Beat the Heat: Eat Cold Foods

T

he heat seems to have broken for now, but in the summertime, the last thing we want to do is turn on the oven or use the stove just to cook dinner. There are no doubt options for you to make that don't involve using heat, but you can only eat salad for so many meals in a row, right? Here are some other, more interesting options for meals that don't involve cooking.

Sandwiches are an obvious option, as are (as mentioned) salads, but you don't have to opt for boring turkey and lettuce, pb&j, or iceberg lettuce sandwiches. Ingredients like cucumbers and tomatoes will add a "chill" factor to your foods, and things like carrots or bell peppers will add crunch.

But aside from what we think are relatively boring hot-weather options, there are a wealth of other things you can whip up. Things like cold soups can be incredibly refreshing, which is nearly essential when the temperatures are soaring. Try a standard gazpacho, a cold cucumber soup, or for a sweeter treat, a chilled melon soup.

In addition to keeping yourself well-fed, it's important to keep your hydration in check during heat waves.

If you're looking for something with more substance, try making summer rolls, the egg roll's colder cousin. Using rice paper wrappers instead of wonton wrappers, role these up with Vietnamese-inspired ingredients, like shredded carrot and daikon, cucumbers, rice noodles, and shrimp/chicken. Serve with a variety of dipping sauces, like peanut sauce, hoisin sauce, and sriracha.

Another quick, cold, filling meal option is a mezze plate—mezze plates are Mediterranean and include an assortment of small dishes often served before a large meal, but can easily be made into a full meal on its own. Typical dishes to include are hummus, pita bread, olives, and stuffed grape leaves, but you can alter this to cater to your own tastes. Include things like your favorite breads, cheeses, cured meats, and veggies.

Cold noodle dishes are also great in the summer heat, although they still require the noodles to first be boiled. However, if you can take care of a big batch at night when it's not as hot, you can use the noodles for a few days after they've been chilled. Soba dishes are perfect for this.

In addition to keeping yourself well-fed, it's important to keep your hydration in check during heat waves. Make sure to drink a lot of water (or ice tea, or Kool-aid, really anything, just not alcohol or caffeine, as these can dehydrate) so you can stave off dehydration.