Portland weather has been all over the place this summer. July gave us plenty of picture-perfect days, but this week has kept us guessing – I was bundled up in a sweater on Sunday and sweating through my clothes by Tuesday. It’s days like that I turned to one of my favorite summer survival strategies: Ina Garten’s best no-cook recipes.
These Barefoot Contessa recipes are ideal for hot days when you can’t bear to turn on the oven or hover over the stove. The list leans veg heavy (because no one wants chicken tartare) 😂
A few recipes use the microwave, but that’s not going to turn your kitchen into a sauna. I’ve also included a few shortcuts using store-bought ingredients like pre-cooked shrimp, lobster, and beets to help you keep things cool.
Enjoy!
JUMP TO: APPETIZERS – SOUPS – SALADS – SANDWICHES – DESSERTS – BREAKFASTS
APPETIZER
Fresh Salmon Tartare, How Easy Is That, page 77 (Recipe)
Roasted Shrimp Cocktail with Green Goddess Dip, Food Network (Recipe) – Use pre-cooked shrimp to avoid the oven.
Fig & Cheese Toasts, Modern Comfort Food, page 10 (Recipe)
Smoked Salmon Spread, Family Style, page 35 (Recipe)
Tuna Tartare, Family Style, page 39 (Recipe)
Herb Coeur a La Creme, Food Network (Recipe)
Spicy Pimento Cheese Spread, Modern Comfort Food, page 51 (Recipe)
Guacamole, The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook, page 50 (Recipe)
Chunky Blue Cheese & Yogurt Dip, How Easy Is That, page 31 (Recipe)
Truffled Popcorn, How Easy Is That, page 32 (Recipe)
Marinated Herbed Feta, Make It Ahead, page 36 (Recipe)
Hummus, The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook, page 46 (Recipe)
Easy Tzatziki with Feta, Foolproof page 76 (Recipe)
Green Herb Dip, Barefoot Contessa at Home, page 21 (Recipe)
SOUPS
Gazpacho, The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook, page 79 (Recipe)
Summer Borscht, Barefoot Contessa at Home, page 30 (Recipe) Use store-bought cooked beets to avoid the oven.
Greek Gazpacho, Food Network (Recipe)
SALADS
Arugula with Prosciutto & Burrata, Cooking for Jeffrey, page 54 (Recipe)
Bibb Salad with Basil Green Goddess Dressing, Barefoot Contessa at Home, page 70 (Recipe)
French Bistro Salad, Go-To Dinners, page 102 (Recipe not online)
Heirloom Tomato & Blue Cheese Salad, Go-To Dinners, page 105 (Recipe)
Blue Cheese Coleslaw, Barefoot Contessa at Home, page 82 (Recipe)
Fresh Crab Salad with Lime Zest, Food Network (Recipe)
Guacamole Salad, Barefoot Contessa at Home, page 85 (Recipe)
Heirloom Tomatoes with Herbed Ricotta, Cook Like A Pro, page 65 (Recipe)– Store-bought ricotta is fine
Tomato, Mozzarella & Basil, Family Style, page 64 (Recipe)
Israeli Vegetable Salad, Cook Like A Pro, page 52 (Recipe)
SANDWICHES
Pastrami Tartine, Food Network (Recipe)
Open-Faced Tomato, Mozzarella and Basil Sandwich, Food Network (Recipe)
Smoked Salmon Tea Sandwiches, The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook, page 56 (Recipe)
Tomato Sandwich with Basil Mayo, Food Network (Recipe)
Tuna & Hummus Sandwiches, How Easy Is That? , page 98 (Recipe)
Turkey Sandwiches with Brussels Sprout Slaw, Cook Like A Pro, page 69 (Recipe)
Lobster & Avocado Sandwiches , Go-To Dinners, page 92 (Recipe)
DESSERTS
Campari & Orange Granita, Cook Like A Pro, page 178 (Recipe)
Coffee Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Sandwiches, Modern Comfort Food, page 212 (Recipe)
Coffee Granita, Make It Ahead, page 191 (Recipe)
BREAKFAST
Bagels with Smoked Salmon & Whitefish Salad, Back to Basics, page 238 (Recipe)
Croissants with Smoked Salmon, Go-To Dinner, page 75 (Recipe) – Skip warming the croissants to avoid the oven
Smoked Salmon Tartines, Cook Like A Pro, page 247 (Recipe)
Gravlax with Mustard Sauce, Back to Basics, page 34 (Recipe)
More BEST OF INA lists can be found here.
