As the scorching heat of July arrives, there’s no better time to explore the refreshing world of cold meals. Embracing the idea of serving chilled dishes not only offers respite from the sweltering weather but also opens up a myriad of culinary possibilities. Imagine indulging in vibrant salads bursting with flavors, delicate gazpachos that tantalize the taste buds, and delightful cold soups that invigorate your senses. These chilled creations not only offer a welcome reprieve from the heat but also provide an opportunity to experiment with fresh, seasonal ingredients and savor the vibrant colors and textures they bring.
Consider exploring the realm of vegetable pasta noodles, immerse yourself in the world of chilled fruit soups, where you can blend together luscious berries, fragrant melons, and zesty citrus to create a delightful burst of flavors. The beauty of cold meals is their versatility, allowing you to experiment with different ingredients, spices, and seasonings to create culinary masterpieces that keep you cool and satiated throughout the hot summer days of July.
Stephanie Davidian
Fruit and Granola Breakfast Popsicles
Start your day with a “cool” twist on breakfast: breakfast popsicles! These have all of the vitamins of a regular fruit and granola bowl, only in popsicle form!
Ingredients:
3/4 cup Hint of Honey Blue Diamond Almond Milk
3/4 cup plain nonfat Greek yogurt
1 tbsp honey
1/3 cup fruit
1/3 cup granola
Popsicle molds
Instructions:
Mix together the almond milk, yogurt, and honey. Use a blender for easier pouring.
Pour the mixture into the popsicle molds. Add the fruit and granola, distributed evenly, and use a butter knife or chopstick to mix.
Freeze for about 1.5 hours, then insert the popsicle sticks and freeze for about 4 hours.
To remove in the morning, place the mold under warm water and the popsicle should slide right now.
Enjoy!
Notes:
Use any mixture of fruit desired.
Use any type of granola desired.
Cold Soups
Cold soup? Yes! These soups are quick, easy, refreshing, and will help you stay hydrated on these melting summer afternoons!
Cold Pineapple Soup with Cotija and Basil
Ingredients:
3 cups pineapple
1 tbsp lime juice
3 tbsp guava juice
1 tbsp lemon juice
3 dates (pits removed)
1 tbsp fresh basil
1/2 cup coconut cream
1/4 cup ripe banana
1 tbsp cotija cheese
Instructions:
Add all ingredients to a blender. Puree until smooth.
Chill in the fridge for 1-2 hours before serving.
Garnish with cotija cheese.
Enjoy!
Yellow Tomato and Corn Gazpacho
Ingredients:
6 ripe yellow tomatoes
3 ears corn, cooked and kernels removed
2 yellow peppers, diced
1/2 cup yellow onion, diced
1 clove garlic, minced
Pinch of cayenne, or more to taste
1/2 tsp salt
2 tbsp white wine vinegar
3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
3-4 scallions, sliced thin
Instructions:
Add all ingredients to a blender. Puree until smooth with some full kernels of corn.
Chill for at least 3 hours in the fridge.
Garnish with scallions.
Enjoy!
Cold Sesame Cucumber Noodles
Pasta doesn’t need to be served hot to be delicious! Enjoy this flavorful, light dish on a hot summer night to wind down from the sun-filled day.
Ingredients:
1 tbsp sesame oil
3 tbsp soy sauce
3 tbsp rice vinegar
3 tbsp tahini
1 teaspoon sriracha
1 tbsp minced ginger
1 minced garlic clove
3 cucumbers, spiralized into noodles
8 ounce package of marinated baked tofu, drained and cut into bites
5 scallions, thinly sliced
Sesame seeds for garnish
Instructions:
In a bowl, whisk the sesame oil, soy sauce, rice vinegar, tahini, sriracha, ginger, and garlic. Taste and adjust as desired.
In a larger bowl, toss the noodles in the dressing. Mix in the tofu. Garnish with the scallions and sesame seeds.
Enjoy!
Notes:
Feel free to add more fresh ingredients: cherry tomatoes, matchstick carrots, chickpeas, etc.
Use any protein desired.
Some grocery stores sell pre-spiralized noodles in the produce department.
