Canada
Summer’s just about here, but it’s already scorching in many places around the country. And when it’s hot outside, we crave cool, light sustenance…plus we’d rather not heat up the house to put dinner on the table.
So this month, we’re focusing our recipes on satisfying and simple No-Cook Meals. Sure, we have a bit of an advantage since salads made with organic greens and veggies are the ultimate No-Cook meal (IOHO)…but we think you’ll appreciate the inspiration.
First, let’s define No-Cook. For purposes of this month’s theme, No-Cook means no heat: no stove, no oven. Forgive us if we include an ingredient or two that might have been previously cooked, such as a hard cooked egg or bacon crumbles. Or something that quickly touches the grill (which is outside, so it’s not really heating up the house, right?). At any rate, the goal is to minimize your time standing at the stove or heating up the house with the oven.
What You Need to Prepare for Successful and Delicious No-Cook Meals
No-Cook Meals are essentially a feat of creative assembly. And to do that well, you need a well-stocked pantry…and some good leftovers don’t hurt either. And they’re not just for hot summer nights. It’s great to hone your No-Cook Meal game for those days you get home late and hungry, for those times when the power’s out, or when you’re between working stoves. For whatever reason.
Our Salad Essentials chart gives you a list of everything you might want to keep on hand to be able to throw together a tasty and satisfying salad any time: neutral oil, flavorful vinegars, and an assortment of crunchy, savory, salty, sweet, and chewy toppings can turn any mess of organic greens into a star-turn salad.
Other pantry essentials for delicious No-Cook meals include:
- Hard-cooked eggs
- Bacon or pancetta bits
- Rotisserie chicken
- Canned tuna or salmon
- Cheese
- Yogurt
- Cucumbers
- Carrots
- Jicama
- Tomatoes
- Cauliflower
- Avocado
- Celery
- Mixed greens
- Pickled veggies
- Olives
- Berries
- Apples
- Stone Fruit
- Grapes
- Canned beans
- Salsa
- Bread
- Pre-cooked grains: rice, farro, quinoa
We’ll be sharing lots of great No-Cook Recipes and Hacks this month on Facebook, Instagram, and here on our website. Be sure to let us know how your No-Cook creations turn out!
