10 Cold Dinner Ideas for Hot Summer Nights

Categories: Favourite Ingredients, Guide, Recipe Roundup, Shopping List, Summer, What's in Season

No need to turn on the oven with these recipes! For when the days are sweltering, we have 10 cold dinner ideas that’ll help you beat the heat without skimping on flavour. Packed with fresh ingredients, these recipes are either low-cook or no-cook, and easy enough for even the most inexperienced chef! Kick back, relax, and chill out with these 10 tasty cold dinner ideas for hot summer nights.

Spicy Shrimp Salad Stuffed Avocados

Fresh avocados make a tasty vehicle for this shrimp salad. The buttery avocado is filled with a creamy, spicy shrimp salad made using our Wild Caught Canadian Cold Water Shrimp. These shrimp are already cooked and flash-frozen to lock in their ocean-fresh flavour, so you simply have to thaw and enjoy! This cold dinner recipe uses some of summer’s best produce, like fresh avocado and sweet corn.

Cold Dinner Idea: Shrimp Salad Stuffed Avocados. The image shows a round wicker placemat. On top of the placemat is an oblong white dish. On the dish are two avocado halves piled with shrimp salad, drizzled with Farm Boy Chipotle Mayonnaise and garnished with fresh cilantro. Behind the avocado halves is a wedge of lime and a small blue bowl, out of focus. To the right of the oblong dish is a small plate, out of focus, with wedges of lime and sliced fresh jalapeno pepper. Behind the plate and out of focus is a small blue bowl filled with chopped tomatoes.

Full Recipe: Spicy Shrimp Salad Stuffed Avocados

Suggested Farm Boy Items: Farm Boy™ Wild Caught Canadian Coldwater Shrimp, Farm Boy™ Chipotle Mayonnaise, Fresh Avocados.

Mediterranean Bean, Kale, and Quinoa Salad

Nutritious and delicious, this chopped salad recipe is made even easier by using our Organic Mixed Quinoa, which cooks in the microwave in just 1 minute—no stovetop required! Full of protein, fibre, and healthy fats, this vegetarian salad recipe is an easy one to make ahead of time for a quick, no-cook dinner. Have leftovers? It makes for a tasty lunch the next day, too!

The image shows a red woven placement. Out of focus in the background are stacked bowls in blue, red, and white. In the foreground is a red and white bowl. In the bowl is a salad of chopped kale, yellow bell peppers, tomatoes, olives, and quinoa.

Full Recipe: Mediterranean Bean, Kale, and Quinoa Salad

Suggested Farm Boy Items: Farm Boy™ Organic Mixed Quinoa, Farm Boy™ Organic Chickpeas, Farm Boy™ Organic Bean Medley, Farm Boy™ Mediterranean Vinaigrette, Farm Boy™ Cow and Goat Feta Cheese, Farm Boy™ Jumbo Kalamata Olives.

Three Melon, Bocconcini, and Prosciutto Salad

This salad has a gorgeous array of colours and flavours! Perfect for those hot summer nights, this cold dinner recipe (or hearty appetizer) uses fresh, juicy honeydew, cantaloupe, and canary melon. Combined with creamy mini bocconcini and our salty Prosciutto, it’s a delicious seasonal salad. If you’d like to add even more colour and sweetness to this recipe, try throwing in some fresh watermelon!

The image is taken from above. The image shows a white tablecloth with a large white plate in the centre. On the plate is a salad of romainc lettuce, halved red and yellow cherry tomatoes, balls of bocconcini cheese, sliced prosciutto, and balls of cantaloupe, honeydew, and canary melons. The salad is garnished with mint leaves and pepper. In the upper right corner of the image is a bowl filled with the balls of three melons. In the bottom left of the image is a mint green napkin with two large serving spoons. In the upper left of the image is a small clear glass bowl with an olive-oil based dressing.

Full Recipe: Three Melon, Bocconcini, and Prosciutto Salad

Suggested Farm Boy Items: Farm Boy™ Prosecco Wine Vinegar, Farm Boy™ Prosciutto, Fresh Melons.

