There's nothing like a hot cup of soup on a cold winter day.
Surprising as it may sound, the reverse is also true.A spicy blend of vegetables in a gazpacho, a creamy mix of flavors or a mild combination of pureed fruits and juices, is a particularly satisfying seasonal treat.
Cold soup, on first impression, sounds as misplaced as a 110-pounder on a Ditka defensive line. After all, potato soup, even upscaled to vichyssoise, is still boring, unappealing potato soup.
Yet other fruit or vegetable combinations encourage dining adventures.
A summer get-together or romantic dinner for two can be enlivened only by a surprising blend of refreshing pureed ingredients.
A cool soup may serve as an appetizer or an entree - either way, a pleasant diversion to ordinary summer meals.
Summer soups are quick and easy to prepare. With the help of a microwave and a food processor or blender, you're minutes away from dinner.
A precaution, however.
Many cold-soup recipes such as vichyssoise tend to be cream-based. Or versions of gazpacho call for excessive amounts of oil.
More healthful alternatives exist, according to the American Institute for Cancer Research.
One simple method of soup improvement is to substitute yogurt or evaporated skim milk for cream or sour cream in a soup recipe. Beef, chicken or vegetable stock or low-sodium bouillon also make good cream replacements. With these alterations, summer soups are lighter than their winter counterparts, relying on the fresh flavors of the season.
Cool soups tend to have mellow flavors, allowing strong seasonings to grab attention. Surprisingly intense flavor can come from cooking fruits or vegetables at their peak, so you may need to adjust seasonings to taste.
Another precaution in preparing summer soups: Sauteing some ingredients may leave a residue of butter, margarine or oil. Carefully skim clinging fat particles to avoid their appearance in a table-ready serving.
The convenience of making soup ahead of time and allowing it to chill throughout the day provides a relaxing meal at the end of a hot day.
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Recipes
Chilled Mushroom Soup
Gazpacho
Chilled Colorado Fruit Soup
Cold Cucumber and Spinach Soup
Hotel Utah Borscht