startcooking.com's Avocado Soup

Cool summer soups are a great way to beat the heat and can be a nice alternative to eating a salad.  They can also be a surprisingly hearty and satisfying meal.  Many recipes require little or no cooking.  Raw ingredients often just get pureed in a blender and that's it!

The key to a substantial summer soup is to make sure it includes more than just vegetables and herbs. There are various ways to give it a rich taste and texture:

• Add beans or dairy products; a dollop of sour cream or yogurt  will make it more filling
• Incorporate fat in the form of olive oil, nuts or avocados
• Try adding grains like rice, barley, or bread

So are you ready to give cold soups a try? Here are some that will tantalize your palate and soothe your (too hot) soul!

1. Gazpacho (video) is a classic cold soup that that can be made smooth or chunky.
2. Or for a less-traditional gazpacho, try this watermelon-based one.  Hot chili peppers give this cold soup a bit of a kick!
3. Bring the flavors of the farmer's market to your table with this warm Spinach, Shrimp and Avocado Soup.
4.  startcooking.com's Avocado Soup (shown above) requires no cooking. That’s right, zero – just throw the ingredients in the blender and you’re on your way.
5. Raw Energy Soup features all sorts of green things, like cucumber, avocado, spinach, and herbs, along with some tomatoes and chicken stock.
6. Chilled Beet Soup is sweet and delicious.  A dollop of sour cream swirled on top adds a decadent touch and makes the soup look amazing!
7. Try a soup with a Thai twist, like this Coconut Corn Chowder. This one is a warm soup, but it takes advantage of the summer’s fresh corn, and its flavors are lightened up for summer with lime juice and coconut milk.
8. Martha outdid herself with this Spring Green Soup. It is made with pencil thin asparagus.  (It was a huge hit at my last dinner party!)
   
   
   
   

   Martha Stewart's Spring Green Soup

9. Chilled Tomato Basil soup is delicious served with grilled garlic bread and a dollop of pureed avocado.
10. A Classic Vichyssoise is wonderful hot or cold, and is made with leeks, potatoes, onions, chicken broth and cream.
11. This Cucumber Yogurt soup is flavored with cumin and lemon juice. It would be perfect alongside pita chips and hummus or a bagel topped with cream cheese and lox.
12. This Green Goddess Zucchini Soup has four ingredients (olive oil, onion, zucchini and chicken broth) and is unbelievably easy to make.

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