If you're wondering what to cook in the summer heat, then you've come to the right place! It's understandable that with the unbearably high temperatures outside you don't feel like spending long periods of time next to the stove. That's why cold soups for summer are your right decision! We would now like to introduce you to five popular recipes for cold summer soups.
What do you need to know about cold soups before cooking?
They are prepared quickly and easily, do not require heat treatment, so you don't need to stand next to the hot oven by the heat. Cold soups for summer can taste salty or sweet, depending on the ingredients you use.
The sweet-tasting summer dishes are made from fresh summer fruits and are usually served as a dessert or snack. The salty ones are mainly vegetable soups that can be served as a starter or main course. The density of the soup depends on the products used.
The cold soups are most often prepared from vegetables such as avocado, peas, tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots, zucchini, beets, corn. Usefresh herbslike basil, dill, parsley, mint. Vinegar and olive oil to flavor your summer soups! If you're not a vegetarian, add pieces of meat (chicken or beef), cubes of ham, or perhaps seafood like mussels and shrimp.
We offer you the top 5 most popular cold soups for the summer. Their preparation time is usually no longer than 20 minutes. The vegetables should be thoroughly washed and peeled and don't hesitate to use your blender!
White gazpacho
In Spain this soup is known as ajo blanco. This is what white gazpacho is called, depending on the color and method of preparation that are characteristic of gazpacho. The ingredients of this cold summer soup are dry bread, almonds, garlic, olive oil and water.
Preparation: Soak the bread, mix the garlic and almonds with a hand mixer until a thick, homogeneous mixture is formed. Season with salt and pepper and add a generous splash of water. The cold white gazpacho is sometimes served with fried potatoes or melon.
Borscht
Borscht soup is popular in Eastern and Central Europe. In winter they are eaten hot, in summer they are served chilled. There is another difference, in the winter version you use meat broth, which is not mandatory in the summer soup.
The main product used in borscht preparation is sugar beets. Depending on the region you are in, the soup can also be made with cabbage, potatoes, beans, onions, radishes, cucumbers, plus some pork or chicken. Somewhere the beets are replaced by tomatoes.
Gazpacho
Gazpacho is perhaps the most popular cold summer soup in the world. The dish is part of Spanish cuisine, but is particularly popular in Portugal and some South American regions. This soup is prepared with tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, garlic, olive oil, vinegar, salt and dried bread. Mix all ingredients smoothly with a hand mixer until a homogeneous mixture is formed.
If you wish, you can add croutons, boiled egg, diced vegetables, slices of melon or a few grapes to the gazpacho soup. The gazpacho can be cooled quickly and served with ice cubes
Thick tomato soup
This cold soup for the summer comes from Spain again, it is a product of Spanish chefs. It is known as salmorejo and is very similar to gazpacho, but is thicker and has fewer ingredients. The main products are peeled tomatoes, garlic, dry bread, vinegar and spices. These summer soups are very easy to prepare because all you have to do is mix all the ingredients. Finally you can add a boiled egg sliced or pieces of ham.
Bulgarian yogurt soup with cucumbers (tarator)
Tarator is certainly the most popular cold soup in the warm summer months in Bulgaria. You probably know it if you have already taken a trip to Bulgaria, yes? It is widespread both in the Balkans and in some countries of East Asia. Tarator can also be prepared quickly and easily. The main ingredients of this cold summer soup are yogurt, cucumbers, garlic, dill, walnuts, water and oil. You have to cut the cucumber into small pieces and mix it with yogurt and water. Then this mixture is seasoned with spices to taste and chopped nuts are added. If you haven't tried this cold cucumber bowl yet, then we only recommend that it's high time to try the tarator recipe at home. You won't regret it!
We wish you bon appetite!
If you need inspiration for other easy summer dishes, you canread this article.