Delia Smith Cucumber Soup Recipes

OLD ENGLISH SUMMER SOUP

Steps:

• First of all, in a medium saucepan, melt the butter gently, then add the potatoes, spring onions, lettuce and cucumber. Stir everything round in the butter then, keeping the heat very low, put a lid on and let everything sweat for 10 minutes. Now pour in the stock, stir, add some salt and freshly milled black pepper and bring to the boil. Then reduce the heat to low, put the lid on and let it simmer gently for another 20 minutes. Leave the soup to cool a little, then puree the whole lot in a blender. If you need to do this in two batches, it is helpful to have a bowl to hand to put the first batch in. Finally, check the seasoning, gently re-heat the soup and serve it with the freshly snipped chives stirred in at the last moment or sprinkle a few into each bowl.

A SUMMER SOUP OF LETTUCE, CUCUMBER AND PEAS

Steps:

• First melt the butter in a large saucepan and add the chopped spring onions and let them cook gently for 5 minutes. Meanwhile chop the cucumber into chunks (no need to peel) and shred the lettuce. After the five minutes is up add the lettuce, cucumber and shelled peas to the pan. Give it all a stir, then cover and leave the vegetables to sweat gently for 10 minutes. Next pour in the stock, season with salt and pepper, give it another good stir and bring to the boil. Now reduce the heat to low, put the lid on and let it simmer gently for another 20 minutes. Leave it cool a little, then whiz it all in a blender (probably best in two batches). Pour the soup into a bowl, cover with clingfilm and leave it in the fridge to get absolutely cold. When you're ready to serve, check the seasoning, divide it among four chilled soup bowls, scatter the chives over each serving and swirl about a dessertspoon of cream into each one.

CHILLED YOGHURT AND CUCUMBER SOUP WITH MINT

Steps:

• First peel the cucumbers thinly with a potato peeler so as to leave some of the green skin on, then slice them. Reserve a few slices to garnish the soup, then place the rest in a blender, along with the yoghurt, soured cream and crushed garlic. Switch on and blend at the highest speed until smooth. Add a seasoning of salt and pepper and the lemon juice, then pour the soup into a tureen and if it seems to be a little too thick, thin it with some cold milk. Now stir in the chopped fresh mint, cover with foil or with a lid and chill very thoroughly for several hours before serving. To serve, ladle the soup into individual soup bowls and float a few thin slices of cucumber and a thin slice of lemon on each one.

LATE SUMMER CUCUMBER SOUP

Steps:

• To prepare for this, chop the cucumber into chunks (thankfully no need to peel) and the same with the potato. Slice the spring onions (including the green part), while the lettuce leaves can just be separated and washed, and the leaves torn. Now in a medium-size saucepan melt the butter and add all the prepared vegetables, stirring them around a bit. Then, keeping the heat low, pop a lid on and let them sweat gently for 10 minutes. After that pour in the stock, season and, after a couple of stirs, bring it back to a gentle simmer. Put the lid back on so it can simmer gently for another 20 minutes. When the time is up, use a stick blender to purée the soup, making sure there are no escaped bits of cucumber that the blades didn't catch - it will finish up a magnificent fresh green colour, very pretty. Reheat gently and serve in warm soup bowls with some cream swirled into each one and a few chives sprinkled over.

PICKLED CUCUMBERS WITH DILL & SPICE

Steps:

• Wash the cucumbers, split along their length and scoop out the seeds. Cut each half into finger-length chunks, then cut into 5mm strips. Mix with the onion and salt in a large bowl, cover and leave to soak overnight.
• Next day, drain the juices, rinse the vegetables in cold water and drain well. Put the vinegar, sugar and spices into a very large saucepan and heat gently until the sugar has dissolved. Simmer for 5 mins to let the flavours infuse.
• Add the vegetables and bring the pan to a rolling boil over a high heat, stirring now and again. Boil for 1 min, then remove pan from the heat. Tear in the dill, then pack into sterilised jars (see above right), making sure that no air bubbles are trapped. Store in a cool, dark place until ready to use.

DELIA SMITH'S TRADITIONAL SCOTCH EGGS WITH FRESH HERBS

Steps:

• Hard-boil the eggs by covering them in cold water, bringing it to the boil, simmering gently for 9 minutes and cooling them under cold running water.
• Next, mix the sausage meat with the spring onions and herbs and season well. Then shell the cooled eggs and coat each one with some seasoned flour.
• Divide the sausage meat into four portions and pat each piece out on a floured surface to a shape of roughly 5 x 3 inches (13 x 7.5 cm). Now place an egg in the center of each piece and carefully gather up the sausage meat to cover the egg completely. Seal the joins well, and smooth and pat into shape all over.
• Next, coat them one by one, first in beaten egg and then thoroughly and evenly in the breadcrumbs.
• Now heat 1 1/2 inches (4 cm) of oil in a deep frying pan up to a temperature of 350-375 degrees F (180-190 degrees C). (If you don't have a thermometer, you can easily test the temperature by frying a small cube of bread- if it turns golden brown within a minute, the oil is hot enough). Put the eggs into the oil and fry for 6-8 minutes, turning frequently until they have turned a nice brown color. Drain on crumpled silicone paper (parchment), or paper towels.
• Serve warm or cold. May be served whole, or halved. Good with mustard or chutney, for dipping.

CUCUMBER SOUP

Steps:

• Finely chop a third of one of the cucumbers and set aside for when you're ready to serve later. Roughly chop the remaining cucumbers and tip into a blender or food processor along with the yogurt and lime juice. Add the tarragon, most of the mint leaves and most of the chives. Blitz until the mixture is smooth.
• Pour the soup into bowls or small cups, scatter over the finely chopped cucumber, remaining mint leaves and the rest of the chives. Drizzle with a little rapeseed oil just before serving.

HOT CUCUMBER SOUP

Steps:

• As per the recipe: Peel and slice the cucumbers.
• Melt the butter/marg in large saucepan and saute the onion until transparent.
• Stir in the flour.
• Add the stock and bring to a boil.
• Add the sliced cucumber and cook until tender.
• Puree in electric blender.
• Season to taste with salt and pepper and stir in lemon juice.
• Just before serving, mix in the cream.
• What Liza does: I use alot more cucumbers, maybe+- 800/900g and add a touch more water to the stock amount.
• I use more onions, approx.
• 2 med-large.
• Don't use more lemon juice as it changes the taste of the soup.
• Once the soup is cooked (ie. the cucumbers are tender), puree the soup: and options: can either leave the soup as it is; or put in one tub of sour cream; or don't put sour cream in the pot and only serve with sour cream as garnish.
• It's yummy.