Summer is a great time to enjoy light days without much effort or strict diets. In hot weather, you often don’t feel like eating at all. You just want to drink, drink, and drink some more. Or, grab something tasty and cool from the fridge.
If you’re struggling with the heat and unsure what to make in this sweltering weather, we’ve got you covered. AdmiGram.com will teach you how to prepare the most summery and refreshing dishes that are not only incredibly delicious but also surprisingly healthy. Let’s get started!
5 refreshing summer dishes to beat the heat
Ukrainian Okroshka
© Colette Leclair
Ingredients:
- Potatoes — 4-5
- Chicken eggs — 5
- Radishes — 8-10
- Fresh cucumbers — 2-3
- Boiled turkey breast — 500 g (1 lb)
- Homemade sour cream — 1 cup
- Dill, parsley, green onions — to taste
- Salt, pepper — to taste
How to cook:
1. Boil the potatoes and eggs until done. Cool and peel them. Boil the turkey breast separately until done.
2. Strain the broth to make it clear, and cool it.
3. Dice the boiled potatoes, eggs, radishes, cucumbers, and turkey breast.
4. Chop the greens finely.
5. In a separate pot, mix the cooled broth with the sour cream until smooth. Season with salt and pepper.
6. Add all the ingredients to the broth and mix well.
Romanian Plachie de Peste with Tuna
© Pixelsnap Visualz / Unsplash
Ingredients:
- Canned fish in tomato sauce (tuna, pink salmon, mackerel) — 1 kg (2 lbs)
- Bell peppers — 2-3
- Carrots — 2-3
- Fresh onions — 2-3
- Olives — 1 jar
- Capers — to taste
- Dill, parsley — to taste
- Salt, pepper — to taste
How to cook:
1. Thinly slice the bell peppers, carrots, and onions into thin semicircles.
2. Chop the greens.
3. Halve the olives.
4. Mix all the ingredients in a small pot.
5. Add the canned fish in tomato sauce, capers, and mix well. Season with salt and pepper.
6. Chill in the refrigerator for an hour before serving.
Persian Abdoogh Khiar
© iamsepideh via Instagram
Ingredients:
- Low-fat kefir — 5 cups
- Ice — 1 cup
- Fresh cucumbers — 2-3
- Walnuts — 1/4 cup
- Raisins — 1/4 cup
- Mint, dill, parsley — to taste
- Salt, pepper — to taste
How to cook:
1. Lightly toast and crush the walnuts.
2. Chop the mint, dill, and parsley.
3. Slice the cucumbers thinly.
4. In a small pot, combine the low-fat kefir with ice. Add all the ingredients.
5. Pour the soup into wide bowls and garnish with lemon zest, Sudanese rose leaves, or cinnamon if desired.
Spanish Gazpacho
© Nadya Filatova / Unsplash
Ingredients:
- Ripe tomatoes — 7-8
- Tortillas — 1-2
- Green bell pepper — 1
- Fresh cucumber — 1
- Fresh onion — 1
- Garlic — 2 cloves
- Red wine vinegar — 1 tbsp
- Olive oil — 3 tbsp
- Dill, parsley — to taste
- Salt, pepper — to taste
How to cook:
1. Break the tortillas into pieces and soak in warm water for a few minutes.
2. Remove seeds from the pepper and peel the cucumber. Cut the cucumber, pepper, and onion into large cubes. Slice the garlic.
3. Quarter the tomatoes, scald with boiling water, and peel. Cut into large pieces.
4. Place all the vegetables in a pot. Add salt, vinegar, olive oil, and the soaked tortillas.
5. Blend the mixture until smooth. Chill the soup in the refrigerator for 3 hours.
6. Serve cold, garnished with finely chopped vegetables or croutons.
Chilean Guacamole Soup
© Vicky Ng / Unsplash
Ingredients:
- Avocados — 2
- Fresh cucumbers — 2
- Green bell peppers — 2
- Serrano chili pepper — 1
- Lime — 1
- Cilantro, dill — to taste
- Salt, pepper — to taste
How to cook:
1. Puree the cucumbers and avocados in a blender until smooth.
2. Slice the lime, bell pepper, and chili pepper into small half-rings.
3. Finely chop the greens.
4. Mix well and season with salt and pepper. Cover and chill in the refrigerator for 1-2 hours.
5. Serve the chilled soup in small bowls or cups, garnished with fresh herbs.
image on top: kimiya.lifestyle via Instagram
