Cold Soup Recipes for Summer

Spring-Pea-and-Spinach Vichyssoise

This vibrant chilled soup gets its smooth texture from puréed potatoes and leeks, along with the peas and spinach that give it the brilliant color. It's vegan if you skip the swirl of crème fraîche for serving.

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02 of 19

Chilled Corn Soup with Corn Custard

Martha's take on chilled soup features individual corn custards in each bowl. (The soup is delicious without the savory custard, too.) The recipe uses just a few ingredients and gets maximum flavor from the corn, using the corn cobs for a simple stock and pureeing the corn kernels and "milk" along with sautéed onion for a silky-textured soup.

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03 of 19

Zucchini Coconut Soup

Make the most of summer's bounty of squash with this cold zucchini soup. Featuring a base of canned coconut milk and potatoes, it's pleasantly rich and creamy. Plus, the soup takes just 30 minutes to prepare, making it an excellent make-ahead meal.

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04 of 19

Chilled Melon, Cucumber, and Mint Soup

Made with three of the most cooling ingredients, this melon, cucumber, and mint soup will be your new summer staple. The recipe also calls for strained yogurt, but you can make it dairy-free by using unflavored soy, coconut, or almond yogurt.

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05 of 19

Spanish Gazpacho

Blend tomatoes, bell pepper, and orange juice for a soup that tastes like summer in a bowl. The recipe also calls for chunks of white bread, which gives this gazpacho its delicious texture. If you'd like, finish off the dish with chopped hard-boiled egg and cured ham (like jamón Ibérico) for a more authentic touch.

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06 of 19

Corn Soup with Tomato-Bacon Toasts

For a new way to enjoy corn, blend fresh kernels with sour cream and spices. Serve it cold with tomato bacon toasts for a seasonal riff on the traditional grilled cheese and soup.

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07 of 19

Chilled Sour Cherry Soup

Take a break from the usual smoothies and try this chilled soup instead. Sour cherries are blended with cucumber, garlic, and herbs for a surprising savory twist.

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08 of 19

Chilled Buttermilk Tomatillo Soup

Equal parts tangy and smooth, this cold cream soup pairs beautifully with crusty homemade bread. Top it off with fresh cilantro from the garden or a combo of your favorite herbs.

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09 of 19

Chilled Spanish-Style Tomato Soup

chilled tomato soup plated crop — Alpha Smoot

If you have 20 minutes to spare, you can make light and savory soup. It doubles as the perfect canvas for scrumptious toppings, from Spanish olives to Manchego cheese.

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10 of 19

Beet Gazpacho with Shrimp

If you're looking for an elegant no-cook dish, you've found it in this bright beet gazpacho. Make it in a pinch by using vacuum-packed cooked beets and pre-cooked shrimp.

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11 of 19

Chilled Avocado Cucumber Soup

Creamy avocado and cooling cucumber come together in this nutritious green soup. Serve it with crostini, your favorite crackers, or your go-to summer sandwich.

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12 of 19

Yellow Tomato and Peach Gazpacho

Transform summer produce into a sunny, flavor-packed chilled soup. It calls for orange or yellow tomatoes, peaches, and bell peppers blended with fresh basil and sherry vinegar.

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13 of 19

Creamless Creamy Corn Soup

Enjoy a creamy soup sans cream with this summery recipe. The secret lies within corn milk, or the liquid scraped from the cob. Cook it with flour to make a roux, then blend with corn kernels and onion for an enticing dish.

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14 of 19

Watermelon, Jalapeño, and Lemon Soup

Watermelon, Jalapeno, and Lemon Soup — Yunhee Kim

With just five ingredients, this refreshing soup proves that tasty dishes don't have to be complicated. Top it off with thinly sliced jalapeño—or don't if you prefer less heat.

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15 of 19

Mango Gazpacho

For a tropical twist on the classic gazpacho, replace the tomatoes with mangoes. The combo of onion, garlic, and rice vinegar complements the sweetness of mango and will make your taste buds sing.

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16 of 19

Tomato Gazpacho with Chicken

When your garden is overflowing with tomatoes, try this easy 40-minute gazpacho. Garnish the soup with cooked chicken (or your go-to protein) for a filling yet light meal.

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17 of 19

Chilled Cucumber Soup with Roasted Baby Beets

Refreshing, hydrating and with the perfect balance of sweet and tart, this summer soup recipe will quickly become a family favorite. In addition to the simple base—cucumbers and baby beets—fresh herbs, lemons, and creamy whole-milk yogurt give this chilled soup complexity and balance.

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18 of 19

Chilled Corn and Crayfish Soup with Cream Fraiche and Chives

If there’s nothing that screams summer more to you than corn, this recipe from chef Emeril Lagasse will wow your tastebuds. It features corn, of course—but also shallots, carrots, crayfish tails, and plenty of dairy to make it ridiculously creamy. Go light or heavy-handed with the cayenne, depending how much spice you can handle.

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19 of 19

Cucumber Coconut Soup

While this might seem like a surprising duo in Western culture, in traditional Indian meals, cucumber and coconut are often paired together. This make-ahead cold soup is interesting and dynamic in flavor and rich in protein with the poached chicken. For even more dimension, top this soup with jalapeno and fresh cilantro.

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