Super Summer Menu

by Rhonda Parkinson

When the weather gets hot and sticky, we start looking for ways to cool off. Here are Chinese recipes for hot summer days, all served cold:

Restaurant-style Salad Rolls - This vegetarian appetizer is served cold, accompanied with a spicy hoisin dipping sauce.

Asian Coleslaw With Tangy Rice Vinegar Dressing - Asian seasonings lend extra flavor to a standard coleslaw recipe.

Chinese Chicken Salad - with mandarin oranges and chow mein noodles.

Bang Bang Chicken - the Szechuan version of a chicken salad, coated in a flavorful sauce.

Chicken Salad with Rice Sticks - Chicken and rice sticks are tossed with a sauce and garnished with preserved red ginger. A great way to use up leftover cooked chicken!

Gado Gado Salad - This is a simplified version of the popular Indonesian version of potato salad, using easy to find ingredients.

Spicy Cucumbers - Pickled cucumbers are seasoned with red chili peppers, vinegar, brown sugar and soy sauce

Cold Lemon Chicken - This appetizer is made with Splenda instead of sugar for diabetics.

Chinese Noodles in Peanut Sauce - Cold Hakka noodles are tossed with a flavorful dressing and served with a peanut, cucumbers and carrots for a garnish.

Cold Sesame Noodles - Another cold noodle dish, with pasta and vegetables topped with a red vinegar and chili oil dressing and garnished with toasted sesame seeds.

Szechuan Noodles - A quick and easy cold noodle dish

Vegetarian Appetizer Rolls - Sheets of bean curd (available at Asian markets) are filled with Chinese seasonings and spices, steamed and served cold.

Almond Float - This popular Chinese dessert is normally served with fruit cocktail, but you can substitute any fresh fruit in season.

Mango Ice Cream - Made with fresh mangoes

Pina Colada Tofu Shake - Easy to make and very refreshing!

Blueberry Tofu Smoothie - a healthy, protein-rich concoction made with blueberries and silken tofu.

Chilled Melon Fruit Salad - a selection of seasonal fruits coated in a light sugar syrup and attractively arranged in honeydew melon halves.

Chinese Fruit Salad - a colorful fruit salad with a five-spice and sugar topping.

Sponge Cake with Coconut Icing - Topped with a sweet and creamy "icing" made with pineapple juice and coconut milk

Bubble Tea - an Asian favorite, made with milk, brewed tea and pearl balls