When the weather is too hot to cook, Ina Garten comes to the rescue. This collection of no-cook Barefoot Contessa recipes keeps your kitchen – from smoked salmon dishes to make-ahead salads and smart store-bought shortcuts, these dishes are summer lifesavers -no oven or stove required.
For my summer panzanella, I toss juicy tomatoes, toasted sourdough, charred corn, quick-pickled shallots, basil, and goat cheese in a bright tomato-Dijon vinaigrette. It’s my ideal warm-weather bread salad for July Fourth cookouts, tomato season, or any dinner that needs something fresh, crunchy, and satisfying.
Whether you’re looking for a dish to take advantage of the bounty of local summer fruits and vegetables, something that’s easily transportable for a potluck cookout, or just pining to fire up the grill, I’ve got you covered!
This was inspired by the dessert we enjoyed at Verjus is Paris the night we ran into Ina and Jeffrey but we’ve turned the volume up for this not-too-sweet layered showstopper.
Ina Garten’s chilled cucumber soup with shrimp is a cool, creamy no-cook summer recipe made with Greek yogurt, cucumbers, dill, lemon, and cooked shrimp. Tangy, herby, and refreshing, it’s an easy make-ahead meal for hot days when turning on the oven feels completely unreasonable.
This Smitten Kitchen grilled chicken salad is smoky, zesty, and absolutely crave-worthy. Chili-rubbed chicken thighs meet charred corn, creamy avocado, and crisp greens, finished with a tangy cilantro-lime dressing. The salty crunch of Fritos takes it over the top – bright, hearty, and satisfying enough to make even salad skeptics fall in love.
This Farro Tabbouleh is a hearty twist on the Mediterranean classic. Nutty farro is tossed with sherry vinegar, olive oil, cucumbers, tomatoes, onion, parsley, and feta. Fresh, light, and satisfying, it’s perfect as a standalone meal or paired with grilled chicken, shrimp, or steak.
Grandma’s banana cookies get a modern upgrade and transform into Bananas Foster Ice Cream Sandwiches. Chewy banana-pecan cookies cradle scoops of vanilla ice cream swirled with a rich banana-rum caramel ripple. A touch of corn syrup keeps the caramel smooth, making this nostalgic-meets-playful summer dessert irresistible.