Cool, quick and satisfying meals that don’t require the oven or stove.
South African summers get super hot, not to mention the odd heatwave that graces our presence. The last thing any of us wants to do after a long, sweaty day is to cook a hot meal for dinner. Anything to do with the oven or the stove will make the kitchen feel like the sun and the outside like a cool Spring day, no jokes. To make life easier, when it gets way too hot, we’ve rounded up a few tips and tricks, and a sneaky cool menu, to keep the heat out.
Tips for cooking without heat
The key to cooking without heat is to start early and keep your pantry stocked.
- Stock your pantry and fridge wisely: Think rotisserie chicken, pasta salad, tinned fish, precooked grains, couscous, and your favourite zesty dressings.
- Use appliances that don’t heat the kitchen: Ditch the oven and stovetop for the air fryer and slow cooker; limit the kettle to preheat water only.
- Early morning prep: Consider preparing dinner in the mornings when it’s cooler, making dinner-time less stressful and sweaty.
- Varied textures: “Cold dinners” still need a good balance of textures, just like hot meals. Add at least one crunchy, creamy, juicy, and soft element to dishes.
No-heat dinner ideas
Loaded cold bowls & salads
Most loaded bowls are still delicious at room temperature or cold. You can prep them in the early morning with precooked grains and starch, making dinners easy.
- Spiced coconut cauliflower rice veggie bowls
- Spicy Hawaiian tuna poke bowl with avo, baby marrow noodles and kale chips
- Baby spinach and avocado salad with fennel, toasted walnuts and crispy bacon
- Chicken Caesar salad pasta bowl
Sandwiches, wraps & flatbreads
If you’re not able to prep dinners in the morning, why not choose to have sandwiches, wraps and flatbreads for dinner instead? They’re easy and quick to prepare, with minimal to no heat sources required.
- Tuna spring rolls with avo, apple and herbs
- Biltong spiced steak & salad wraps
- Middle Eastern lamb flatbread
- Chicken fajita wrap
Cold noodles & grains
Many Asian cuisines have cold noodle dishes, specifically designed to cool you down while filling your tummy in hot climates. Instead of replacing your favourite hot noodle or grain dish, prepare it earlier and eat it at room temperature or cold: it will be just as tasty!
- Spinach, broccoli and peanut stir-fry
- Ostrich fillet stir-fry with vegetables and preserved ginger
- Char-grilled vegetable couscous
- Barley Waldorf salad
Snack-board style dinners
Instead of a whole meal, have a snack-board style dinner. Many hot countries in the Mediterranean and North Africa prefer eating this way, grazing through dinner to keep cool and nourished.
- Charcuterie platter with hummus and onion spread
- Open charcuterie sandwich
- 14 Unique charcuterie board ideas
Dinner during heatwaves doesn’t always have to have you sweating and slaving away in the kitchen. “Heatless” meals can still be interesting, tasty and super nourishing. Prep earlier and eat cooler to enjoy summer nights without the drawbacks, just make sure you have an ice-cold drink in hand to keep the cool vibes flowing!
Also See: Sip into summer: Cool down with our summer drinks recipe roundup
Sip into summer: Cool down with our summer drinks recipe roundup
