18 Refreshing Dishes From Around The World To Keep You Cool

When the sun’s blazing and temperatures soar, the last thing anyone wants is to stand over a hot stove. Fortunately, cultures worldwide have created delicious dishes specifically designed to cool you down.

From chilled soups all the way to tangy salads, these refreshing international foods will help you beat the heat while taking your taste buds on a global adventure.

Disclaimer: This article is for general information and isn’t professional advice. Recipes and dishes, including raw or lightly cooked items, should follow safe sourcing and food-handling practices. Check local guidelines and your own dietary needs before preparing or eating these foods.

1. Spanish Gazpacho: Summer In A Bowl

Cold, vibrant, and bursting with garden-fresh flavors, gazpacho is Spain’s answer to scorching Andalusian summers. This no-cook tomato soup combines ripe tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, and garlic, all blended with olive oil and vinegar.

Traditionally served in chilled bowls or glasses, locals often add ice cubes for extra cooling power. Some regions jazz it up with bread for thickness or garnish with diced vegetables for added crunch.

2. Peruvian Ceviche: The Citrus-Cooked Delight

Raw fish “cooked” by citrus juice might sound strange, but Peruvians have perfected this technique into a summer masterpiece. Fresh fish chunks marinate in lime juice until the acid transforms the texture completely.

Mixed with red onions, chili peppers, and cilantro, ceviche delivers a zesty punch that wakes up your palate. Served alongside sweet potato and corn, this protein-packed dish proves you don’t need heat to create flavor explosions.

3. Japanese Zaru Soba: Noodles That Chill

Slurping is encouraged when enjoying these buckwheat noodles! During hot Japanese summers, zaru soba becomes a national obsession. The noodles are cooked briefly, then plunged into ice water before serving on a bamboo mat.

What makes this dish special is the dipping sauce – a savory mixture called tsuyu made from dashi, soy sauce, and mirin. Add wasabi and green onions to taste, then dip each chopstick-full for an instant cooling sensation that’s oddly energizing.

4. Lebanese Tabbouleh: Parsley Paradise

Herbs take center stage in this vibrant Middle Eastern salad. Unlike many Western versions, authentic Lebanese tabbouleh is primarily parsley with just a sprinkle of bulgur wheat. The bright herb base gets tossed with diced tomatoes, onions, mint, and a simple dressing of lemon juice and olive oil.

Light yet satisfying, tabbouleh tastes even better after sitting in the fridge for a few hours, making it perfect for summer meal prep.

5. Bulgarian Tarator: Cucumber Soup Surprise

Yogurt and cucumbers create magic in this Bulgarian summer staple. Tarator combines cool yogurt with grated cucumber, dill, garlic, and walnuts for a refreshing soup that’s both probiotic-rich and hydrating.

Served ice-cold with a drizzle of olive oil, this creamy concoction often appears as a first course or alongside grilled meats. The contrast between the smooth yogurt base and crunchy cucumber bits makes every spoonful an adventure in texture.

6. Greek Watermelon Feta Salad: Sweet Meets Savory

Greeks know that watermelon’s sweetness finds its perfect partner in salty feta cheese. This simple yet genius combination creates a refreshing salad that’s greater than the sum of its parts.

Cubed watermelon and feta get tossed with mint leaves, a splash of olive oil, and sometimes black olives or thinly sliced red onion. The contrast between juicy fruit, creamy cheese, and aromatic herbs creates a cooling dish that’s simultaneously sophisticated and playful.

7. Thai Mango Sticky Rice: Tropical Dessert Dream

Sweet, sticky, and utterly satisfying – this Thai dessert is summer incarnate. Glutinous rice cooked in coconut milk creates a warm base that’s then cooled and paired with perfectly ripe mango slices. The finishing touch?

A drizzle of salted coconut cream sauce and a sprinkle of toasted mung beans or sesame seeds. While traditionally served warm, many Thai families enjoy it at room temperature during hot months, letting the mango’s cooling properties shine through.

8. Vietnamese Summer Rolls: Transparent Treasures

Unlike their fried spring roll cousins, Vietnamese summer rolls (gỏi cuốn) are fresh, light, and require zero cooking. Rice paper wrappers encase a colorful combination of rice noodles, shrimp, pork, fresh herbs, and vegetables.

The translucent wrappers make each roll look like an edible work of art. Paired with a peanut dipping sauce or nước chấm (fish sauce, lime, and sugar), these portable packages deliver a symphony of flavors and textures while keeping your kitchen – and body – cool.

9. Korean Bingsu: Shaved Ice Extravaganza

Forget basic snow cones – Korean bingsu elevates shaved ice into an art form. Fine shavings of milk-infused ice create a snow-like base that’s topped with an array of sweet treasures. The classic pat-bingsu features sweet red beans, but modern variations include everything from fresh fruit to cheesecake pieces.

