Nutritionists have calculated that people who eat “firsts” every day consume on average 20 percent fewer calories than those who don’t enjoy soup: in other words, eating soup is good not only for your stomach, but also for your figure.
But in the heat of summer, soup has a special appeal: a hot liquid seems sometimes more “heavy” than a plate of fried cutlets and potatoes. And yet we should not give up soups, especially these – cold!
Vitamins intact
The season of fresh vegetables in our country is not as long as we would like it to be, and most of the year we eat them thermally processed – in hot soups, vegetable stews, solyanka and other dishes.
Meanwhile, vitamin C begins to break down at 60 degrees Celsius, and much of the other nutrients suffer or are destroyed by prolonged heating.
Cold soups contain more fresh vegetables, herbs, so most of the valuable elements from the pot go straight to the plate. Of course, some cold soups are still cooked, and even on broths – that doesn’t negate their ease.
Blender to the rescue!
An immersion blender or even a regular, stationary jug blender is the best way to prepare soups: here you have creamy textures and a quality chopping of herbs and nuts so that they give off all the flavor and “share” the delicious oils.
Saving time and getting a professional result in the output is ensured primarily by those devices that come with attachments that are traditional for a food processor – disc grinders with holes of different sizes.
Such a device is especially useful for cooking not our native okroshki, but the exquisite cream soups and puree soups of Western European origin.
World soups
Surprisingly, recipes for cold soups from different cuisines of the world have much in common with each other, like recipes for pies or meat dishes. Cold soups are made from such, at first glance, strange products – juices, sour milk, nuts and even … wine. One thing is common – the desire to make something original and healthy from the products that are available and traditional in each particular country.
What are your favorite cold soup recipes to beat the heat in July?
My favorite cold soup recipes to beat the heat in July are gazpacho and cucumber soup. Gazpacho is a refreshing Spanish soup made with tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, onions, garlic, and olive oil. It is typically served chilled and is perfect for a hot summer day. Cucumber soup is another great option, made by blending cucumbers with yogurt or sour cream, dill, garlic, and lemon juice. It is light, creamy, and cooling, making it an ideal choice for July. Both soups are easy to prepare, packed with summer flavors, and provide much-needed relief from the heat.
Gazpacho and cucumber soup are my favorite cold soup recipes to beat the heat in July. Gazpacho is a refreshing Spanish soup made with tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, onions, garlic, and olive oil. It is served chilled and perfect for hot summer days. Cucumber soup is another great option, made by blending cucumbers with yogurt or sour cream, dill, garlic, and lemon juice. It is light, creamy, and cooling, making it an ideal choice for July. Both soups are easy to make, bursting with summer flavors, and offer much-needed relief from the heat.