5 Easy and Delicious No-Cook Dinners
So, perhaps you're not the best cook in town, but you want to have your friends over for dinner. Or maybe you're up against the clock and don't have the time to let a roast sit for hours in the oven. Whatever the reason, we've put together a menu of no-cook recipes and tips - no oven, stove, or Crock-Pots required.
The first tip we can offer is to prep beforehand. Do as much prepping as you can in advance to ensure that when your guests come, you can be part of the party, too. The added bonus of a no-cook menu is that it can require less preparation time, which frees you up to hang out with everyone.
Next, make sure you plan your menu. Planning your menu beforehand alleviates stress and makes things go more smoothly throughout the night. Have no fear - your meal can still be stellar without using a roasting rack or sauté pan. Think salads, ceviches, gazpacho, and dips. And if you want some heartier fare for a more well-rounded meal, don't be afraid to pick up a juicy roasted chicken or cooked shrimp from your local market to add to a salad, or even to serve as a main course. It's not cheating!
Without hours of braising and preparation, a no-cook dinner significantly reduces your total time spent in the kitchen, which increases the time you will be able to spend on other things like setting the table, assembling your centerpieces, and creating the perfect ambiance for your party. To make the process of setting the mood super-quick, put on one of your favorite playlists to get your guests into party mode, and pick up a bunch of flowers on the way home from the grocery store to brighten up the space.
Grilled Chicken Souvlaki Salad
This Mediterranean Diet-style meal is loaded with flavor and dense with nutrients. As a time saving tip: use pre-cooked chicken and pre-washed greens.
Click Here Grilled Chicken Souvlaki Salad Recipe
Tangerine and Jicama Slaw
Aarón Sanchez's slaw recipe marries the sweet and spicy and provides the perfect accompaniment to your next Mexican dish.
Click Here to see the Tangerine and Jicama Slaw Recipe
4 Quick and Easy Crudos
Crudos are served in restaurants everywhere - why not at home, too? Appetizer or entrée, it's the perfect dish. All you need is fresh fish, olive oil, different accents and seasonings, and a sharp knife.
Click Here to see 4 Quick and Easy Crudos Recipes
No-Bake Peanut Butter Bars
Because my kids are always asking for protein bars, I wanted to come up with a simpler, homemade, less processed version. I was so excited to come up with a delicious, easy-to-make, "mini-meal-replacement" bar. This one requires no baking, so it is a speedy staple for peanut-friendly houses or schools. These are great as an after-school or after-sports snack.
No-Bake Peanut Butter Bars Recipe
Marinated Tofu Satay Recipe
This is a raw, vegetarian version of a "satay" that comes together with a quickly-made peanut sauce. The tofu gets enough flavor from the green tea marinade so you don't need to cook it. Substitute the vegetables for whatever floats your boat.
INGREDIENTS
For the marinade:
½ cup rice wine vinegar
¼ cup green tea, at room temperature
¼ cup sesame oil
1 tablespoon grated ginger
1 clove minced garlic
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
For the skewers:
One 14-ounce package of medium or firm tofu, cut into ½-1-inch cubes
8 large button mushrooms, stems removed and caps sliced in half
1 cucumber, sliced into about ½-inch slices (large enough to skewer) and cut again into half-circles
2 tablespoons sesame seeds, for garnish
6 wooden skewers, for assembly
For the peanut sauce:
¼ cup peanut butter
2 tablespoons sesame oil, plus more if needed
2 tablespoons soy sauce, plus more if needed
Red pepper flakes, to taste
Rice, for serving (optional)
DIRECTIONS
For the marinade:
Whisk together all the ingredients for the marinade in a large bowl or container.
For the skewers:
Add the tofu and mushrooms to the marinade, stir well, and refrigerate for 3 hours or overnight.
Thread the skewers, starting with the cucumber, marinated tofu, and mushrooms, and repeating twice. Continue until all skewers have been assembled. Sprinkle sesame seeds evenly on all sides.
For the peanut sauce:
Mix all the ingredients together in a medium bowl until blended and the consistency is smooth and not too thick (adding more sesame oil and soy sauce to reach desired consistency).
Serve skewers with peanut sauce and a side of rice if desired.
Recipe Details
Total time: 30 minutes (excluding marinating time)
Servings: 4
Click Here to see more Easy Dinner Recipes
-Elyse Cromer, The Daily Meal
