Leaning into the warm weather, our recipes this week are all about delicious dinners that go perfectly with beach days, picnics, or just a little extra evening light. Even more importantly, they are all no cook! We have a classic turkey sandwich that’s been adapted for wherever you might travel. Or try a cool and crunchy chicken salad for that evening on the patio. For those who are looking to change things up a bit, the watermelon and tomato salad has all sorts of surprises. We did not expect to have corn nuts on the show, but we’re not sad about it. Enjoy the last bit of summer with any of these fresh supper ideas and put a "no cook" sign up for the rest of the week.
Smoked Turkey Sandwich for a Crowd, Vietnamese Chicken Salad, and Ensalada de Sandía y Tomate (Watermelon Tomato Salad with Goat Cheese and Corn Nuts)
Smoked Turkey Sandwich for a Crowd: the Kitchn
Sometimes our dinners are less about a recipe and more about an idea. This sandwich is one of them. Sure, you may have made one hundred turkey sandwiches before. But let’s switch it up- make it in a round boule, layer it, and press it until you need it. Now you can take that idea and run with it, or have a great go-to for your next picnics.
Tips:
- A softer boule, rather than a chewy sourdough, would work better here.
- Betsy used two smaller loaves and changed up the condiments. Mayonnaise went in one, mustard in the other. Both were delicious.
- Kate kept this in her fridge for a couple of days and it was still delicious.
Vietnamese Chicken Salad: Vicky Pham
Crunchy, cool, savory, and a little nutty, this salad is meant for warm weather. Cabbage, carrots, onions, and chicken are all dressed in a fish sauce and lime dressing. Little peanuts on top and you’ll want a big bowl of this with an ice cold beverage next time the temperature climbs. (PS: We know this is technically not "no cook" but give us the leeway of a rotissierie chicken?)
Tips:
- Poaching a chicken breast can be a little tricky; making sure the breast is cooked through without drying it out is a challenge. Kate use the Instant Pot to circumvent that issue.
- We both thought poaching our own chicken did mean extra flavor. But a rotisserie chicken isn’t the end of the world here.
- Try bagged coleslaw in place of the cabbage. Easy and you don’t have to find another cabbage recipe.
Ensalada de Sandía y Tomate (Watermelon Tomato Salad with Goat Cheese and Corn Nuts): Katie Button on Epicurious
Corn nuts on a salad actually happen in this rollercoaster of a recipe. Fresh tomatoes, watermelon, sweet onions, goat cheese, and crushed corn nuts make a crunchy, fresh, umami-rich salad. We couldn’t get enough of the contrasts in this salad and will make it at least one more time while tomatoes are at their peak.
Tips:
- Sadly, this is a peak summer recipe. Hot house tomatoes are not going to cut it here.
- Corn nuts are most easily available at a gas station. Unless you’re searching for the Spanish ones mentioned in the recipe. Kate saw them at her local Whole Foods.
From the Smorgasbord:
Throwback to our Tomato Episode: Episode 22
Episode 82 for Joy Manning’s Summer Quinoa Pilaf
Kate is looking to make Strawberry Spoon Cake from NYT Cooking (PS: Check out our IG stories to see how it went!)
Smitten Kitchen’s Baked Farro with Summer Vegetables looks out of this world.