Share Your Favorite Cold Meals

[GlutenFreeManna]

It's been in the upper 90's here lately (feels like over 100 with humidity) and I don't want to cook anything. I use my crock pot quite a bit, but I often don't want to eat hot food either.

I can only eat so much raw veggies...I've been eating salads and cold rice paper wrappers filled with cooked meat and veggies. I don't like to eat a lot of processed foods but this heat has me wanting nothing but a bowl of corn chips with guacamole or salsa. I've also started eating some gluten free corn flakes with almond milk for lunches (along with fruit and yogurt of course).

I need cold meal ideas! Gluten free at the very least. Soy and Dairy free (or easily subbed with almond milk) would be even better. So what do you eat when it's hot outside? Please share. Thanks.

[tarnalberry]

Tuna tacos. Can of tuna fish mixed with a mashed avocado, and chopped tomatoes and green onions if you can have them. Stick in a heated corn tortilla with lettuce (or just wrap in lettuce).

Chicken salads are good too.

Or, if you want to make it at night when it's cooler, homemade chicken rice soup tastes just as good cold.

[GlutenFreeManna]

Thanks I don't think I've ever done tuna tacos and I never would have thought to have chicken soup cold.

Keep the ideas coming.

[Skylark]

I like to make gluten-free pasta salads. I cook the pasta in the evening, eat the next day when it's hot. I do one with olive oil, sliced black olives, tomatoes, fresh basil or pesto, and feta cheese. Not sure what you'd sub for the feta, but if you use pesto it might work without.

I also like a big bowl of potato salad. There's a million recipes out there. I do potatoes, mayonnaise, eggs, celery, parsley, salt, pepper, and a little mustard. Again, I boil the potatoes in the evening when it's not awful. If you can't find soy-free mayo you can do a german potato salad with an oil and vinegar dressing.

[GlutenFreeManna]

I like to make gluten-free pasta salads. I cook the pasta in the evening, eat the next day when it's hot. I do one with olive oil, sliced black olives, tomatoes, fresh basil or pesto, and feta cheese. Not sure what you'd sub for the feta, but if you use pesto it might work without.

I also like a big bowl of potato salad. There's a million recipes out there. I do potatoes, mayonnaise, eggs, celery, parsley, salt, pepper, and a little mustard. Again, I boil the potatoes in the evening when it's not awful. If you can't find soy-free mayo you can do a german potato salad with an oil and vinegar dressing.

Good ideas! I can have goat cheese, so I would use that in place of feta. What type of gluten-free pasta do you use in your pasta salad?

I'm not a big fan of mayonnaise in general but I did make a yummy potato salad with green beans, red pepper and onion. The dressing base was red wine vinegar and olive oil, Kosher salt, garlic clove and mustard.

[Skylark]

I use the Tinkyada spirals. They fall apart a bit but I don't mind. If you search, there was a thread recently on gluten-free pastas for pasta salad and some brands mentioned.

Your potato salad sounds really good!

[Juliebove]

I do a pasta salad with tricolored corn and quinoa pasta, black beans and all sorts of raw vegetables and olives with an Italian dressing. You can add meat to this if you want. Cubed ham or slices of hard salami cut in strips would be good.

Tomatoes stuffed with tuna salad.

Tonight we are having taco salads. I'm having mine with seasoned ground beef. Daugter prefers chicken on hers. All sorts of veggies, beans, olives and topped with some tortilla chips.

Daughter and husband like half a canteloup hollowed out and filled with a couple of scoops of sorbet and assorted berries.

[missy'smom]

Fish tacos-broil tilapia, cod etc. with some seasoning on(or not)-taco seasoning or a little cumin, cayenne pepper, corriander etc. and a bit of oil, "butter" etc.

Serve in lettuce leaves or tortillas-use leaf lettuce and fill and fold lengthwise along the rib

for fillings, use raw, finely shredded cabbage, black beans, fresh cilantro, avacado, salsa(I like Herdez), and I like a little mayo

[missy'smom]

grain salad:

leftover quinoa, brown rice, white and wild rice blend-(be sure they are not overcooked or mushy to start with)

add dried fruits, nuts, and/ or vegetables-some combos: walnut, cranberry, celery etc., black beans, corn, chopped tomato, etc., pecans, apples, herbs, etc.

season with herbs, spices, or not

toss with vinaigrette to match or salsa, or add in citus juice-lemon, lime or orange and oil, salt and pepper

add a meat: leftover chopped steak, chicken, salmon or canned tuna, chicken etc.

