Chilled Cucumber Soup With Garlic Croutons Recipes

COLD CUCUMBER SOUP

Steps:

• Prep the cucumbers, onion, and dill: Peel, seed, and roughly chop the cucumbers. Chop the onion and dill.
• Blend: Put all of the ingredients into a blender and pulse until completely smooth. Adjust seasonings to taste. Add more salt and pepper if needed. At this point you can make ahead and chill.
• Chill the soup: Chill in a container in the refrigerator until cold.
• Serve: Pour into bowls and garnish with a drizzle of olive oil and a feather of dill.

CHILLED CUCUMBER SOUP

Steps:

• Combine the cucumber and tomatoes in a blender, reserving 1/4 cup of each for garnish. Add the bell pepper, onion, vinegar, 1 teaspoon each dill and parsley, 1 clove garlic and the sugar; puree until smooth. Pass through a fine mesh strainer into a bowl, pressing with the back of a spoon to extract as much liquid as possible. Season with 1 teaspoon salt. Refrigerate until chilled, about 1 hour.
• Meanwhile, make the croutons: Heat the remaining clove garlic with the olive oil in a skillet over low heat. Add the bread cubes and the remaining 3 teaspoons each dill and parsley. Cook, stirring, until golden and crunchy, 10 to 15 minutes. Discard the garlic.
• Pour the soup into chilled bowls. Dice the reserved cucumber and tomatoes; sprinkle into the soup. Garnish with the croutons.

COLD TOMATO-THYME SOUP WITH GRILLED GARLIC CROUTONS

Steps:

• Heat 4 tablespoons oil in heavy large pot over medium heat. Add onions, carrots, finely chopped garlic and bay leaf. Cover; cook until carrots are tender, stirring occasionally, about 10 minutes. Add tomatoes. Cover; cook until tomatoes release juices, about 10 minutes. Uncover; cook until juices evaporate, stirring often, about 20 minutes. Add broth and chopped thyme. Partially cover pot and simmer until mixture is reduced to 6 cups, stirring occasionally, about 10 minutes longer.
• Cool soup slightly. Discard bay leaf. Puree half of soup in blender. Stir into soup in pot. Season with salt and pepper. Chill uncovered until cold, then cover. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Keep chilled.)
• Prepare barbecue (medium heat). Place smoke chips in 8x6-inch foil packet with open top. Set packet atop coals about 5 minutes before grilling. Brush 1 tablespoon oil over both sides of bread slices. Grill bread until lightly browned, about 2 minutes per side. Rub garlic clove halves over bread. Cut bread into 3/4-inch cubes.
• Divide cold soup among bowls. Top with croutons. Garnish with thyme.

CHILLED CUCUMBER SOUP WITH AVOCADO TOAST

Steps:

• In the bowl of a blender or food processor, combine cucumber, buttermilk, garlic, anchovy, scallions, jalapeño, fresh herbs, sherry vinegar and salt. Blend until smooth and adjust seasoning as needed.
• Smash avocado slices on the toasted bread. Sprinkle with crumbled feta, squeeze the juice of the lemon half over the top and finish each with a drizzle of olive oil and some pepper. Transfer to a plate and set aside.
• Distribute soup between 4 bowls and garnish with raw corn kernels and a drizzle of olive oil. Serve avocado toast on the side.

EASY COLD CUCUMBER SOUP

Steps:

• Combine cucumber, sour cream, yogurt, vegetable broth, and garlic in a large bowl; blend together using an immersion blender until smooth. Blend in mint and dill. Refrigerate until chilled, about 1 hour.

CHILLED CUCUMBER GARLIC SOUP

Steps:

• Line a sieve with cheesecloth (muslin) and place over a large bowl.
• Spoon the yogurt into the sieve and let drain in the refrigerator for 4 hours.
• Discard the captured liquid and place the yogurt in the bowl.
• Add the grated cucumber, garlic, olive oil, mint, chopped dill and milk.
• Mix well.
• Stir in the vinegar or lemon juice.
• Cover and chill for 1 hour.
• Before serving, season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Ladle the soup into chilled individual bowls and garnish each serving with a cucumber slice and a dill sprig.
• Serve well chilled.
• NOTES: Cucumbers are native to Asia, where they have been eaten for thousands of years.
• They contain a great deal of water, which makes them particularly refreshing in the hot summer months.
• When choosing cucumbers, avoid the waxed variety sold in grocery stores year-round, and instead seek out the long, thin-skinned English or hothouse variety.
• It has a superior flavor, less water and far fewer seeds.
• Three lemon cucumbers can be substituted for the single English (hothouse) cucumber, if you like.