If there is one dish that is ideally suited for a hot, sweltering summer day, it is one of those nice and cold soups. It also cools you off! Culinary journalist Janneke Vreugdenhil continued NRC a list of her favorite recipes: recipes that are definitely worth trying this summer.
1Mexican Avocadosoup
When Janneke first avocado soup, or sopa de aguacate she thought it was just a boring soup. Pureed avocado, diluted with cooled chicken broth turned out not to taste as sparkling as the name of the soup might suggest. So she decided to pimp the recipe. It is certainly not authentic Mexican anymore, but it is tasty!
She added lime juice, cumin and salsa, among other things, for a taste explosion
2Daddy al pomodoro
One of Janneke’s favorite summer soups is papa al pomodoro. This cold tomato soup is a classic from Tuscan farmhouse cuisine. You make it with little more than fresh tomatoes, stale bread, basil and olive oil. Immediately after cooking, the soup is still very coarse. But after a night in the fridge it becomes evenly smooth, as if it is bound.
This soup can also be warm, but on a summer day it is delicious cold.
3Fresh cucumber Soup
Going to the supermarket on holiday is seen by many as an outing. If only to temporarily escape the heat from outside. One of Janneke’s favorites from the French supermarket is classic gazpacho. But this time, a ready-made cucumber soup caught her eye. The basis was good, but otherwise it was unfortunately a bit disappointing: so Janneke decided to make her own, improved version.
It is best to use an organic cucumber for this soup; they are a lot richer in taste.
4Lithuanian beetroot Soup
About ten years ago, a reader tipped Janneke about a Lithuanian folk dish: cold beet root soup. A cold soup, based on buttermilk, with grated cucumber and grated beet with a lot of salt. Janneke was so intrigued that she also prepared such a Lithuanian beetroot soup within 24 hours and was immediately sold after tasting it.
With this dish you traditionally eat a boiled potato, but Janneke recommends baked potatoes.
5melon soup with vodka
Are you looking for a festive, summery appetizer? This soup is perfect. Based on watermelon, with a splash of vodka and some refreshing mint, this colorful summer soup is a feast for the eyes. Serve it in small glasses with a block of ice and the mood is set immediately.
You eat this soup ice cold. Keep this in mind when you season it: the cold makes the soup taste a bit flatter.
6Ajo blank
Ajo blanco is the white sister of the classic Spanish gazpacho. This almond soup originates from Andalusia, where the cuisine was strongly influenced by the Arab rulers. In a soup with so few ingredients you use the best high quality ingredients. So a nice sherry vinegar and almonds from the nut farmer.
For the garnish, Janneke tips cubes of chilled melon, or else thin arches of celery.