Eda-Yummy Grain Bowl

If you can boil water, you can make this recipe! (Not feeling up to boiling water? Skip the eggs.) Wholesome and satisfying, this grain bowl is an easy recipe to make that the whole family will enjoy! Made with our fan-favourite Eda-Yummy Spicy Kale Edamame Dip, this meal is packed with protein, complex carbohydrates, and healthy fats. Try it for lunch of dinner when you need to whip up something tasty in under 15 minutes.

Cold Dinner Idea: Eda-Yummy Grain Bowl. The image shows a round wicker placemat with a white bowl in it. Beside the bowl is a fork. In the bowl is rice. On top of the rice is sliced cucumber coins, halved cherry tomatoes, a soft-boiled egg, and wedges of avocados. The avocados and egg have Farm Boy's Everything Bagel Seasoning Blend.

Full Recipe: Eda-Yummy Grain Bowl

Suggested Farm Boy Items: Farm Boy™ Eda-Yummy Spicy Kale Edamame Dip, Farm Boy™ Organic Plain Yogurt, Farm Boy™ Organic Brown Rice & Quinoa, Farm Boy™ Everything Bagel Seasoning.

Chipotle BBQ Chickpea Sandwiches

This vegetarian dinner uses our Organic Chickpeas as its protein-packed base for a sandwich that comes together in the time it takes to toast the bun! Sweet, tangy, and a little bit spicy, this summer sandwich hits all the right flavour notes. Enjoy it with our fresh, made-in-house Pineapple Salsa for a burst of fruity zing!

The image shows a closeup of a toasted burger bun with a chickpea mixture and colourful slaw. The sandwich is on wooden table. To the right of the sandwich is a white plate with tomatoes, red peppers, and sliced cucumber mixed with feta cheese. The top of a fork is visible in the foreground of the image.

Full Recipe: Chipotle BBQ Chickpea Sandwiches with Pineapple Salsa Slaw

Suggested Farm Boy Items: Farm Boy™ Organic Chickpeas, Farm Boy™ Chipotle BBQ Sauce, Farm Boy™ Pineapple Salsa.

Green Shrimp Aguachile

A classic seafood dish from the western coast of Mexico, it’s aguachile! Similar to ceviche, this no-cook dinner recipe uses a tangy lime, cilantro, and chili sauce to “cook” our Argentinian Shrimp as it rests. While it’s often enjoyed as an appetizer, a big bowl of this certainly makes for a delightfully spicy meal! Perfect for the summer, this cold dinner only brings the heat when it comes to flavour.

The image is taken outside and shows a dark wooden slatted table. On the table in the foreground is a colourful red striped tablecloth. On the tablecloth's lower right side are two forks, crossed. On the lower left of the tablecloth are three small radishes. In the centre and foreground of the image is a wide, shallow white bowl. The bowl is filled with cucumber coins, sliced red onion, and shrimp. It is in a green broth. On top are fanned slices of avocado with a sprig of fresh cilantro. Behind the bowl is a wooden dish with tortilla chips. Beside the tortilla chips is a short glass filled with amber liquid and two slices of lime. Beside the glass is a small blue-and-white bowl filled with cucumber coins and sliced fresh jalapeno.

Full Recipe: Green Shrimp Aguachile

Suggested Farm Boy Items: Farm Boy™ Argentinian Shrimp, Farm Boy™ Fleur de Sel, Farm Boy™ Natural Tortilla Chips.

Mediterranean Quinoa Bowl

Dig into the best summer produce our stores have to offer with this Mediterranean-inspired grain bowl. Crisp cucumbers and juicy tomatoes join tangy feta and garlicky hummus for a no-cook dinner that is seriously satisfying. Finished with a drizzle of good olive oil and a pinch of our Fleur de Sel, it’s a quick and easy meal recipe for lunch or dinner.

