No Flame Preparations

Cool off this August by preparing your meals without any extra heat. Try new methods such as a cure, a ceviche, or a carpaccio. These techniques “cook” fish without overheating your kitchen. The no-cook cooking approach will make any summertime get together stress free by keeping everybody cool.

Cured salmon is always a popular addition to brunch, and you can impress your friends and family by doing it yourself! There are several methods of curing, but the more apartment-friendly one involves creating a cure--often a mixture of salt, sugar, dill, some citrus, and vodka. After rubbing your fish filet with the cure, wrap it in plastic wrap, and store it in the refrigerator with a weight on top of it. The amount of time until the fish is fully cooked varies, but it should normally take one to two days. Remove it from the plastic wrap thereafter, wipe away the excess cure mixture and slice. After you are done, impress your friends further with any number of dishes from finger foods to frittata!

If a cure isn’t your style, rustling up a ceviche is always a festive way to entertain in the summertime. A ceviche uses the acid in citrus juices and zests to cook the fish. Often found in Latin American cuisine, ceviche normally “cooks” pompano, snapper, or sole. However, you can also make a ceviche of salmon, tuna, or scallops. Chop your fish into small chunks. Marinate the chosen fish for about 20 minutes in a combination of citrus, and, most frequently, lime, salt, garlic, and chilies. When finished, we suggest creating a fish salad with mixed herbs such as cilantro, mint, onions and red bell pepper. Enjoy!

Our last cool-off summertime suggestion is carpaccio: a method of serving, thin slices of raw meat and fish. Normally a starter, it is served with an aioli sauce and a variety of accompaniments including mixed greens and other fresh vegetables. Stray away from tradition by preparing a carpaccio of other foods such as shrimp, octopus, venison, and elk. Or convert this starter into a dessert with fruit carpaccio!

Whichever method you choose, you’ll be out of the kitchen and enjoying the party in no time. And best of all, you won’t have a stove to clean or an oven to let cool.