[summerteeth]

My favorite is a can of light chunk tuna mixed with horseradish, a spoonful of soy yogurt, relish, half an avocado, adobo spice and hot paprika all mixed together. Put that over romain, grape tomatoes, cukes, etc. Definitely my favorite thing to eat when it is hot out.

Not very inspired, but super easy, tasty, and pretty darn healthy. Plus I don't have to turn the oven or stove on...

[sb2178]

white bean, tuna, and roasted red pepper salad. (can use artichokes too, basil delicious if available). throw together a vinaigrette of choice-- i usually like white wine with a touch of balsamic, lots of mustard, garlic, and light on the olive oil. lettuce can be used, or not.

chickpeas with fennel and cabbage. (savoy cabbage is better than green.) again, vinaigrette of choice.

an antipasta tray. olives, artichokes, pickles, sliced cukes/carrots/fennel, tomatoes, meats/goat cheese, cold lemon garlic potatoes, etc. grape leaves are great if you can get safe ones.

[conniebky]

* 1/2 head lettuce, shredded

* 1 1/2 cups frozen peas (uncooked & still frozen!)

* 1/2 onion, sliced or chopped

* 1/4 green bell pepper, chopped

* 2 hard-boiled eggs, , sliced or chopped

* 1 cup mayonnaise or salad dressing

* 1 tablespoon sugar

* 2 (1/2 cup) ounces shredded cheese

* 4 slices cooked bacon, , crumbled

Directions

1. Place lettuce on bottom of 13x9 dish.

2. Add (in layers) peas, onion, green pepper& eggs.

3. Combine mayonnaise& sugar- spread on top of eggs, sealing to edges.

4. Sprinkle cheese on top, then bacon.

5. Cover dish tightly with plastic wrap& store in refrigerator.

6. Serve next day.

Yummy, healthy, yummy.

[purple]

Watermelon!!!

Just gotta love ice cream for dinner when its hot

I like bean salad with 3 or 4 kinds of beans, onions, red and green peppers, oil, apple cider vinegar, sugar and black pepper.

Cottage cheese or yogurt and fruit on top.

Taco salad with or without leftover taco meat. Add some beans.

Tuna salad and tortilla chips.

Cold baked beans with leftover cold chicken.

Of course you might have to cook a little extra meat in order to get it leftover

[Kelly&Mom]

Curried Chicken Salad!!

1/4 cup mayo, plain yogurt or something like that

1 tsp. curry powder

1 Cup cooked, chopped chicken

3/4 cup chopped apple

1/3 cup diced celery

3 TBSP raisins OR 1/2 cup sliced grapes

salt and pepper to taste

Serve over canteloupe!

Asian Chicken Salad

Chopped chicken

sliced almonds

mandarin oranges

chopped water chestnuts

diced green onions, celery

salad greens

oriental dressing (gluten free)

[scarlett77]

We'll do smoothies or sandwiches. We also do nachos a lot: corn chips (either store bought or previously homemade) with shredded monterey jack, pinto beans or black beans, salsa, and sometimes some avocado. We use the microwave to melt the cheese onto the chips with the beans before adding the other toppings. I'm not big on cold dinners so a lot of times I suck it up and at least BBQ though.

[Tina B]

Good ideas! I can have goat cheese, so I would use that in place of feta. What type of gluten-free pasta do you use in your pasta salad?

I'm not a big fan of mayonnaise in general but I did make a yummy potato salad with green beans, red pepper and onion. The dressing base was red wine vinegar and olive oil, Kosher salt, garlic clove and mustard.

The best pasta I've found that does not fall apart at all is Bionature. Here is RI you an get it in regular markets in the aisle with the health and organic foods. It does need to be cooked about 3 minutes longer than the bag states. Look for the pink trimmed bag. The spaghetti is awesome. Twirls like regular spaghetti and stays together well. Comes in Penne and Fusilli too. Tinkyada was my favorite but not any more.

