Recipes for summer dishes without heat treatment

When it's too hot to turn on the stove or oven, you can still enjoy homemade summer soups, salads, sandwiches, and sweets with this collection of no-cook recipes.

How to Cook - Summer Recipes Without Cooking

Tomato, onion and cucumber salad

For this salad, Rachel uses Kirby cucumbers (short, bumpy pickling cucumbers) because they have such thin skins that you can just wash them and leave them unpeeled.

Recipe: Tomato, onion and cucumber salad

Red Velvet Blueberry Ice Cream Cake

The moist layer in this cake is made from store-bought red velvet cupcakes. This no-bake dessert requires fresh whipped cream and crumbs.

Recipe: Red Velvet Blueberry Ice Cream Cake

Raw corn salad with tomatoes

Serve this fresh salad on its own, with pasta, or as a taco filling.

Recipe: Raw corn salad with tomatoes

No-Bake Strawberry Cheesecakes

Rachel's individual cheesecakes have a beautiful pink hue, and the store-bought crusts make them a breeze to make.

Recipe: No-Bake Strawberry Cheesecakes

Berry tart in 10 minutes

Rachel's fruit tart comes together quickly thanks to a pudding mix and a pre-made crust.

Recipe: Berry tart in 10 minutes

Papaya and Banana Smoothie

Make this smoothie after a workout, for breakfast, or for dessert. Bobby Flay's healthy treat is ready in less than 5 minutes.

Recipe: Papaya and Banana Smoothie

Tomato, Mozzarella, and Basil Salad (Caprese)

Aina's appetizer is ready in 5 minutes and will brighten any picnic table. For a more interesting presentation, use tomatoes of different colors.

Recipe: Tomato, Mozzarella, and Basil Salad (Caprese)

Cucumber salad

Ellie Krieger's salad is simple and easy. The cucumbers only require a dressing of white wine vinegar, sugar, and dill.

Recipe: Cucumber salad

Watermelon gazpacho

Start your summer meal with Tyler Florence's quick and refreshing gazpacho. Crushed watermelon adds a light touch, while a touch of serrano chili adds a pleasant heat.

Recipe: Watermelon gazpacho

Salad with chickpeas, tomatoes and olives

To make the dish extra crunchy, Bobby adds blue corn chips. Mix all the ingredients together, break up the chips, and enjoy.

Recipe: Salad with chickpeas, tomatoes and olives

Giant Muffuletta Sandwich

Muffuletta A ham sandwich is a traditional Italian sandwich typically made with Italian cold cuts, cheese, and a marinated olive salad. Jeff Mauro's recipe uses mortadella, salami, and capocollo ham—each type of meat imparts its own flavor thanks to different curing and smoking methods.

Recipe: Giant Muffuletta Sandwich

Horiatiki Greek Salad Tapas

Gather with family and friends for lunch with Rachel's fresh salad, inspired by Greek tapas recipes.

Recipe: Horiatiki Greek Salad Tapas

Arugula, Watermelon, and Feta Salad

Ina Garten combines watermelon with arugula, mint, and feta for a no-cook salad that's packed with flavor and doesn't take much time.

Recipe: Arugula, Watermelon, and Feta Salad

Cookie Cakes with Ice Cream and Shortcrust Pastry

The Neelys create a sophisticated dessert, layering cookies, ice cream, caramel, and whipped cream. The best part is, it's no-bake, and you probably already have the ingredients in your kitchen.

Recipe: Cookie Cakes with Ice Cream and Shortcrust Pastry

Cold white gazpacho

Bobby uses white grapes and their juice in his gazpacho, and blue grapes for garnish. Simply puree all ingredients in a blender and strain before chilling. Stir in whipped cream at the very end.

Recipe: Cold white gazpacho

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Watermelon shots on a stick

Add vodka to this icy treat, or substitute orange juice for a summer dessert the whole family can enjoy.

Recipe: Watermelon shots on a stick

Tomato, watermelon, and strawberry salad

"When summer comes," says Alex, "I love making a salad with fresh produce from the local market. It's best to use tomatoes that haven't been refrigerated, but the watermelon should be chilled. This temperature contrast gives the salad a particularly fresh flavor."

Recipe: Tomato, watermelon, and strawberry salad

Cold creamy cucumber soup

This soup requires no cooking and is blended without heat. Smooth yogurt provides a creamy consistency, while honey adds a sweet flavor.

Recipe: Cold creamy cucumber soup

Frisee lettuce with zucchini and anchovy dressing

This simple salad comes together in just 10 minutes and is packed with fresh flavor thanks to the greens and zesty vinaigrette.

Recipe: Frisee lettuce with zucchini and anchovy dressing

Pickles

Make Alton Brown's Pepper and Dill Pickles ahead of time and you'll have a great appetizer for your next summer picnic.

Recipe: Pickles

Drunk Blonde Milkshake

These vanilla malted milk cocktails are not for children. They're an adult-only treat, with a splash of whiskey.

Recipe: Drunk Blonde Milkshake

Asian Chicken Salad

Thanks to store-bought rotisserie chicken, this salad requires little prep time while still remaining filling. Add a peanut dressing and drizzle with chili oil for a spicy kick.

Recipe: Asian Chicken Salad

Salad with red cabbage, carrots and apples

Anne Burrell uses green apples, fennel, and horseradish to transform ordinary coleslaw into a creamy, tart picnic side dish.

Recipe: Salad with red cabbage, carrots and apples

Ice cream milkshake

With just 3 ingredients, you can make a classic vanilla, chocolate, or strawberry milkshake any time of day.

