{"id":93747,"date":"2024-12-05T10:08:07","date_gmt":"2024-12-05T08:08:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/radioislam.org.za\/a\/?p=93747"},"modified":"2024-12-05T10:08:07","modified_gmt":"2024-12-05T08:08:07","slug":"heatwave-cooking-tips","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/radioislam.org.za\/a\/heatwave-cooking-tips\/","title":{"rendered":"Heatwave Cooking Tips"},"content":{"rendered":"

Make the fridge and freezer work, but not\u00a0too<\/em>\u00a0hard\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n

Then there are strategies around food and food storage. Clear out your fridge and don\u2019t clutter it with non-essentials; you\u2019ll be needing the space! And try not to open the door of your fridge or freezer more than you absolutely need to as these appliances can struggle in hot weather too, especially if they are stuffed full with not much air circulating.<\/p>\n

Stocking up on\u00a0ice cream,\u00a0popsicles, frozen yogurt and fruits (melon, grapes, berries, banana for example), ice and chilled drinks are a no-brainer; iced tea is particularly refreshing. Plus, it\u2019s something you can make in bulk so there\u2019s plenty on hand \u2013 I like infusing mine with refreshing flavors, using scrunched\u00a0makrut lime leaves, bruised lemongrass and slices of fresh ginger. With palm sugar as the sweetener. So good!<\/p>\n

Spicy foods, small portions and grazing<\/strong><\/p>\n

Really hot weather kills your appetite so you want to prepare dishes that stimulate it; all that heat is so energy-sapping. Spicy foods get your juices going when you start to flag, plus they make you sweat which is the<\/p>\n

body\u2019s way to naturally cool off.<\/p>\n

Grazing is also a good approach to hot weather eating during a heatwave \u2013 who honestly feels like sitting down to a full, big meal? Or cooking it? Nope! Sandwiches, chilled\u00a0soups,\u00a0salads\u00a0and dips with a select few accompaniments are all winners when the mercury\u2019s off the dial, and will save your food-prepping life. I promise. I also like a platter of fresh\u00a0prawns, accompanied by a spicy dipping sauce and fresh papaya salad. Think \u2013 easy to make, yummy to eat, and dishes everyone will\u00a0\u00a0you for.<\/p>\n

Cook, but don\u2019t cook.<\/strong><\/p>\n

I try to avoid cooking dishes that need the oven when it\u2019s hot. If you can bear to, head outdoors and use the\u00a0barbecue\u00a0for something fast and furious. Otherwise grill in the kitchen with the extraction fan cranked to max. Techniques like poaching, steaming, blanching, char-grilling, pan-frying or\u00a0stir-frying\u00a0are good ways to cook meats and vegetables, depending on what they are. I find it generally better to avoid cooking larger cuts of meat, sticking with smaller pieces that are done in a really short time.<\/p>\n

I also tend to serve loads of\u00a0salads, using veggies that<\/p>\n

don\u2019t require much work. Think: cabbage, rocket, spinach, tomatoes, lettuce, avos, fennel, kale, radishes; the kind of things that just need shredding or slicing, with a tasty dressing or drizzling\u00a0sauce, to make an entire meal. I\u2019ll even break out a good packet salad mix and zhuzh it up. Boiled eggs, purchased, cooked meats, smoked or canned fish, or a selection of charcuterie, cheeses and breads, all elevate a salad to make a totally effortless feast.<\/p>\n

Food in a heatwave: my faves<\/strong><\/p>\n

When the temperature\u2019s rising, here are my heatwave heroes.<\/p>\n

Watermelon:\u00a0<\/strong>This juicy and refreshing fruit is a summer staple across India. Watermelon is about 92% water, which makes it an excellent hydrating food. It also contains lycopene, an antioxidant that magically protects your skin from sun damage caused by UV Rays. You can enjoy it sliced or blended with basil leaves and lemon for a delightful summer treat.<\/p>\n

Beetroot and carrot<\/strong>: The classic combo for every heat, due to its nutritious values as well as the detox properties, it removes heat from your body and<\/p>\n

neutralizes the temperature to keep your digestion in check. You can either eat them sliced or make a relishing juice by adding apples and gooseberries to the mix.<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Cucumber:\u00a0<\/strong>Another hydrating household staple, cucumbers are crisp, refreshing, and extremely low in calories. They consist of around 95% water, making them ideal for staying hydrated during the summer. Cucumbers also provide vitamins K and C, which contributes to bone health and immunity. Slice them up for a light salad with meals or dip them in hummus for a healthy snack.<\/li>\n
  2. Mint:\u00a0<\/strong>This herb not only adds a fresh burst of flavour to dishes but also has multiple cooling properties. Mint can also help soothe indigestion and alleviate body heat if consumed regularly. You can add fresh mint leaves to salads, iced tea, or infuse them into water for regular consumption. You can also use mint to make homemade mint sorbet\u2014a delightful and cooling dessert.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Coconut water:\u00a0<\/strong>Nature’s energy drink, coconut water, is full of electrolytes like potassium and magnesium, which are essential for rehydration. It\u2019s an easy way to replace lost fluids and minerals due to sweating during<\/p>\n

    summers. Drink coconut water chilled for a satisfying and hydrating beverage.<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Salads<\/strong>: You can go for everyday salads loaded with hydrating vegetables like lettuce, tomatoes, and leafy vegetables like Kale, Spinach etc. These veggies have high water content and are rich in vitamins and minerals. Add protein sources like grilled chicken or chickpeas to make your salad a complete meal.<\/li>\n
    2. Raw food snacks<\/strong>: For a quick and cooling snack, turn to raw options like sliced bell peppers, carrots, or celery sticks. These crunchy snacks are hydrating and provide a satisfying crunch. Pair them with a yogurt-based dip or hummus for added flavour and nutrition.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      Make the fridge and freezer work, but not\u00a0too\u00a0hard\u2026 Then there are strategies around food and food storage. Clear out your fridge and don\u2019t clutter it with non-essentials; you\u2019ll be needing the space! And try not to open the door of your fridge or freezer more than you absolutely need to as these appliances can struggle […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":93748,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-93747","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-kitchen-tips"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/radioislam.org.za\/a\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/images.jpg?fit=310%2C163&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pc0QIf-oo3","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-05-09 01:55:52","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/radioislam.org.za\/a\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/93747","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/radioislam.org.za\/a\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/radioislam.org.za\/a\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/radioislam.org.za\/a\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/radioislam.org.za\/a\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=93747"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/radioislam.org.za\/a\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/93747\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/radioislam.org.za\/a\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/93748"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/radioislam.org.za\/a\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=93747"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/radioislam.org.za\/a\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=93747"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/radioislam.org.za\/a\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=93747"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}