Beat the heat with 'no-oven' dinner recipes

Hot, hot, hot! But cool, cool, cool! Neil Perry's corn fritters with jalapeno butter (Recipe here). Photo: William Meppem
Karen Martini's tasty cold soba noodles with beansprouts, soy and ginger (Recipe here). Photo: Marcel Aucar
Grab a roast chook from your local supermarket for Neil Perry's roast chicken burger (Recipe here). Photo: William Meppem
Jill Dupleix's all-American, super satisfying cobb salad with bacon, chicken (all the good bits) (Recipe here). Photo: Edwina Pickles
Simple seafood: Neil Perry's kingfish with green beans, hazelnuts and brown butter (Recipe here). . Photo: William Meppem
Perfect for hot weather and for those watching their waistlines... Jill Dupleix's zucchini 'spaghetti' -> (Recipe here). Photo: Edwina Pickles
Central-American brinner winner for a hot night: Baleadas with red beans and feta (Recipe here). Photo: Marina Oliphant
Or, try a barbecued duck or pork char sui from a Chinese restaurant or grocer and use it to whip up Brigitte Hafner's tasty rice paper rolls (Recipe here). Photo: Marina Oliphant
Neil Perry's canned tuna with herb salad, capers and lemon dressing (Recipe here). Photo: William Meppem
Another great recipe for a pre-roasted chook: Neil Perry's Vietnamese chicken and prawn coleslaw (Recipe here). Photo: William Meppem
Try Justin North's tasty summer tacos with avocado, prawns and chilli (Recipe here). Photo: Jennifer Soo
Simple, tasty, quick and always good: Bruschetta with cherry tomatoes, basil, olives and feta. (Recipe here). Photo: William Meppem
Neil Perry's simple and sophisticated spaghetti lets cheese do the talking: Spahetti with garlic, pangrattato and olive oil (Recipe here). Photo: William Meppem
Jill Dupleix's healthy tuna, avocado and tofu with wasabi cream. (Recipe here). Photo: Marina Oliphant
For dessert: make an ice-cream sandwich with pre-bought pastry 'slices' on a hot night. Here's how -> (article here). Photo: Edwina Pickles
Caroline's Velik's summer berry mascarpone tart does not require any baking (Recipe here). Photo: Marina Oliphant
Adam Liaw's no-bake strawberries and cream millefeuille (Recipe here). Photo: William Meppem

The last thing you need right now is to raise a sweat in the kitchen - especially if you are baking your way through Melbourne's high-30s scorcher.

So here are some dinner ideas that don't require you to turn the oven on.

Grab a rotisserie chook from your local supermarket for a salad or pasta, or whip up a tasty, quick dinner featuring pantry staples such as tinned tuna or beans (add some healthy summer vegies and fresh herbs).

And definitely don't forget a cool, creamy dessert to finish your meal!