Recipe: Ice cream milkshake

Fettuccine pasta made with fresh zucchini and a spicy chunky tomato sauce

Photo - Fettuccine pasta with fresh zucchini and spicy chunky tomato sauce

If you cut zucchini into strips using a vegetable peeler or shredder, it will look like fettuccine pasta.

Recipe: Fettuccine pasta made with fresh zucchini and a spicy chunky tomato sauce

Strawberry Trifles

This cute treat from Giada De Laurentiis can be refrigerated for up to 2 days and enjoyed whenever you're craving something sweet. For a quick dessert, use a pre-made sponge cake.

Recipe: Strawberry Trifles

Salad with strawberries and arugula

Alex Guarnaschelli proves that strawberries can be delicious in more than just desserts.

Recipe: Salad with strawberries and arugula

Watermelon salsa sauce

Trisha Yearwood puts a twist on traditional salsa using fresh mango and watermelon. Serve with tortillas or pita chips to share before the main course.

Recipe: Watermelon salsa sauce

Breadless cucumber tuna sandwiches

The cucumber tuna sandwich is made without bread or bun.

Recipe: Breadless cucumber tuna sandwiches

Avocado salad "Guacamole"

Ina makes a festive summer salad using guacamole ingredients. Mix everything together ahead of time, and add avocado just before serving for a fresher flavor.

Recipe: Avocado salad "Guacamole"

Salad with endive and tomatoes

In just 15 minutes, crisp endive becomes a salad with toasted hazelnuts, cherry tomatoes and cucumbers.

Recipe: Salad with endive and tomatoes

Spicy salad with cilantro and green onions

The variety of greens makes this salad both beautiful and healthy. Serrano chili peppers add heat, while English cucumbers (long, smooth-skinned) add a crisp texture.

Recipe: Spicy salad with cilantro and green onions

Tropical Salad with Hearts of Palm and Watercress

This 20-minute salad is inspired by island cuisine. Fresh, sweet mango is complemented by a spicy jalapeño.

Recipe: Tropical Salad with Hearts of Palm and Watercress

Scallop ceviche

The acidity of lime and orange helps "cook" scallops for a simple appetizer or a light cold dish. Add slices of avocado or make guacamole.

Recipe: Scallop ceviche

Watermelon and cucumber salad

With crisp cucumber and juicy seasonal watermelon, this salad is perfect for a summer day.

Recipe: Watermelon and cucumber salad

Hummus

The nutty flavor of this summer snack comes from Asian sesame oil, which is added along with the olive oil.

Recipe: Hummus

Cucumber salad with pickled peppers

Keep cool with this simple side dish. It's perfect for a summer barbecue.

Recipe: Cucumber salad with pickled peppers

Pineapple appetizer on lettuce leaves with Thai sauce

Pineapple makes a fresh appetizer on lettuce leaves. A nutty flavor comes from the salty Asian fish sauce.

Recipe: Pineapple appetizer on lettuce leaves with Thai sauce

Beef roll with cabbage salad and dill

Photo - Beef Roll with Dill Cabbage Salad

This quick and easy cabbage salad with dill is made with a ready-made shredded mix. This classic lunch appetizer is flavorful and crunchy.

Recipe: Beef roll with cabbage salad and dill

Vegetable carpaccio of zucchini and yellow squash

For a simple summer salad, dress thinly sliced zucchini and yellow squash with lemon juice, fresh herbs, olive oil, and pecorino cheese.

Recipe: Vegetable carpaccio of zucchini and yellow squash

Strawberry-Blackberry Summer Trifle

This lovely and light British dessert is full of sweet fruity flavours.

Recipe: Strawberry-Blackberry Summer Trifle

Crispy Turkey Salad Sandwiches

This updated version of the turkey sandwich uses traditional ingredients like mayonnaise and celery, as well as unusual ones like grapes and almonds. It's perfect for a picnic.

Recipe: Crispy Turkey Salad Sandwiches

Tomato, cheese, cilantro and chili pepper salad

The fresh flavor of this salad is enhanced by the vinaigrette dressing and crumbled soft cheese.

Recipe: Tomato, cheese, cilantro and chili pepper salad

Chocolate shortbread cake with whipped cream

This dessert comes together in no time. This chocolate pie with fresh whipped cream and chocolate shavings is ready in just 10 minutes.

Recipe: Chocolate shortbread cake with whipped cream

Sangria Popsicles

Bobby makes fruit ice pops with the sophisticated flavors of sangria. Combine reduced red wine with fruit and fruit juice, refrigerate overnight, and then pour into fruit ice pop molds.

Recipe: Sangria Popsicles

Salad with cucumbers, radishes, peas and chickpeas

For multiple layers of flavor, try adding cheese to the dressing rather than sprinkling it on the salad. The dressing for this colorful dish is made with feta, dill, lemon juice, garlic, and olive oil.

Recipe: Salad with cucumbers, radishes, peas and chickpeas

Drunken Peach with Cream

The bourbon whipped cream in this dessert adds a unique flavor that pairs perfectly with the sweet peaches.

Recipe: Drunken Peach with Cream

Mini bean-filled sandwiches for school

A variety of beans make a hearty spread for these sandwiches.

Recipe: Mini bean-filled sandwiches for school

Lazy Raspberry Limoncello Cookie Cake

This dessert is a wonderful no-bake version of cheesecake for a hot day. The recipe uses Neufchâtel cheese, which is very similar in taste and texture to cream cheese.

Recipe: Lazy Raspberry Limoncello Cookie Cake