What to cook in a heatwave: the best salads, noodles and chilled soups

You can feel it in the air; the sweaty, hair-frizzying, thunderstorm-inducing climate that signals a heatwave, set to hit the UK this week. Get your fans at the ready, and dig out your factor 50.

Though the heatwave brings with it a plethora of daily challenges – what to wear, how to exercise, how to keep your meticulously pruned garden alive – our concern lies with what exactly one eats in the midst of a heatwave. While many of us may prefer to spend as much time as possible lingering in front of the open fridge door, actually finding something inside to cook feels far too strenuous a task.

As Telegraph food writer Diana Henry writes, "It's the kind of day that makes me want to drop ice cubes down my bra and suck limes dipped in salt". Nutrition simply takes a back seat.

The importance of hydration goes without saying. Drinking plenty of water (no, a cold beer doesn't count) is crucial. Slices of chilled watermelon make for the perfect snack – in the US watermelon is often sold with a sprinkling of Mexican Tajin seasoning, an addictive mix of chilli, spices and lime. Try topping watermelon slices with a pinch of chilli powder, lime juice and salt instead.

Try to go easy on your alcohol consumption (if you can), and opt for lighter, more veg-centric dishes to up your water intake and prevent unwanted meat sweats.

And as for what meals to cook, help is on hand in the form of crisp salads, iced gazpachos and easy, no-cook noodle dishes.

Each of the recipes below comes together quickly and can be kept in the fridge until the sun goes in and you're ready to dig in. And of course, it goes without saying that the consumption of ice cream is vital for a happy heatwave.