15 Raw Vegan Meals That Will Keep You Cool This Summer

Summertime is in full force and the last thing we want to do after spending a long day in the scorching heat is to stand by the oven for hours waiting for a nice hot dinner. Thankfully, we don’t have to! If you’re unfamiliar with the idea of eating fully raw, know that it is not that hard to include raw meals in your diet. Case in point: these 25 Raw Dishes That Will Leave You Cool and Satisfied All Summer Long and these 15 Amazing Spring Raw Food Recipes.

Skeptical that you can get full on “rabbit food”? Read our guide on How to Eat a Raw Vegan Diet Without Feeling Hungry All the Time. Eating more raw food this summer will help you ward off the heat while giving your body a chock-full of nutrients. Not to mention, raw dishes are colorful, fresh, and bursting with flavors.

Don’t believe us? Try any of these “rawsome” recipes!

1. Raw Portobello Burgers With Collard Greens and Guacamole

This is fast food, and it’s really good food too. If you’ve never had a portobello burger before, your world is about to change. Throw whatever else you want on these bad boys, I know that fresh tomatoes would be epic, as well as some red onion. The textures in this Raw Portobello Burgers With Collard Greens and Guacamole are so perfect for each other. You’ve got the meaty mushroom, the creamy guac, the fresh greens, AND the amazing crunchy, savory, heavenly Hippie Garden Chips.

2. Raw Zucchini Rolls With Sunflower Seed Pâté and Sun-Dried Tomatoes

These colorful Zucchini Rolls are the ideal finger food to put out at a party because they look gorgeous and taste great too. The fresh, raw zucchini are salted and then smeared with sunflower pâté and finally, stuffed with sun-dried tomatoes, radish sprouts, and a fresh basil leaf. These elegant bits have a subtle, delicate flavor that makes them very hard to resist.

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3. Raw Sprouted Hummus Veggie Burger With Sunflower Bread

This Raw Sprouted Hummus Veggie Burger With Sunflower Bread has two different versions of a fantastic burger: raw and cooked. Chickpeas and sweet potatoes make it dense and flavorful and the sunflower seed bread is unlike anything you’ve ever tried. Top your burger with carrots, avocado, and plenty of greens.

4. Raw Veggie Wraps With Walnut Pâté

These vibrant Raw Veggie Wraps With Walnut Pâté come together within minutes and are bursting with fresh, whole foods. A rainbow of vegetables is assembled and then stuffed into dark leafy greens. Raw green collards make an awesome wrap – they’re a natural, gluten-free, and nutrient-dense alternative to most wheat-based tortilla wraps. Pack these collard wraps for lunch, bring them to a picnic, and enjoy them as the weather gets warmer.

5. Raw Mango Coconut Basil Wraps

Instead of just putting raw veggies inside your wrap, make the wrap itself raw too. These Mango Coconut Basil Wraps are delicious and simple to make. Try them filled with julienned veggies and your favorite sauce or spread.

6. Raw Cannelloni in Marinara Sauce

For a satisfying meal that’s super easy to make, try out this Raw Cannelloni in Marinara Sauce! Thin zucchini slices hug creamy cashew cheese to make scrumptious raw rolls. Serve these on a bed of marinara sauce with a sprinkle of nutritional yeast for a truly unique Italian dinner, snack, or appetizer.

7. Raw Mushroom Lasagna With Zucchini Cheese

This delicious, raw, vegan lasagna is made with mushroom meat, golden zucchini cheese, garlic herb tomato sauce, and eggplant/zucchini “noodle” layers. Don’t be warded off by the fact that there are four layers! This Raw Mushroom Lasagna With Zucchini Cheese is a fairly simple recipe since once everything is prepped, you just have to assemble the layers and pop it in the oven or dehydrator.

8. Cheesy Cauliflower Popcorn

Let’s make popcorn today! This cheesy cauliflower popcorn is salty and crunchy while being a nutritious alternative to corn. Showcasing turmeric, often called “the queen of spices,” with its immunity and metabolism-boosting benefits, this Cheesy Cauliflower Popcorn tastes great and is gentle on your body.

9. Raw Zucchini Boats With Creamy Garlic Sauce

These Clean Eating Zucchini Boats with Creamy Garlic Sauce are perfect as a meal for Meatless Monday or as a side dish. They’re really simple to make and can be ready in about 30 minutes. You can start preparing the filling and sauce while the zucchini are in the oven and then it only takes a few minutes to assemble them.

10. Spicy Thai Fusion Soup

It can be a bit tricky to get used to the different flavors and textures that come with raw food, but this Spicy Thai Fusion Soup gets it perfect. This spicy soup is a fusion of Thai, Indian, and Caribbean flavors. The creamy Brazil nut broth is spiced with turmeric, tamarind, and ginger, with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice and raw, fresh vegetables mixed in. Serve in young coconuts for a fun, tropical presentation — and you can eat the coconut meat!

11. Raw Zucchini Tomato Lasagna With Cashew Herb Cheese

You will get lost in the colors, flavors, and textures of this healthy Raw Zucchini Tomato Lasagna With Cashew Herb Cheese. This dish is that good! The vibrant tomatoes and the savory cashew herb cheese take this lasagna to the next level.

12. Raw Portobello Hemp Cheese Burgers

These Raw Portobello Hemp Cheese Burgers are not your typical burgers. The meaty mushroom caps are the buns and provide the bulk of the dish’s protein. Inside, the caps are smeared with creamy, savory hemp cheese, and topped with fresh tomatoes, crunchy zucchini slices, and basil. Prepare these as the recipe dictates or set forth on your own burger path and add avocado, shredded carrot, or whatever your heart desires!

13. Raw Mango and Hearts of Palm Ceviche

This raw vegan version of ceviche utilizes hearts of palm along with cherry tomatoes, mango, spinach, and a burst of fresh lime. Serve it up in lettuce leaves or fresh, juicy jicama tortillas for your next taco night or for summer parties. They’re crisp and fresh — this Raw Mango and Hearts of Palm Ceviche is perfect for those outdoor parties on hot days.

14. Raw Super Sprout Pad Thai With Spicy Peanut Sauce

This Raw Pad Thai is made from spiralized vegetables which are perfectly complemented by a delicious chili peanut sauce. You’ll never be bored of this dish as each vegetable contributes its own unique texture and flavor!

15. Raw Breaded Eggplant Meatballs With Marinara Sauce

If you’re trying to eat more raw foods, but you still need your pasta fix, then this Raw Breaded Eggplant Meatballs With Marinara Sauce is a must-try. Eggplants are blended with fresh basil and other ingredients, then coated in crunchy almond “breading,” and finally, dehydrated until they reach a meaty texture. These raw eggplant meatballs pair perfectly with the accompanying marinara sauce when served on a bed of zucchini noodles.

Easy Ways to Help the Planet:

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