10+ Summer Low-Cook or No-Cook Vegan Meals

There are many summer days when I go into my hot kitchen, look at the stove, sweat dripping down my face, and think, “I may never cook again”. Those of you with air conditioning may not truly appreciate the experience of staring at your stove, once loved, now the ultimate betrayer, pushing hot air into the already stifling room. On these hot summer days, there are three dinner options- go out somewhere air-conditioned (expensive), wait a few hours after the sun goes down (11pm is too late for dinner) or make yourself a delicious, simple low-cook or no-cook vegan meal. Here at Very Vegan Val, we find the heat also stifles our creativity, so after suffering through the last heat wave we decided it would be a good idea to have a list of easy no-cook recipes around for the next one.

Gazpacho

Just because it’s summer doesn’t mean you can’t have soup- and you don’t have to sweat in front of a stove for it either! Get out your blender, and try one of these delicious, no-cook or low-cook options.

• White Bean Watermelon Gazpacho with Savory Almond Seaweed Granola by Very Vegan Val (pictured)
• Tomato Gazpacho Soup by Happy Foods Tube
• Mint and Garlic Creamy Gazpacho by Nourishing Amy

Quinoa and Grain Bowls

You do have to do some cooking for these grains. But it’s mostly a low-cook matter of putting some them on the stove and walking away. Once it’s done, mix in some yummy bits and you have dinner!

• Mediterranean Quinoa Salad by Vegan Huggs (pictured)
• Best Southwest Couscous Salad by Savory Tooth
• Asparagus and Arugula Farro Salad by Dianne’s Vegan Kitchen
• Asian Quinoa Salad with Sesame Ginger Garlic Dressing by The Belly Rules the Mind
• Israeli Couscous Salad by Beyond the Chicken Coup

Pasta or Noodle Dishes

This is a combination of no-cook vegan recipes, and low-cook vegan recipes. While we’re all used to boiling wheat-based pasta, rice noodles often only need be soaked. And who doesn’t love a good pasta dish?

• Cold Soba Noodle Salad by Vegan Richa (pictured)
• Cold Noodle Bowl with Sriracha Peanut Crumble by It Doesn’t Taste Like Chicken
• Vegan Tofu Rice Noodle Salad by Rhian’s Recipes
• Gochujang Peanut Noodles with Patty Pan Squash by The Curious Chickpea

Zoodles of Spiralized Noodles

If even the thought of soaking rice noodles in warm water is enough to make you sweat, try a recipe using spiralized vegetable noodles instead. You have all sorts of sauce options, with no required heat inputs. Zucchini is the most common option (zoodles), but you can experiment with oodles of different veggie noodles.

• Spiralized Radish Thai Noodle Salad (Yum Woon Sen) by Very Vegan Val (pictured)
• Vegan Zucchini Pasta Alfredo by V Nutrition
• Peanutty Pad Thai Zoodles by Dianne’s Vegan Kitchen
• Zucchini Noodles with Pesto by This Healhy Kitchen

Fresh Rolls (AKA Springroll, Summer Rolls)

These rice-wrappered little delights are easy, quick and cookless. There are also endless combinations you could try- check out one of these recipes for inspiration!

• Rice Paper Rolls with Mango and Mint by Vegan Heaven (pictured)
• Beet Spring Rolls with Almond Butter, Lime, and Ginger Sauce by Just Beet It
• Buffalo Chickpea Rice Paper Wraps with Tahini Ranch Dip by The Curious Chickpea
• Veggie Summer Rolls with Peanut Wasabi Sauce by Elephantastic Vegan

Recipes with Beans and Lentils

Like grains, most of these recipes will be low-cook rather than no-cook. We do have to make some sacrifices for the deliciousness of lentils. If you’re really not going to put up with any heat, some beans can be bought canned (bye-bye cooking time!).

• Lazy Falafel by Rhian’s Recipes (pictured)
• Bacon Bits Tempe Kale and Lentil Salad by Nourishing Amy
• Quick and Easy White Bean Salad by Veggie Inspired
• Colorful Lentil Salad by Darcie’s Dish

Filling, Full Meal Salads

I know there’s a rumor going around that all vegan’s eat are salads. While I assure you that’s not true, they do make a good no-cook vegan meal! Try one of these hearty salads- they’re filling enough to be the entire meal.

• Mexican Street Corn Salad with Chipotle Dressing by Vegan Heaven (pictured)
• Summer Tomato Vegan Caprese Salad by Very Vegan Val
• Roasted Sweet Potato, Corn, and Black Bean Salad by Foodal
• Summer Cauliflower Power Salad by Crave Veggies
• Asian Chopped Salad with Sesame Ginger Dressing by Vegan Huggs

Wraps

Wraps are an easy way to make a cold dinner. They have a simple philosophy I can relate to- take fillings, throw on a tortilla (or lettuce leaf, or pita, etc.) and eat. Try one of these no-cook recipes or low-cook vegan meals to wrap up your day (I can’t resist a bad pun here and there).

• Lentil Vegan Wraps by Little Sunny Kitchen (pictured)
• Veggie Wrap with Apples and Spicy Hummus by Veggie Inspired
• Raw Tacos with Walnut Filling by Cadry’s Kitchen
• Smashed Chickpea and Avocado Wraps by Recipes From a Pantry

Sandwiches

If you’re really not a wrap type of person, and throwing a bunch of food on a tortilla just seems a little messy (or maybe you just don’t have a tortilla), try one of these sandwiches. A sandwich is a classic no/low cook way to get a great vegan meal on the table in no time!

• Tempe Bacon, Lettuce, and Tomato with Avocado Mayo by The Nut-Free Vegan (pictured)
• Fancy Faux-Lobster Rolls by Eat the Vegan Rainbow
• Vegan Egg Salad Sandwich by Cadry’s Kitchen
• Vegan Tuna Salad (Made with Jackfruit, not Chickpeas!) by Very Vegan Val

Try Something Different

If none of the ideas above were appealing to you, one of these last recipes just might hit the spot. If not, I guess it’s time to turn on the stove…

• Cauliflower Ceviche Veggie’s Save the Day
• Avocado Taco Bowl by Plant-Based Scotty
• Sesame Miso Watermelon Poke by My Goodness Kitchen
• Deconstructed Big Mac by the Nut-Free Vegan

Let’s hear from you…

• What are some of your favorite no-cook or low-cook meals?
• Why is it that these round-up posts always make me feel really punny? What wonderful pun opportunities did I miss out on?