10 No-Cook Plant-Based Summer Day Dishes – One Green Planet

Sometimes you want a meal that you can just pull together without too much hassle.  Perhaps you have an unexpected dinner guest or you have had a long day at work, and you need something fast to fix.

As well, on hot summer days, the thought of cooking over a stove or having the oven blaring is just too much to handle.  A light and cooling dish is all that you want.

‘No cooking required’ meals are just what you need.  Thankfully, there are lots of no-cook dishes that go beyond the simple tossed salad.  The raw food movement, especially,  gave light to very creative ideas for meals that you wouldn’t believe could be made without a stovetop or oven.

Have a look at some of these OGP recipes that showcase some amazing dishes for you to show off.  No one will believe that you didn’t spend hours over a hot pan!

1. Sweet Raw Sweet Potato Noodles With Mushrooms

Source: Sweet Raw Sweet Potato Noodles With Mushrooms

This is certainly a dish that you can throw together last minute.  If you have yams or sweet potatoes lying around, and you have one of those spiral-veg-making contraptions, you can make yourself some Sweet Raw Sweet Potato Noodles With Mushrooms by Emily von Euw.  Toss your raw noodles into a miso sauce and serve it with marinated mushrooms.  No cooking is required!

2. Mango Lime Cabbage Tacos

Source: Mango Lime Cabbage Tacos

Well, this is like a rainbow on a plate.  This recipe for Mango Lime Cabbage Tacos by Nikki and Zuzana is a stunning feast for the tummy and the eyes.  These no-cook tacos are packed with vitamins and flavor.  The creamy and zingy mango sauce goes perfectly with the crisp and crunchy veg.

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3. Healthy Greek Broccoli Salad With Creamy Cashew Dressing

Source: Healthy Greek Broccoli Salad With Creamy Cashew Dressing

We can’t have a no-cook list without a salad of some sort making the cut, and his Healthy Greek Broccoli Salad With Creamy Cashew Dressing by Taylor Kiser is a hearty one.  Here we have crunchy broccoli florets, cool cucumbers, and juicy cherry tomatoes all tossed together in a creamy cashew dressing with a lemony zing.  Delicious.

4. Fermented Taco Salad

Source:  Fermented Taco Salad

Fermented foods, such as sauerkraut, are fabulous for your gut health.  This Fermented Taco Salad by Marina Yanay-Triner calls for a healthy serving of sauerkraut, as well as flaxseed, brazil nut, and goji berry taco ‘meat’.  This superfood taco meat is piled onto a plate of mixed greens along with avocado and cucumbers.  This is a super healthy and refreshing dish.

5. Zucchini Basil Pesto Lasagna

Source:  Zucchini Basil Pesto Lasagna

It’s that time of year again when we are about to be overrun with bunches of basil and piles of zucchini.  In this recipe for Zucchini Basil Pesto Lasagna by Amanda Smith, you are treated to a flavor and texture party.  The crunch of the zucchini is balanced by the juiciness of the tomatoes and the creaminess of the cashew cheese.  The fresh basil pesto gives you that all-familiar flavor kick.

6. Cauliflower and Kale Fried Rice

Source:  Cauliflower and Kale Fried Rice

Shh!  It’s not really ‘fried’ rice, but you’ll still get as much pleasure from a big plate of this Cauliflower and Kale Fried Rice by Rachel Carr as you would any truly fried rice.  Here the cauliflower is made into raw ‘rice’ that is mixed with carrots, peppers, and, of course, kale, then served with marinated shiitake mushrooms.

7. Kelp Noodle Chili Salad

Source: Kelp Noodle Chili Salad

In less than ten minutes, you can have yourself a heaping bowl of kelp noodles and fresh veggies.  Kelp is an incredible sea vegetable, that with stocked with nutrients. If you aren’t a big fan of the fishy flavor, the kelp noodle can be soaked to diminish any unwanted taste.  This Kelp Noodle Chili Salad by Nikki Stokes is a great and easy way to introduce kelp into your diet.

8. Creamy Beetroot and Avocado Soup

Source: Creamy Beetroot and Avocado Soup

This Creamy Beetroot and Avocado Soup by Olivia Budgen is the most beautiful color, especially with vegan coconut yogurt or cashew cheese swirled into the top.  Beetroot, capsicum, spinach, and avocados are blended to make a nutrient-rich and stunning summer soup.

9. Raw Candy-Striped Beet Ravioli

Source: Raw Candy-Striped Beet Ravioli

These Raw Candy-Striped Beet Ravioli by Rachel Hanawalt look like sweet candies on a plate.  They make great little appetizers, or you can serve them as a portion of the main meal.  A walnut cheese filling is sandwiched between two thin slices of beetroot.  Then, each little bite is drizzled with parsley and chive herb oil.

10. Raw Taco Gorilla Wraps

Source:  Raw Taco Gorilla Wraps

Here is another twist on the traditional taco.  These Raw Taco Gorilla Wraps by Akshata Sheelvant are packed with nutrients, such as chlorophyll, omega-3 fatty acids, magnesium, iron, amino acids, and folic acid to name but a few.  These collard green wraps are stuffed with walnuts, cauliflower, sundried tomatoes, and a host of spices.  These are neat little packages that work as a quick snack or light lunch.

There is no need to spend hours over a stove, or any time at all for that matter, to conjure up a healthy, hearty, and delicious meal.  You might have to get creative, but no-cook meals are the perfect solution for summertime dinners.

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