As the temperature soars to 41 degrees, it is time to reconsider that summer party you’ve been meaning to throw…or not! With a little sleight of hand, you can simply wave your kitchen wand and whip up a meal that is party-worthy and summer friendly! Here are some ideas.

1. Ice lollies

Freeze fruit juices, mocktails, cocktails, smoothies – anything and make ice lollies out of them! While the prep may take some time, this is a fast and easy way to welcome exasperated guests in this heat!

Orange Grape Lollies

This simple recipe requires freshly squeezed OJ and some chopped up grapes. Fill them in a kulfi container and freeze for 12+ hours for the best, most refreshing ice lollies ever!

2. Hummus

Make and store some fresh hummus in the fridge and only take it out when it is chilled. Makes for a great dip with just about anything – bring on the khakhras, carrot sticks, cucumbers and even air fried potato chips to beat the heat.

3. Pizza Dip

If a hot off the oven pizza is too much for you to handle in this heat, swap it for a chilled pizza dip! Keep breadsticks, garlic bread, chips, lavash and anything else you can think of to dip it with it! 

Pizza Dip

Heat butter in a pan | Add chopped onions and garlic and stir till translucent | Add crushed tomatoes, salt, pepper, oregano flakes, dried basil and a pinch of sugar and stir | Cover and cook on lowest flame till reduced to half, keep stirring in intervals | Pour the hot sauce in a bowl and let it cool to room temperature | In another pan, heat butter and add some flour | Fry for 2-3 minutes and add milk | Stir on low flame until thickened and add grated cheese, salt and pepper | Let this sauce cool | Pour it over your tomato sauce and top with grated cheese | Chill in the fridge and serve cold

4. Pasta Salad Bar

This is a fantastic idea for anyone who is too lazy to cook a whole dish. While this requires more prep time, it is a fun way to engage your guests and also quit fussing over your guests. Simply boil 2-4 different kinds of pasta and leave them in separate bowls. You can prepare veggies by separating the raw ones (cucumbers, onions, tomatoes etc.) and cooked ones (broccoli, mushrooms, zucchini, carrots) – all in separate bowls. Leave some condiments out like olives, jalapenos, capers and more. Offer 4-5 dressings like a vinaigrette, bechamel sauce, lemon sauce etc in separate bowls. Let your guests go wild!

5. Mexican Chipotle Bar

In lieu of the above idea, take lemon cilantro rice, beans chilli, veggies, nacho chips, cheese, sour cream and leave it in different bowls. You can even spend some time decorating the table – since this takes very little time to prep! Get your guests to create their own versions, using whatever the like! Don’t forget to put a pitcher of margaritas on the side! 

6. Bhel and Pani puri

If you are thinking of catering food – go for pani puri, bhel and street side fare for the best time ever! Cool pani puris filled with chilled paani make for the perfect summer fiesta. Cold chaats are very popular and require some prep – but nothing that’s not readily available. The only downside is that you need a bhel and paani puri wale bhaiya to serve these – it is no fun otherwise!

7. Sandwiches

Sandwiches are fun and absolutely versatile – and we must normalise sandwich parties! There is nothing more custom-made than sandwiches in this world – we know you agree! Simply prep 2-3 different fillings and make these delicious finger delights. Don’t forget to serve them with something to wash them down with – juice and lemonade is a great idea! Even iced tea works!

8. Coke Float

Remember the good old days when summer vacations meant coke float! The sheer delight of lapping up vanilla icecream from a glass full of coke and the sugar rush you get from them is a trip down nostalgia lane! Relive those days by serving up glasses full of coke topped with scoops of plain vanilla (or go crazy…although nothing tastes as good as vanilla icecream does with coke floats!)

9. Rice Paper Rolls

for a fancy soiree, nothing screams sophistication like rice paper rolls do! These are a pain to make but they are oh-so-worth it! So do not attempt this unless you have a lot of hands to help or very few guests! Thin juliennes of crunchy veggies wrapped in a frail rice paper roll with a chunky peanut sauce for dipping – sounds more wonderful than anything else right now, doesn’t it?

10. Shwarmas

Pita bread rolled with a generous layer of hummus, falafels, veggies and mayo or cheese – this is a delightful, make ahead dish for any kind of party. Falafels are pretty easy to make and all you need is store-bought pita bread and lots of chickpeas.

Falafels are made with soaked, ground chickpeas fried to crisp perfection while hummus is made from soaked and boiled chickpeas. Together, they get enveloped in some delicious, sink-your-teeth-in pita bread and make for the perfect summer food!