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. 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.
4. If you love a good Bloody Mary, this Bloody Mary Soup will give you all the flavor, minus the alcohol. Topped with horseradish cream, it really tastes authentic and spicy.
5. 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!
6. Let’s get healthy with the Mayo Clinic’s recipe for Cold Potato Soup (Vichyssoise).
7. 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

8. Chilled Tomato Basil soup is delicious served with garlic bread.
9. Summer Pea Soup, made with frozen peas, whips up in a flash and can be eaten hot or cold.
10. Cold Cucumber Mint Soup is so refreshing on a hot summer day.
11. White Gazpacho, made with bread, blanched almonds, green grapes, cucumbers, olive oil, and garlic sounds odd, but is amazingly delicious.
12. Be creative with your leftover vegetables and get inspiration from this recipe for Farmer’s Market Soup.

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