9 Easy No-Cook Dinner Entrees


Overview

Luckily, you don’t need to labor over a hot stove to create a delicious dinner. You can create yummy meals without actually cooking! You’ll want to take advantage of new arrivals at your farmers market, such as zucchini and peaches, and always have some essentials on hand, such as a variety of oils, vinegars, spices and nuts. You’ll also want to give yourself permission to let someone else (like your favorite local market) do some cooking for you, such as to prepare shrimp and rotisserie chicken. So if you’ve got 10 minutes, you can whip up any of these nine nutritious dishes full of freshness, flavor and flair.


1. Ricotta and Peach Flatbread Pizza


Pizza is usually a flat, round bread with savory toppings. Though that basic definition is stretched a bit here, you can technically still consider this pizza. Toppings are served on bread -- in this case, whole-grain flatbread or pocketless pita, which helps boost whole-grain goodness and fiber intake. Rather than sauce and cheese, you’ll simply spread on creamy, low-fat ricotta cheese. Then the creativity really gets going. On the ricotta you’ll arrange fresh peach slices and sprinkle pistachios, honey, fresh thyme and a little sea salt, providing a memorable sweet-and-salty finish. It’s a nutritionally balanced and beautiful bite with no baking required. CALORIES: 409

2. Raw Zucchini Caprese “Pasta”

Savor a bowl of pasta without using noodles. Hello, zucchini! If you’ve got a vegetable peeler, you can make low-calorie, naturally gluten-free, fettuccine-like strips by continually peeling a large zucchini until you’ve got two cups or so worth of “pasta imposters.” For best results, toss these veggie strips in a little sea salt and set aside for 20 minutes to allow them to soften and become extra tasty. After you drain off the residual liquid, you’ll top as desired. And what’s really desirable is the combination of ingredients you’ll find in this recipe: fresh mozzarella, grape tomatoes, fresh basil, extra-virgin olive oil, white balsamic vinegar, garlic and pine nuts. Now that’s one cool bowl of noodles. CALORIES: 428

3. Bulgur, Beets and Goat Cheese Bowl

Bulgur is a type of whole wheat. One thing that makes it unique is that it’s already steamed, crushed and dried. So all you need to do is rehydrate it -- there’s no need for cooking! Bulgur provides great texture for salads, like in the popular Middle Eastern salad tabbouleh. This recipe uses that as inspiration, combining bulgur with fresh mint, extra-virgin olive oil and a little sea salt. But the similarities end there. This salad is turned into a vibrant, mouthwatering main dish by way of fresh baby spinach, beets, vinegar, goat cheese and walnuts. And don’t worry about cooking the beets either; simply pick up a package of Love Beets Cooked Beets or another natural brand. CALORIES: 408


4. Thai Peanut Entree Salad

Want a downright delicious salad? Here you go! It’s ideal when all you really feel like having is a refreshing salad, yet you don’t want to hear your stomach grumbling again in an hour. Besides a lovely array of raw veggies, this salad offers plenty of culinary yin and yang, including sweetness from honey, saltiness from tamari, nuttiness from unrefined peanut oil and roasted peanuts, “heat” from hot pepper flakes, fragrance from cilantro and mint and balance from lime juice. And if that isn’t enough, this dish gets body and high-quality protein from smoked turkey. Go organic if you can. Or if you prefer, replace the turkey with thin strips of ready-to-eat organic baked tofu, such as Wildwood Organic SprouTofu Baked Tofu Royal Thai. CALORIES: 373

5. Avocado, Prosciutto and Melon Tartines

Avocado toasts (or tartines) are becoming as commonplace as buttered toasts. They’re definitely better for you. And they can be glammed up to create nutritionally complete entrees. Select bread with healthful qualities, such as whole-grain sourdough. It’s hearty enough to enjoy without toasting too. After spreading with a heart-friendly Hass avocado mixture, you’ll accessorize these tartines with natural prosciutto (a little goes a long way!), cantaloupe, black pepper and fresh basil leaves. Surprising to some, prosciutto is not considered a processed food; it’s actually an Italian ham that’s cured simply by dry-aging. When in doubt about the ham you buy, choose an organic variety. Or swap out the prosciutto and cantaloupe for egg and diced tomato. The end result: tasty tartines. CALORIES: 500

6. Mexican Six-Layer Dip Dish

Mexican layer dip is a standard fixture on party tables across America. It’s festive, fun and flavorful, for sure! So don’t reserve it just for soirees; include it in your regular repertoire on the dinner table. Besides being full of playful pizzazz, it’s loaded with nutrition in every layer. The vegetarian refried beans offer filling fiber. The avocado in the guacamole gives you nearly 20 vitamins and minerals. Greek yogurt provides high-quality protein along with a gut-friendly dose of probiotics (good bacteria). Monterey Jack cheese has definite bone-maintaining benefits. Tomatoes contain lycopene, a plant-based carotenoid pigment that appears to have heart-protective properties. And cilantro counts as part of your vegetable intake. Call this a dip with benefits! CALORIES: 554

7. Tzatziki Rotisserie Chicken Pita

Pick up a rotisserie chicken from the market and the culinary possibilities are limitless. Ever made a gyro with it? In this Greek-style recipe, that’s basically what you’re creating. First you’ll remove the skin from the chicken breast, slice or shred the lean poultry and sprinkle with black pepper, garlic and cumin. Then you’ll stuff the flavorful chicken pieces into a whole-grain pita along with tomato, lettuce, onion and pickled peppers. The tzatziki topping then transforms these pockets into true palate-pleasers. If you like, make your own tzatziki by stirring a little finely diced cucumber, chopped fresh mint, extra-virgin olive oil, lemon juice and sea salt into plain fat-free Greek yogurt. Enjoy this fresh twist on the gyro often! CALORIES: 529

8. Bowl of Avocado Soup With Shrimp

Chilled soup is one of the easiest dinner entrees ever. It can be luxurious as well, especially if avocado is part of it. For this cool and creamy recipe, you’ll simply drop avocado, buttermilk, vegetable broth, lemon juice, sea salt, ground coriander and fresh cilantro into a blender and puree. That’s it! Add cayenne or black pepper for extra pep, if you like. Whether mild or spicy, you’ll pair this lovely soup with ready-to-eat shrimp that’s tossed with a little more fresh cilantro. All together, this is a satisfying meal with a friendly bonus—a healthful punch of probiotics, thanks to the buttermilk. CALORIES: 403

9. Chilly Philly Cheesesteak

A plant-centered diet is the best approach for healthfulness and eco-friendliness. But what if you’re a meat lover? You don’t need to give it up. However, do choose lean meats, such as loin and round cuts; select organic, grass-fed varieties; and have no more than two-and-a-half ounces in a meal to be healthier and eco-friendlier. Another tip: Anytime you do enjoy meat -- such as lean organic roast beef -- pair it with vegetables. This voluptuous sandwich recipe showcases how this is all done easily and deliciously. It’s like a Philly cheesesteak sandwich, just without the cooking! It may just help steer the meat lover in you towards more of a plant-forward lifestyle. CALORIES: 356

addthis