The images shows a grey wood table with a cream linen tablecloth partially draped across it. On the tablecloth is a cream coloured bowl. Clockwise from the top of the bowl is a wedge of lemon, mixed quinoa, sliced cumber, halved red cherry tomatoes, black Kalamata olives, hummus with three dots of olive oil, and cubed feta cheese with microgreens in the centtre. To the left of the bowl are three Farm Boy Naan Bites.

Full Recipe: Mediterranean Quinoa Bowl

Suggested Farm Boy Items: Farm Boy™ Organic Mixed Quinoa, Farm Boy™ Roasted Garlic Hummus, Farm Boy™ Jumbo Kalamata Olives, Farm Boy™ Barrel Aged Feta, Farm Boy™ Fleur de Sel, Farm Boy™ Organic Mild Mix Microgreens, Farm Boy™ Naan Bites.

Lobster Rolls

An iconic summer treat, take your tastebuds on a trip to the East Coast when you make this lobster roll. For less time spent prepping and more time spent savouring, use pre-cooked lobster for this recipe. The creamy, cool flavour of the mayonnaise combined with tender, buttery lobster and crisp, crunchy celery makes for a delicious textural experience. Pile your lobster high on our Brioche Pull-Apart Rolls or Texas-Style Hot Dog Buns and don’t forget the side of Crinkle Cut Chips!

Cold Dinner Idea: Lobster Roll. The image shows a slatted wooden table with a red plastic fry basket on it. In the fry basket is a hot dog bun loaded with lobster meat, mayonnaise, and a sprinkle of fresh chives. Atop the roll are two wedges of lemon and beside it are Farm Boy Crinkle Cut Potato Chips

Full Recipe: Lobster Rolls

Suggested Farm Boy Items: Farm Boy™ Brioche Pull-Apart Rolls, Farm Boy™ Crinkle Cut Potato Chips.

South of the Border Black Bean Salad

As easy on your wallet as it is tasty on your palate, this simple vegetarian salad recipe is a delicious no-cook dinner option or side! Loaded with protein-heavy and fibre-rich Organic Black Beans, this colourful salad also uses bell pepper, tomatoes, and corn. If you’d like some additional creaminess, try tossing in chunks of avocado! Finished with our Chili Lime Dressing, it’s a zesty cold dinner for a hot summer night.

The image shows a red woven placemat with a white plate and a white bowl on top of the plate. There are three forks on the plate beside the bowl. In the bowl is a colourful medley of chopped tomatoes, corn, black beans, fresh jalapeno peppers, and feta cheese. The upper right of the image in the background shows three stacked white bowls out of focus. The lower right of the image shows a whole fresh green jalapeno pepper. The lower left of the image shows a small clear glass bowl filled with feta cheese and two sliced of fresh green jalapeno. In the upper left of the image, out of focus in the background is an orange pepper, tomato, and green jalapeno pepper.

Full Recipe: South of the Border Black Bean Salad

Suggested Farm Boy Items: Farm Boy™ Organic Black Beans, Farm Boy™ Organic Whole Kernel Corn, Farm Boy™ Cow and Goat Feta Cheese, Farm Boy™ Chili Lime Dressing.

Classic Niçoise Salad

Some classics you don’t mess with, like this delicious salad that originated in France. Packed with savoury and umami flavours thanks to egg, anchovies, and tuna, it’s loaded with protein and hearty enough for dinner. To make this a truly no-cook meal, skip the potatoes (or pick up already prepared ones from our Hot Bar!). We finished this salad with our Mediterranean Vinaigrette to give it a little extra coastal European flair.

Cold Dinner Idea: Nicoise Salad. The image shows a white plate on top of a blue and white striped dishcloth. On the plate, beginning at the top and going clockwise are green beans, fried potatoes, a wedge of lemon, halved red and yellow cherry tomatoes, black Kalamata olives, and halved hard boiled eggs. In the centre is tuna and anchovies.

Full Recipe: Classic Niçoise Salad

Suggested Farm Boy Items: Farm Boy™ Jumbo Kalamata Olives, Farm Boy™ Chunk Light Tuna, Farm Boy™ Mediterranean Vinaigrette.

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