Favorite hot weather meal

[pegkerr]

It hit the 90s today in Minneapolis, which meant I reached for one of my very favorite hot weather meals, which I got years ago out of the cookbook 365 Low Calorie Recipes. This takes fifteen minutes to make, is light and delicious and perfectly easy on those days it's too hot to cook:

Thai Beef Salad - serves 4

10 oz. cooked flank steak or deli roast beef, trimmed of excess fat (I use deli roast beef usually)
2 TB fresh lime juice
1 TB soy sauce
1 TB water
1 tsp fresh grated ginger
1 garlic clove, crushed
1/4 to 1/2 tsp crushed hot pepper flakes
3 scallions, sliced (omitted for my picky family)
1 cucumber, peeled, seeded and sliced (ditto)
1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
1/2 head iceberg lettuce, shredded (about 4 cups) (I hate iceberg and use romaine instead)
1/4 cup dry-roasted peanuts, chopped

Cut beef into thin strips and place in a medium bowl. Add lime juice, soy sauce, water, ginger, garlic, and hot pepper. Toss to mix. Add scallions, cucumber and red pepper. Toss again. Cover and refrigerate until serving time.

Arrange lettuce in a salad bowl. Pour beef, vegetables, and any liquid in bowl over lettuce. Sprinkle peanuts on top. Toss at table just before serving.

(Recipe notes 221 calories per serving).

Tell me what's your very favorite it's-so-easy-and-delicious-when-it's-too-hot-too-cook recipe. Thanks!

Comments

Panzanella (Bread Salad)

[kit_r_writing]

It's more a general method than an actual recipe. You take a dry or toasted bread (about 2 pieces for each person), cut up tomatoes, finely chopped onions/peppers/cucumbers/whatever is in the fridge. Toss together with some oil and some balsamic vinegar and salt and pepper to taste, then leave it long enough for the bread to soak up everything and get smooshy.