Open Original Shared Link

[Tina B]

It's been in the upper 90's here lately (feels like over 100 with humidity) and I don't want to cook anything. I use my crock pot quite a bit, but I often don't want to eat hot food either.

I can only eat so much raw veggies...I've been eating salads and cold rice paper wrappers filled with cooked meat and veggies. I don't like to eat a lot of processed foods but this heat has me wanting nothing but a bowl of corn chips with guacamole or salsa. I've also started eating some gluten free corn flakes with almond milk for lunches (along with fruit and yogurt of course).

I need cold meal ideas! Gluten free at the very least. Soy and Dairy free (or easily subbed with almond milk) would be even better. So what do you eat when it's hot outside? Please share. Thanks.

Cannelini Bean Salad

No need to measure anything. I toss together: cannellini beans, tuna, calamata olives, sliced grape tomatoes, chopped garlic, fresh basil and anything else you want to add. Drizzle with olive oil, wine vinegar, fresh ground pepper and salt to taste.

[chasbari]

Thanks I don't think I've ever done tuna tacos and I never would have thought to have chicken soup cold.

Keep the ideas coming.

Haven't read all the responses yet but make sure the canned tuna isn't processed using soy broth as so much of it is. Anyone have a lead on tuna that is soy free, I would love to know what brands.

CS

[Juliebove]

Haven't read all the responses yet but make sure the canned tuna isn't processed using soy broth as so much of it is. Anyone have a lead on tuna that is soy free, I would love to know what brands.

CS

Kirkland (Costco) is soy free. And there is a mainstream brand that has a gold top or is in a gold can. Can't remember if it is Starkist or Bumblebee. One of those.

[Tina B]

Haven't read all the responses yet but make sure the canned tuna isn't processed using soy broth as so much of it is. Anyone have a lead on tuna that is soy free, I would love to know what brands.

CS

Not a problem for me but I'm sure those that need to avoid soy know which brands they can use. Also I've seen some of the italian tunas packed in olive oil. You can also leave it out for vegetarian or toss in any other protein ie: shredded chicken, cooked shrimp etc.

[GlutenFreeManna]

Haven't read all the responses yet but make sure the canned tuna isn't processed using soy broth as so much of it is. Anyone have a lead on tuna that is soy free, I would love to know what brands.

CS

Yes, this is a good reminder. I think both Bumblebee and Starkist make tuna without soy, but you have to get their more expensive premium tuna in the gold cans.

[GlutenFreeManna]

The best pasta I've found that does not fall apart at all is Bionature. Here is RI you an get it in regular markets in the aisle with the health and organic foods. It does need to be cooked about 3 minutes longer than the bag states. Look for the pink trimmed bag. The spaghetti is awesome. Twirls like regular spaghetti and stays together well. Comes in Penne and Fusilli too. Tinkyada was my favorite but not any more.

Open Original Shared Link

I Just wanted to mention that I found this pasta in my stores recently, but it does have soy flour, so it was a no go for me. Also, the same brand makes regular pasta with semolina wheat flour and it was stocked in the gluten free section right beside the gluten free ones. So watch out and make sure you get the right bag. They almost looked identical.

[zip2play]

Egg salad with rice crackers and chuck colby cheese. This is a huge hit at my house. My kids just LAP IT UP!!!!!

[zip2play]

Egg salad with rice crackers and chunk colby cheese. This is a huge hit at my house. My kids just LAP IT UP!!!!!

[amybeth]

Tuna Pasta Salad

2 5oz cans tuna drained and flaked

11 oz tinkyada spiral pasta

1 1/2 c. cucumbers sliced thin

1/3 c. diced green bell pepper

1 green onion, chopped

1 1/2 c. tomato, diced

1 T dill weed

1 T mustard

1/2 c. italian dressing

1/2 c. mayo

1/3 c. celery diced

cook pasta, drain.

add tuna to pasta

mix veggies, italian dressing in large bowl.

Season w/ salt and ground black pepper

mix mayo, mustard, dill weed

add to veggies

add all to pasta/tuna

chill 4 hours

GREAT as leftovers!!

Also on allrecipes there is a GREAT recipe for "Holiday Chicken Salad". I make it all the time w/ leftover chicken or rotisserie from the store (no cooking involved, then!)...it's nice to add halved grapes to it, too.