Make your meals more Texas-heat-friendly without sacrificing flavor with our favorite no-heat recipes. We’ve compiled some of our favorite meals ideal for enjoying boat time on the lake, hanging out poolside with family, or picnic-ing at your favorite amusement part with the family.
Not Your Average Pasta Salad
The only cooking required for pasta salad is boiling the actual noodles, but that can be done ahead of time. For a simple recipe, toss hot pasta in your favorite vibrant salad dressing and add diced fresh vegetables, chopped herbs, and crunchy bits such as toasted nuts, pumpkin seeds, or toasted quinoa. If you’re absolutely anti-stovetop, opt for rice noodles that ‘cook’ in a bowl of very hot water instead.
Try This Recipe: Buckwheat Noodles with Green Beans & Toasted Sesame-Lime Vinaigrette
Skip The Stove
Instead of the stove, opt for fresh acids like champagne vinegar, rice vinegar, or lemon/lime juice to soften fresh vegetables.
“When summer is upon us, best to press a glass of something cool to our temples and think of what we can have for dinner that doesn’t involve heat. Here we present a thoroughly heat-free, hearty, main-dish salad, filled with garden goodness and “cooked” with just a bit of lime.”
Try This Recipe: No-Heat Succotash Salad
The New Fruit Salad
Fruit Salad isn’t just for fruit! Add texture and flavor by adding more veggies from your Produce Box. Diced cucumbers or halved tomatoes (technically a fruit!) work well with chunked sweet melon or stone fruit. Add an unexpected note of flavor with a bright vinaigrette, brightened with fresh herbs and spices.
Although this recipe is no-heat, fruit salad is best served very cold.
Try This Recipe: Tomato Melon Salad with Basil and Chile Salt
Pack The Snack Bag
Stock the cooler bag with plenty of delicious Texas-sourced snacks, requiring little-to-no prep. Local food always tastes the best, so simple snacks are easy with food sourced from the state. Some snack ideas:
- Scrub rainbow carrots clean and slice into long, thin sticks. Serve with any Mediterranean Chef dip or spread.
- Slice cucumbers into spears and serve with a small serving of our house-made Tarragon Vinaigrette
- Seasonal fruit like blueberries or plums make a perfect on-the-go snack and don’t require refrigeration
- Packable Snacks: Zax Snaxs, Siete Grain-Free Chips, Thunderheart Bison Jerky, Full Quiver Raw Milk Colby Cheese Sticks, Hope Springs Gourmet Foods Crackers, Boss Food Bars