Refreshing Cold Dinner Soups For Hot Summer Months

When warm spring weather approaches, the days of making large, hot meals in the oven are over.  There are some delicious and nutritious options for making cold soups that you and your family will enjoy in the warm months.  To make many of these soups, you’ll simply need a blender or food processor and some fresh fruits or vegetables from your supermarket.

Tomato Based Soups

There are many tasty cold soups that can be made by using a tomato base.  The most famous of all the cold soups is probably gazpacho.  If you haven’t tried it, you need to.  It is a delicious and hearty cold soup that can be made with many varied ingredients.  It can be made as spicy or mild as you like and is typically served with garlic toast or crusty bread for dipping and scooping.  Delicious!

Another favorite cold soup is roasted tomato.  This is one of the most versatile soups that can be served either hot or cold.  To make it, start by roasting fresh tomatoes on a cookie sheet in a 350 degree oven for 15 to 20 minutes.  Cool slightly and puree in a blender along with some fresh basil.  Add some milk to thicken if you like and salt to taste. 

Cold Vegetable Soups

Vegetables are very good when they are cold.  To make most of these soups you’ll need to first cook the veggies, mix them with other ingredients and puree them.  Then simply chill them for an easy summer supper.  You can easily make these ahead of time and keep them in your fridge for the week for some easy yet nutritious hot weather fare.

Vichyssoise is a traditional classic cold soup made from potatoes and leeks.  The vegetables are cooked and then pureed until smooth.  It can be served with a swirl of cream to make an elegant and beautiful presentation. 

Many other vegetables make great cold coups.  Try cold cucumber soup for a refreshing, light taste.  Avocado can be turned into a wonderful puree that can be served cold.  Add some other fresh ingredients such as cilantro and tomatoes to create a south of the border taste.  Top with a dollop of sour cream and serve with some corn chips.

Soups Made from Fruits

Fruit based soups are quite delicious and are easy to make.  They are very cooling after a long hot day.  Pureed fruits are wonderful when served as a dessert soup, but are also just as good when eaten as appetizers.  Fruits have a refreshing cooling effect and are naturally sweet, making them a nice dessert item.  Try berries, pureed and served with a small touch of sour cream to balance the sweet and tart flavors.

Chilled cantaloupes make great soup.  These are sweet and bright in flavor.  Serving fruit soups is a great way to get kids to get their daily dietary requirement of fruit.  Almost any fruit can be pureed and served cold in a cup or bowl.  Try visiting your local fruit market or farmer’s market, and selecting the fruits that are in season in spring and summer.  These make the freshest and brightest tastes.