It’s summertime and it’s hot outside. The last thing you want is to feel hot inside, but you still have to eat. Unless you can eat all your meals for the next three months in restaurants, you will have to do some cooking. I know, just the thought of turning on the oven is making you sweat; me too. Heating up the oven means heating up the whole kitchen and none of us want that. But we all want to eat comforting, delicious and satisfying foods that won’t weigh us down. Is it possible to have both? It sure is – we can have our cake and eat it too – without turning on the oven. Here are some tips for easy, breezy cooking that will keep your summer light and delicious.

We also highly recommend downloading the Food Monster App  — with over 15,000 delicious recipes it is the largest meatless, vegan, plant-based and allergy-friendly recipe resource to help you get healthy! 

1. Cook Without Heat

Who says cooking has to involve heat? Leave the oven off and step away from the stovetop. We are surrounded by a bounty of seasonal produce, so take advantage of it. Visit your local farmer’s market or grow your own veggies in a garden. Prepare lots of salads, chilled soups and fresh, raw dishes. Read my article “7 Steps for Making Refreshing Summer Salads.” Use your blender to make a Raw White Gazpacho or Raw Asparagus Soup. Enjoy a plate of Raw Zucchini Marinara Pasta, Veggie Stuffed Collard Wraps, or an Ultimate Raw Vegan Pizza.

2. Desserts Without Baking

Since our salads, soups and entrees are made without heat, let’s do the same for our desserts. You can make cookies, pies and mouthwatering treats without ever going near the oven. Indulge in this Raw Avocado Cacao Mousse, Raw Tiramisu with Coffee Ladyfingers, and Almond Biscotti Reimagined. Get “oohs” and “aahs” from all your guests when you set this Raw Strawberry Banana Cream Cake down on the table. Cool off with some Cherry Garcia Ice Cream, Vegan Mocha Pops, and these Pina Colada Popsicles. For more ideas, check out “15 Decadent Raw Vegan (No-Bake) Dessert Recipes.”

3. Lighten Up Your Usual Dishes

Even if you don’t mind cooking during the summer, you don’t want to feel weighed down by heavy meals. Prepare lighter versions of your usual dishes. Add lots of veggies into your pasta or rice dishes so you can use less of the starches and still have a satisfying but lighter meal. Lighten the starches even more by using thinner versions of pasta such as angel hair or orzo. Alternatively, you can skip the starches altogether. Make rice out of cauliflower and noodles out of julienned zucchini. Try this Spicy Curried Cauliflower Rice with Kale and this Spicy Kale Pesto with Zucchini Noodles. Instead of using lots of bread, create open-faced sandwiches piled high with crunchy, fresh vegetables like lettuce, bell peppers, onions and sprouts. For more ideas, read 5 Steps for Making Incredible Sandwiches.

4. Keep it Simple

There are plenty of shortcuts and strategies that can make summer cooking easier. When shopping, buy some convenience by hitting the salad bars for already cooked tofu, pre-cut produce and whatever else strikes your fancy. When you get home, all you’ll have to do is plate it (though that’s optional) and eat it. Prep your groceries as soon as you get them home – do all the peeling, slicing, dicing and chopping at one time and keep the ingredients refrigerated in storage bags or containers. When it’s time to cook, half the work will already be done. Plus, you may be more likely to snack on healthy fruits and veggies if they are already prepared and ready to eat. Try to make lots of one-pot meals like mac and cheese or risotto for easy cooking and easy clean-up.

5. Make it a Double

When you do decide to get into the kitchen and cook, make double or even triple portions so you cook once but have food all week. Double the recipe for marinades, take half of whatever you are marinating and freeze that batch for a later time. When you decide to use it, you will only have to thaw it and cook it. If you are turning on the oven to make baked tofu, bake two or three blocks of tofu at one time. Store whatever you are not eating today in a storage container in the fridge. Then you will always have perfectly seasoned, perfectly baked tofu ready to be reheated or tossed as is into salads. Do the same for roasted veggies like these Roasted Vegetables in Lemon-Cannelini Sauce. Is it pasta night? Make the most out of that big pot of boiling water by using it to quickly cook veggies in the last few minutes that the pasta cooks. Then you can make this Creamy Rotini Alfredo with Asparagus and Peas in half the time with half the pots to clean.

 6. Dust Off Those Appliances

If you don’t get a lot of use out of all those appliances you keep on top of and under your counters, now is the time. Countertop appliances generate and emit less heat than the oven. Use your pressure cooker to cook grains and beans. Use your slow cooker while you’re out of the house and have dinner waiting for you when you get home. If you’re new to this gadget, read “10 Tips for How to Use a Slow Cooker.” Then try your hand at making Spicy Pinto Beans or Coconut Banana Pecan Coffee Cake Oatmeal in it. Your blender will become your best friend when you realize you can make more than just juices and smoothies in it. Make nut butters, soups, vegan cheeses, non-dairy milks and even desserts – all with the press of a button.

7. Take it Outside

If you can’t take the heat, get out of the kitchen (sorry, it had to be said). Do your cooking outside. Fire up the grill and make some amazing grilled vegetables, vegan burgers and sausages, and even grilled pizza. Enjoy a Grilled Buffalo Po’ Boy with Apple Slaw and Grilled Avocado with Roasted Tomatoes. Wash fewer dishes and serve your food on sticks. Read my article “5 Tips for Amazing Summer Skewered Food” and make Tofu Vegetable Kabobs with Peanut Sauce. Even if you don’t have a backyard, you can get a small tabletop grill or get yourself invited to a friend’s outdoor cookout and bring along one of your best summer dishes to share.

Summer is all about fun and relaxation, but the rising temperatures don’t have to mean you can’t enjoy homemade food; just follow these tips for easy, breezy summer cooking. If it’s really just too hot, by all means, patronize your favorite air-conditioned vegan restaurant and bring home the leftovers for another no-cook meal the next day.

Learn How to Cook Plant-Based Meals at Home!

Reducing your meat intake and eating more plant-based foods is known to help with chronic inflammation, heart health, mental wellbeing, fitness goals, nutritional needs, allergies, gut health and more! Dairy consumption also has been linked to many health problems, including acne, hormonal imbalance, cancer, prostate cancer and has many side effects.

For those of you interested in eating more plant-based, we highly recommend downloading the Food Monster App — with over 15,000 delicious recipes it is the largest plant-based recipe resource to help reduce your environmental footprint, save animals and get healthy! And, while you are at it, we encourage you to also learn about the environmental and health benefits of a plant-based diet.

Here are some great resources to get you started:

• Weekly Vegan Meal Plans
• Plant-Based Health Resources
• Plant-Based Food & Recipes
• Plant-Based Nutrition Resources
• The Ultimate Guide to Plant-Based Nutrition
• Budget-Friendly Plant-Based Recipes
• High Protein Plant-Based Recipes
• Plant-Based Meal Prep

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