One of the best things about summer is the laid-back, easy-going vibe that permeates everything about our normal routines. The sunny weather, the warmer temperatures, and the increased time outdoors lets us move through the season in a more relaxed fashion. That low-key style translates into our eating habits and menu choices, too.
When the temperatures soar, the last thing we want to do is spend our time inside in front of a hot stove or oven (even if we have the AC on full blast). That’s where meals that involve no cooking come in handy. At Farm Boy stores, you’ll find a wide variety of no-cook meals ready for you to enjoy. Made with the highest quality of ingredients and expert care, it’s good food made by good neighbours—our local vendors and farmers. Putting together a simple, no-cook meal is easy, hearty, and satisfying, especially with a helping hand from Farm Boy! Here are some ideas—plus some of our favourite no-cook recipes—to get you started.
1. Dump & Stir
Canned beans are a budget-friendly, easy winner when it comes to no-cook meals. A hearty salad made with beans is a delicious way to increase your fibre and protein intake without ever turning on the stove.
What You’ll Need:
- 2 cans Farm Boy™ Organic Black Beans, drained
- 1 container Farm Boy™ Pico de Gallo
Directions:
Mix all three ingredients together in a large bowl until well combined. Serve with Farm Boy™ Lime Tortilla Chips and Farm Boy™ Guacamole for an easy appetizer, side, or light main course.
2. Thaw & Plate
A laid-back platter of no-cook items is the name of the game here. Farm Boy stores are loaded with cooked items that simply need to be thawed before enjoying. Harvested at their peak, they’re always of the highest quality, delivering excellent value and flavour. This seafood dish—known as Grand Aioli, a French grazing platter—is easy, satisfying, and just fancy enough to serve to guests.
What You’ll Need
- 1 bag Farm Boy™ Jumbo Cooked Shrimp, thawed
- Fresh cherry tomatoes
- Quartered mini cucumbers, bell peppers, and radishes
Directions:
Arrange cooked shrimp, chopped fresh veggies, and pita chips on a large serving platter. Serve with a small bowl of Farm Boy™ Steakhouse Garlic Dressing and Dip or Farm Boy™ Roasted Garlic & Herb Mayonnaise.
3. Open & Enjoy
At Farm Boy, our Chef’s Market is always loaded with freshly prepared items ready for you to enjoy. Made by us with high-quality ingredients, they’re easy, convenient, and totally delicious. It still counts as a no-cook meal when we’ve done the cooking for you! Choose any of our chef-prepared Family-Size Salads, loaded with fresh produce, tender proteins, creamy cheeses, and an included Farm Boy Dressing or Vinaigrette. These salads definitely hit the spot on hot summer nights when you can’t be bothered to do more than take the lid off, grab a fork, and dig in.
4. Assembly Only
Is there anything easier than picking up a rotisserie chicken for dinner and calling it a day? Like we said already, if the cooking has been done for you, it still counts as a no-cook meal! A visit to Farm Boy’s Chef’s Market will have everything you need for a Middle Eastern take on no-bake pita nachos.
What You’ll Need:
- Whole BBQ Chicken
- Farm Boy™ Authentic Lebanese Hummus
Directions:
Lay out the pita chips on a large serving tray. Top with shredded seasoned BBQ rotisserie chicken found in the Farm Boy Chef’s Market, as well as the tabouleh, a Middle Eastern parsley salad. Finish with dollops of hummus and enjoy.
No-Cook Recipes
In addition to the four no-cook meal ideas we’ve mentioned above, we have some no-cook recipes that’ll bring the flavour without turning on the heat. From hearty salads to substantial mains to refreshing desserts, you’ll find everything you need at Farm Boy.
South of the Border Black Bean Salad
As easy on your wallet as it is tasty on your palate, this no-cook recipe is a delicious dinner or side. Loaded with protein-heavy and fibre-rich Organic Black Beans, this colourful salad also uses bell peppers, tomatoes, and corn. We’ve used our Cow and Goat Feta Cheese in this recipe, but you can opt for our authentic Cotija, a salty, tangy Mexican-style cheese. Or, make it vegan with our Vegan Feta Style Cheese Alternative. Looking for even more creaminess? Fresh avocado slices will do the trick!
Crunchy Rainbow Salad with Peanut Dressing
The colours of a rainbow are beautiful after a summer shower—and they’re equally gorgeous in this summer salad! This salad gets its vibrancy from cabbage, carrots, bell peppers, cucumbers, green onions, mint, and cilantro. We prepared the dressing from scratch, and it has a wonderfully nutty, sweet, and salty flavour with umami notes thanks to soy sauce and rice wine vinegar.
