No-sweat supper
Conjure a three-course meal in an hour — with no cooking
You can be one of those people for whom summer entertaining seems effortless. You know the type: They just “toss things together.” They don’t sweat the tablescape. They plunk down a few bottles of vino, light up some votives and enjoy their company till it’s time to clear the plates.
Here’s a way to do it. Compose a no-cook menu, most of which can be made in advance. Consider this new three-course plan: a palegreen, creamy and refreshing blender soup to start; a trendy poke salad with unexpected crunch; and a coffee-kissed icebox torte made with chocolate-sided whole-wheat digestive biscuits. All are doable in an hour, provided you start with the dessert so it can chill while you make the rest.
Fresh peas (or frozen if you can’t find fresh) give body and sweetness to Pea, Ricotta and Mint Gazpacho, while cucumber keeps it light, and avocado lends richness. You can refrigerate it hours ahead and dress it up any which way you please. For the Tuna Poke With Kohlrabi, spring for the freshest-looking tuna fillet you can find, and you will be rewarded with jeweltoned cubes of marinated fish that have a bit of a bite. Then just heap them on a bed of scallions and kohlrabi — the latter a vegetable that is consistently overlooked and underappreciated in high seasons of tomato and corn.
The torte turns out to look like more of a mess, really — hence, the name McVities Icebox Mess — by the time you have scooped it into cups. No matter. It’s a minimal-ingredient wonder, with lightly sweetened whipped cream, whipped cream cheese or tiramisu-flavored mascarpone, brewed espresso, pomegranate molasses and those addictive euro cookies from a tidy, one-sleeve box. Line a small loaf pan with plastic wrap, fill it in, seal it up. Given a 30-minute rest in the refrigerator, the biscuits sink and soften ever so slightly into the filling around them. It’s a dessert that can be done ahead of time, too.
And there you have it, without stress or heat or large sighs heaved.
TUNA POKE WITH KOHLRABI 6 to 8 servings
2 small or 1 large kohlrabi, peeled and cut into thin strips
6 or 7 scallions (white and green parts), cut lengthwise into julienne
1 to 2 tablespoons grapeseed oil Fine sea salt 18 to 21 ounces good-quality tuna fillets
2 teaspoons pure sesame oil (not toasted)
1½-inch piece peeled fresh ginger root, grated (about 1 tablespoon)
2 teaspoons low-sodium soy sauce or tamari
1 small red chile pepper, seeded, cut into small pieces
1 tablespoon toasted/ roasted sesame seeds Cilantro leaves, for garnish 1 tablespoon black sesame seeds, for garnish
Combine the kohlrabi and scallions in a mixing bowl. Drizzle with the grapeseed oil, as needed, and season lightly with salt, tossing lightly to coat.
Cut the fish into ¾-inch chunks, getting rid of any stringy bits and fat.
Whisk together the sesame oil, ginger, soy sauce or tamari, chile pepper and sesame seeds in a mixing bowl. Just before serving, add the tuna and toss to coat.
Divide the kohlrabi mixture among individual plates. Top each portion with equal amounts of the tuna. Garnish with the cilantro leaves and black sesame seeds.
PER SERVING: 110 calories, 17 g protein, 4 g carbohydrates, 4 g fat, 0 g saturated fat, 25 mg cholesterol, 150 mg sodium, 2 g dietary fiber, 1 g sugar
— Adapted from “Leon Fast & Free: Free-From Recipes for People Who Really Like Food,” by
Jane Baxter and John Vincent
McVITIES ICEBOX MESS 8 servings
1 cup chilled heavy cream
¼ cup confectioners’ sugar 8 ounces whipped cream cheese or tiramisu-flavored mascarpone, at a cool room temperature
2 to 3 tablespoons strongly brewed espresso
10 cookies from one package McVities brand milk-chocolate-covered biscuits Pomegranate molasses White chocolate curls, for garnish (optional)
Red currants, for garnish
(optional)
Combine the heavy cream and confectioners’ sugar in the chilled bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a balloon-whisk attachment, or use a handheld electric mixer; beat on medium speed for a few minutes, to form soft peaks.
Stop to add the whipped cream cheese and espresso (to taste) or the tiramisu-flavored mascarpone; beat on low speed just until incorporated. The mixture should be firm enough so that a tableware spoon inserted into it can stand upright on its own.
Line loaf pan with plastic wrap, making sure there is wrap hanging over the sides (so you will be able to close it over the top).
Spread half the whipped cream mixture in the pan. Then, insert the biscuits (cookies) about ¼ inch apart, standing them upright so their top halves are exposed.
Drizzle the pomegranate molasses evenly over the surface of the whipped cream mixture (with the cookies standing in a row in it). Then fill the pan with the remaining mixture, doing it gently enough so the biscuits stay in place. You should have enough of the mixture to cover the cookies; they will start to sink in after a few minutes, which will make the covering easier. Fold over the plastic wrap so the loaf is sealed. Refrigerate for 30 minutes to firm up and chill through.
When ready to serve, open the plastic wrap at the top. Invert a serving platter over the torte; holding both together tightly, invert so the torte is positioned upside down on the platter. Discard the plastic wrap.
Decorate with the white chocolate curls and/or red currants, if desired. Serve chilled.
PER SERVING: 330 calories, 3 g protein, 24 g carbohydrates, 24 g fat, 14 g saturated fat, 70 mg cholesterol, 220 mg sodium, 0 g dietary fiber, 15 g sugar
— From Washington Post deputy Food editor/recipes editor
Bonnie S. Benwick