Dressing
Rice Noodle Salad with Sesame Dressing by Lazy Cat Kitchen
Rice vermicelli noodles are a fabulous gluten-free no-cook alternative when you don’t want to turn up the heat. But you can barely see them in this photo because this salad is bursting with fresh veggies – which is how we like it!
Beetroot Soup
Beetroot Soup by The Luminous Kitchen
Check out the gorgeous colour of this soup! For a dairy-free version, sub in your favourite brand of dairy-free yogurt or try cashew sour cream. And, for those of you who are into food photography, this post offers some behind-the-scenes tips for getting great food shots.
Raw, Nut-Free Chocolate Brownies
Raw, Nut-Free Chocolate Brownies by Sondi Bruner (*ACN Head Program Coach)
A three-ingredient raw chocolate brownie that tastes like dense, fudgy heaven. Great to nibble on for dessert at your next BBQ, or to take as a snack when you’re on the go.
Za’atar Tomatoes with Hummus
Za’aatar Tomatoes with Hummus by I Will Not Eat Oysters
The spiced tomatoes that pool in the centre of this hummus recipe take hummus-eating to a whole new level. A beautiful visual on the plate for guests, too – you may need to make a double batch.
Veggie Sushi Rolls
Veggie Sushi Rolls by Nutrition Stripped
This ain’t your average sushi – avocados step in for rice in these veggie-loaded sushi rolls. Easy, refreshing, delicious and ultra nourishing!
Gluten-Free No-Cook Muesli
Gluten-Free No-Cook Muesli by Meghan Telpner (*founder of Academy of Culinary Nutrition)
A raw alternative to granola that only needs 6 ingredients. Eat this on its own as a snack, use it to top your smoothie bowl or chia pudding, or mix it with nuts and dried fruit as a healthy travel snack.
Peach Green Smoothie
Peach Green Smoothie by What the Fork Food Blog
Peach season doesn’t last very long – so make the most of it by using fresh peaches and local, seasonal greens to create this dairy-free smoothie.
Vegan Watermelon Fruit Pizza
Vegan Watermelon Fruit Pizza by Eating by Elaine
A fun twist on a pizza, with coconut yogurt for the ‘sauce’ and fruit, and whatever else you desire as the toppings (chocolate chips anyone?). A great way to get the kiddos to eat their fruit!