5 recipes for Okinawa's hot summer days

Summers can feel like a gazillion degrees outside, especially with no air conditioning. In temperatures like this, who feels up to cooking a hot meal, or eating one for that matter? Here are five easy dishes that come together in minutes, no stove required. All ingredients should be available at the closest supermarket. 

Salmon Avocado Salad

1 bag prewashed salad greens 
1 avocado
1 package smoked salmon (Stremmellachs) 

Mix all and serve with a dressing of your choice. 

Beet Salad

1 package precooked beets
1 chunk Parmesan cheese
Olive, sunflower or other fragrant oil
Handful of walnuts 

Grate beets, mix with oil, top with grated cheese and crumbled walnuts. 

Seafood Roll-Ups

1 bag prewashed greens with lots of fiber- iceberg lettuce, carrots and cabbage for example
1 container premixed shrimp salad, or chop up surimi sticks and dress with mayonnaise 
Flat bread (Fladenbrot) 

Roll up greens and filling into the bread and serve. 

Chicken Salad

1 package precooked chicken strips
Small chunk blue or Gorgonzola cheese 
1 small bunch seedless grapes
Mayonnaise for dressing 

Chop chicken, crumble cheese, slice grapes in half and dress with the mayonnaise or a creamy salad dressing. 

Easy Gazpacho 

4 or 5 ripe tomatoes 
1 cucumber, peeled and seeded
1 small red onion 
1 green pepper
2 cloves garlic
Olive oil to taste 
Tomato or vegetable juice

Chop all ingredients and place in blender or food processor. Add just enough juice to produce the desired consistency while blending. Season with oil and spices in the cupboard. Lemon juice or creamy balsamic vinegar add zing. 

What's on your plate tonight?