Condensed milk drizzled over the top adds richness without heaviness. Found in specialty cafés throughout Korea, this dessert has become a social media darling thanks to its photogenic layers and cooling powers.

10. Italian Beef Carpaccio: Elegant Simplicity

Leave it to Italians to create a dish that’s both sophisticated and effortless. Paper-thin slices of raw beef are arranged like flower petals on a chilled plate, then dressed with olive oil, lemon juice, capers, and shaved Parmesan.

The dish requires zero cooking and is served cold straight from the refrigerator. Created at Harry’s Bar in Venice for a customer who couldn’t eat cooked meat, carpaccio has become a summer staple on Italian menus worldwide, offering protein without the heat.

11. Indian Fruit Chaat: Spicy-Sweet Street Food

Indians transform ordinary fruit into extraordinary treats with their beloved chaat masala spice blend. A mixture of seasonal fruits – typically apple, banana, guava, and pomegranate – gets tossed with tangy chaat masala, lime juice, and sometimes a hint of chili.

Street vendors serve this refreshing snack in paper cones throughout the subcontinent during summer months. The combination of juicy fruits with savory, sour, and spicy notes creates a flavor explosion that’s somehow intensely cooling despite the spices.

12. Lithuanian Cold Beet Soup: Shocking Pink Refreshment

Called šaltibarščiai (shalt-ee-barsh-chay), this electric pink soup stops traffic with its bold color and refreshing taste. Kefir or buttermilk forms the tangy base, while grated beets provide the signature hue. Cucumbers, dill, green onions, and hard-boiled eggs add layers of flavor and texture. L

ithuanians consider this cold soup essential summer eating, often serving it with warm potatoes on the side for an interesting temperature contrast that somehow works perfectly.

13. Hawaiian Tuna Poke: Island Freshness

Before poke bowls became a mainland sensation, Hawaiians had been enjoying this simple preparation of raw fish for generations. Traditional poke features chunks of fresh ahi tuna marinated in soy sauce, sesame oil, green onions, and limu (seaweed).

Modern versions might include avocado, mango, or cucumber for added refreshment. Served cold straight from the refrigerator, poke delivers protein without heating up your kitchen. Native Hawaiians often enjoy it as a pupu (appetizer) or light meal during hot island afternoons.

14. Mexican Aguachile: Shrimp with a Kick

Like ceviche’s spicier cousin, aguachile takes the concept of acid-cooked seafood and cranks up the heat. Raw shrimp marinate briefly in a vibrant mixture of lime juice, serrano chilies, and cilantro until they turn pink and tender.

Sliced cucumber and red onion add crunch, while avocado provides creamy contrast. Despite the name meaning “chili water,” the dish is surprisingly refreshing. The citrus and cucumber counterbalance the heat, making aguachile perfect for hot days when you want something that wakes up your palate.

15. Swedish Räksmörgås: Open-Faced Shrimp Sandwich

Swedes celebrate summer with this iconic open-faced sandwich that’s as beautiful as it is delicious. A slice of buttered dark rye bread forms the foundation for a generous pile of chilled baby shrimp dressed lightly in mayonnaise.

Garnished with lemon, dill, cucumber, and sometimes a perfectly soft-boiled egg, räksmörgås balances protein, carbs, and freshness in one no-cook package.

16. Russian Okroshka: Kvas-Based Refreshment

Russians combat summer heat with this unusual cold soup that uses kvas (a fermented bread drink) as its base. Into this tangy liquid goes a medley of finely diced vegetables – typically cucumber, radish, and green onion – along with hard-boiled eggs and herbs.

Some versions include cooked potato or meat for heartiness. The slightly fizzy, bread-like flavor of the kvas creates a uniquely satisfying experience. Modern variations sometimes substitute kefir or yogurt for the traditional kvas, but purists insist the bread drink is essential.

17. Japanese Hiyashi Chuka: Cold Ramen Celebration

When summer hits Japan, hot ramen bowls give way to this colorful cold noodle dish. Chilled ramen noodles form the base for an artistic arrangement of toppings – typically thin-sliced omelet, ham, cucumber, and tomato.

The magic comes from the tare (dressing) – a sweet-tangy mixture of soy sauce, rice vinegar, and sesame oil. Available only during summer months in most ramen shops, hiyashi chuka celebrates the season with its rainbow appearance and refreshing taste. A squirt of hot mustard adds unexpected complexity.

18. Scandinavian Sillsallad: Herring Salad Surprise

Scandinavians have mastered the art of preserving fish, and this summer salad puts those skills to delicious use. Pickled herring – already cooked and preserved – gets tossed with diced apples, potatoes, beets, and onions, then bound together with a light sour cream dressing.

The sweet-sour flavor profile is distinctly Nordic. Served chilled with crispbread, sillsallad makes a complete meal without generating any kitchen heat. Popular during Midsummer celebrations, this colorful salad offers protein and vegetables in one refreshing package.