Euro Style Cucumber Soup Recipes

SIMPLE CUCUMBER SOUP

Steps:

• Melt butter with the oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Cook and stir onion and garlic in the butter mixture until tender, 3 to 5 minutes. Add cucumber and zucchini slices; cook and stir until softened, 2 to 3 minutes. Pour vegetable broth over the mixture; bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low, and let simmer until the vegetables are cooked through, 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from heat and cool a few minutes.
• Pour soup into a blender no more than half full. Cover and hold lid in place with a towel; pulse a few times before leaving on to blend. Puree in batches until smooth.

EURO-STYLE CUCUMBER SOUP

Steps:

• Peel cucumbers, then cut them in half lengthwise. Scoop out seeds. Slice cucumbers as thinly as possible (a mandoline is ideal for this). Mix them in a bowl with 2 teaspoons salt and refrigerate for about 20 minutes.
• Add stock, black pepper, yogurt, shallots and watercress if you like, and stir. Taste and adjust seasoning. Just before serving the soup, garnish with the herb of your choice.

TOMATO-CUCUMBER SOUP WITH BASIL

Steps:

• Working in two batches, blend all of the ingredients except the basil leaves in a blender for two minutes or longer until smooth and frothy. Transfer to a bowl or container (a metal bowl is the most efficient for chilling), and chill for at least two hours before eating. Garnish each bowl or glass with slivered or very small whole basil leaves.

BULGARIAN CUCUMBER SOUP WITH WALNUTS

Steps:

• Place the garlic in a mortar with 1/2 teaspoon salt, and mash to a paste.
• Place the yogurt in a large bowl. Stir in the oil, garlic and walnuts. Whisk in the water and the lemon juice. Add salt and freshly ground pepper to taste. Chill for one hour or longer.
• Meanwhile, season the cucumbers lightly with salt, and allow to drain in a colander for 15 minutes. Add to the yogurt mixture and stir together.
• If you wish, place an ice cube in each bowl, and ladle in the soup. Top with chopped walnuts, a drizzle of olive oil if desired, and a sprinkling of dill or mint.

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.

EAST EUROPEAN CUCUMBER SALAD

Steps:

• Half the cucumber lengthwise and slice thin. Half the onion and slice really thin. (I always use the mandolin).
• To a small bowl add : garlic, yogurt, vinegar, oil, salt, pepper and sugar.
• Mix thoroughly with the cucumber and onion. Taste and adjust seasoning. You could eat it now or put in the fridge for a while.
• Before serving fold in the dill.

CHILLED BEET SOUP WITH BUTTERMILK, CUCUMBERS, AND DILL (CHLODNIK)

Steps:

• Using a large knife, separate greens and stems from beets. Thoroughly wash greens and stems; set aside. Scrub beets, transfer to a medium pot, and cover with 1" water. Cover pot and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium, uncover, and cook until beets are tender when pierced with a knife, about 10 minutes. Drain beets; discard cooking liquid. Let cool.
• Meanwhile, chop beet greens and stems. Transfer to a large pot and add 1/2 tsp. salt and 4 cups water. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium and simmer, without boiling, until greens are tender, about 5 minutes. Let cool to room temperature, about 30 minutes.
• Peel and coarsely grate beets, preferably wearing gloves. Add to pot with cooled greens. Gently stir in cucumbers, pickle, pickle brine, buttermilk, sour cream, and scallions. Season with salt and pepper.
• Cover pot and chill soup at least 30 minutes. Adjust seasonings, if desired. Divide soup among bowls; top with eggs and dill.
• Do Ahead
• Soup can be made 2 days ahead; cover and chill.