In the summer, we are often looking for ways to cool down. We usually don’t want to be in the kitchen standing over a hot pan preparing a complicated meal. These dishes are heatwave-proof and help you get through hot days.
“On very hot days, we often don’t want to spend a long time in the kitchen,” notes Brenda Hoff of food blog Brenda Kookt. “Hot days often affect our appetite. You have less appetite. So go for easy and cold dishes that you can prepare quickly.”
Jaimy van Dijke, founder of food blog Jaimy’s Kitchen, also doesn’t feel like putting in a lot of effort in the kitchen and working up a sweat during warm days. “In general, I prefer something cold, or at least lukewarm.”
For Van Dijke, the ultimate summer dish is gazpacho. “Gazpacho is very tasty in the summer because it is a cold soup and it is also very fresh in taste,” she says. She shares a recipe for this on her site. “I often add diced peppers and cucumbers, so it also has a bit of a bite. It’s also very quick to prepare, because you just throw it all in the blender. That’s a winner for me.”
Switch it up with salads
Hoff finds salads, pasta salads, and raw vegetables well-suited for warm summer days. “But also a filled wrap, quick sheet pan tart, or couscous works well. And what about a fresh potato salad? You can prepare this in advance and store it in the fridge.”
“A tasty filled salad is always good in the summer,” Van Dijke also believes. “You can also add a piece of meat or fish if you don’t find a salad filling enough, for example. You can vary the salads; a salad doesn’t just have to be with lettuce. For example, make a pasta or couscous salad to make it more filling.” One of her favorites is panzanella, an Italian leftover salad that often contains croutons.
When the temperature rises, quick and easy dishes are ideal, says Eva de Vries, owner of cooking blog Eef Kookt Zo. “Usually, you have a little less appetite after such a warm day, so I choose a nice salad, possibly with a baguette. Pasta salads are perfect to prepare (in advance) and you have an easy and filling meal. Delicious with vegetables through it. And choose whole wheat pasta if you want to make it a more nutritious meal.”
Fire up the barbecue
Do you feel like something warm? “Then just go for the barbecue,” Hoff suggests. “You can now prepare many dishes on the barbecue. Sit in the shade so it’s less warm, and you can enjoy the barbecue.”
“A piece of meat, fish, or vegetarian option from the barbecue with a simple salad is also a perfect meal in warm weather,” says De Vries. On her website, she shares ten quick recipes that don’t require the oven or stove to be on for too long, including filled wraps, noodles, and a quick couscous.
“In the summer, I make iced tea. You can first make tea and let it cool,” Van Dijke concludes. “You can also add some fruit to it, and you could also add sugar if you want it to be a little sweeter.” There are also many types of tea that are already a bit sweeter on their own, such as those with fruit flavor. “Then adding sugar is not necessary. Then you add ice cubes and you have a delicious iced tea. A favorite remains still or sparkling water with mint, ginger, or cucumber.”