Greek Quinoa Bowl
Dig into the best summer produce our stores have to offer with this Greek grain bowl. Crisp cucumbers and juicy tomatoes join tangy feta cheese and garlicky hummus for a no-cook meal 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 recipe for lunch or dinner.
Nectarine, Prosciutto, and Burrata Salad
Savour all the flavours of summer with this deliciously seasonal salad. Ripe, juicy nectarines meet salty prosciutto and creamy burrata for a tasty textural explosion. We love offering up this no-cook recipe because of the short season of stone fruit. If nectarines aren’t your thing, try peaches or plums instead. All work just as well in savoury recipes as they do in sweet!
Shrimp Salad Stuffed Avocados
Fresh avocados make a tasty vehicle for this shrimp salad. Buttery avocado is filled with a creamy, spicy shrimp salad made using our Wild Caught Canadian Cold Water Shrimp. This shrimp is already cooked and flash-frozen to lock in that ocean-fresh flavour, so you simply have to thaw and enjoy! This no-cook dinner recipe uses some of summer’s best produce, like fresh avocado and sweet corn.
Berries, Greens, and Buffalo Mozzarella Salad
Beautiful and colourful, this summer salad makes the most of juicy, fresh berries. We made this no-cook recipe with strawberries, blackberries, and blueberries, but you can throw in raspberries, too! The tart and sweet berries work beautifully with the creamy Buffalo Mozzarella, and they hold up well against the sharp bite of the tender greens. We added crunch with toasted pumpkin seeds, but chopped toasted nuts (like walnuts) would also work to add texture.
Eda-Yummy Grain Bowl
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. (Make this a truly no-cook recipe—and vegan—by omitting the eggs.)
Fattoush Salad
This Lebanese-inspired salad gets its name from the crunchy pita chips that are sprinkled throughout. Instead of frying bits of pita bread ourselves, we opted for our Sea Salt Fattoush Chips for that necessary crunch. A “clean out the crisper” style of salad, we used lettuce, tomatoes, and cucumbers to bulk it up. Be sure to pick up some sumac seasoning to make this summer salad a success. Its unique, citrusy flavour can’t be substituted.
Three Melon, Bocconcini, and Prosciutto Salad
This summer salad has a gorgeous array of colours and flavours! Perfect for those hot nights, this no-cook recipe uses fresh, juicy honeydew, cantaloupe, and canary melon. Combined with creamy mini bocconcini and our salty Prosciutto, it’s a delicious seasonal side, appetizer, or main. If you’d like to add even more colour and sweetness to this recipe, try throwing in some fresh, diced watermelon!
Macerated Berries & Cream
Summer is berry season, and using sweet, juicy berries in dessert is one of our favourite ways to enjoy these tiny fruits. This simple dessert recipe involves zero time spent at the stove or in the oven, making it a perfect choice for those sweltering months! We like pairing our Lemon Thyme Loaf Cake with this recipe for a fresh, citrus-inspired flavour that complements the sweet berries. (Chef’s tip: To make your own whipped cream, chill your bowl for at least 20 minutes before using for a lighter, fluffier texture.)
Watermelon, Cucumber, and Feta Salad
Watermelon—like most produce—is at its best in the summer, and watermelon and feta cheese are a delicious flavour combo. The sweet, juicy melon tastes incredible alongside our salty, tangy Barrel Aged Feta. Bright and refreshing, this salad is a standout at any picnic or backyard gathering. Serve it right away for the best flavour and don’t worry—this salad rarely leaves leftovers!
No-Bake Berry Coconut Cheesecake Parfaits
Baking a full cheesecake can be a finicky thing. Instead of stressing over water baths and cracked cakes, our easy, no-bake version is guaranteed to satisfy your cheesecake cravings! We’ve made these fruity desserts with our Coconut Cookie Chips, but you can use regular graham crackers if you’d prefer. Once you have the luscious cheesecake filling perfected, you can experiment with all sorts of flavour combinations! Swap out berries for chunks of fresh mango for a tropical version or try ripe peaches with our Ginger Cookie Chips!
Chipotle Chickpea Sandwiches with Pineapple Salsa Slaw
This no-cook vegetarian dinner uses our canned 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 budget-friendly sandwich hits all the right flavour notes. Enjoy it with our fresh, made-in-house Pineapple Salsa for a burst of fruity zing! Prepared with juicy pineapple, red and green peppers, jalapeño peppers, lime juice, and cilantro, it brings the perfect pop of flavour to this sammie.