Fresh ideas for cool dinners

Who wants to cook when it's hot outside and stuffy inside? With a bit of planning, you really can feed the family without getting behind the stove. Salads and sandwiches have grown up into fabulous meals and, coupled with chilled soups, you can leave your cooker idle this summer.

Salads—not just a side

These days, salads are much more than a wedge of iceberg lettuce, two slices of cucumber, and a tomato. Warm summer evenings are a great time to experiment with composed main course salads. And remember: there is brilliance in simplicity.

Select a base of salad greens, spinach, arugula, or watercress. Throw the greens of choice in a large mixing bowl, add your favourite chopped vegetables such as cucumber, tomato, green onions, or peppers. Add a protein such as cooked chicken, shrimp, salmon, or tofu. You can add options like chick peas, croutons, or cheese. Drizzle with olive, sesame, or sunflower oil and your favourite vinegar.Season with salt and pepper, and toss before serving. If desired, break out your favourite bread, rolls, or biscuits.Enjoy savoury sandwiches

Next, main course sandwiches are a wonderful but undervalued meal in warm months—and a cool breeze to make.

Start with a delicious bread and the rest falls into place. How to choose? There are so many delicious condiments and spreads available for sandwich fillings. Ready-made fillings like salsa, hummous, tapenade, bruschetta, and chutney are great over roast turkey, beef, smoked ham, or roast chicken. Leftover grilled food such as chicken, vegetables, or seafood, make incredible sandwiches when coupled with the right sauce, roast peppers from a jar, or any of the fillings mentioned above. Relax with a summer soup

Last, but not least, chilled soups are very popular in other countries and now catching on here. During summer months they are refreshing and filling, and last all week in your refrigerator. Although some chilled soups need to be cooked first, like the classic vichyssoise (potato and leek) soup, many chilled soups can be made in the blender within minutes.

Take two peeled cucumbers, 2 cups (490 g) of plain yoghurt, fresh dill, a few scallions, and a pinch of sugar.Purée in a food processor until smooth, then chill. Top with a sprig of fresh dill and serve for a great dinner starter.

Voilà! Dinner is done and your stove is cool (and so are you).

Best bets for the seasonBerries of all kindsPlumsPeachesNectarinesCourgettesMelonsCornTomatoesGreen beansAubergineBroccoliSummer squashCucumberYou really can feed the family without getting behind the range

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Chef Steve Petusevsky

Chef Steve Petusevsky is a syndicated columnist and cookbook author who only eats salads, chilled soups, and sandwiches until the ambient temperature falls below 75°.

2007-09-01