Chilled Cucumber Soup With Garlic Croutons Food

CHILLED CUCUMBER SOUP

Steps:

• Combine the cucumber and tomatoes in a blender, reserving 1/4 cup of each for garnish. Add the bell pepper, onion, vinegar, 1 teaspoon each dill and parsley, 1 clove garlic and the sugar; puree until smooth. Pass through a fine mesh strainer into a bowl, pressing with the back of a spoon to extract as much liquid as possible. Season with 1 teaspoon salt. Refrigerate until chilled, about 1 hour.
• Meanwhile, make the croutons: Heat the remaining clove garlic with the olive oil in a skillet over low heat. Add the bread cubes and the remaining 3 teaspoons each dill and parsley. Cook, stirring, until golden and crunchy, 10 to 15 minutes. Discard the garlic.
• Pour the soup into chilled bowls. Dice the reserved cucumber and tomatoes; sprinkle into the soup. Garnish with the croutons.

COLD CUCUMBER SOUP

Steps:

• Combine the cucumbers, bell peppers, green onions, jalapenos, cilantro, mint, dill, garlic, Essence, salt, cayenne, yogurt, 2 cups sour cream, olive oil, and white wine vinegar in a large bowl. Working in batches, puree the ingredients in a blender until very smooth. Transfer the soup to the refrigerator until well chilled, at least 2 hours. Taste and adjust the seasoning if necessary. Serve the soup, with each bowl garnished with a dollop of the remaining sour cream and some of the minced chives.
• Combine all ingredients thoroughly.
• Recipe from "New New Orleans Cooking", by Emeril Lagasse and Jessie Tirsch, published by William and Morrow, 1993.

CHILLED CREAM OF CUCUMBER SOUP

Steps:

• Coarsely purée cucumbers in a blender or food processor.
• Transfer to a metal bowl and whisk in remaining ingredients and salt to taste.
• Cover bowl and chill 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Serve in chilled bowls.

CHILLED CUCUMBER SOUP

Steps:

• Cut 4 thin slices of cucumber; set aside for garnish. Peel and finely chop remaining cucumbers. In a large bowl, combine the buttermilk, sour cream, sugar, dill, salt, pepper, green onions and chopped cucumbers. , Refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight. Garnish with cucumber slices and, if desired, fresh dill.

EASY COLD CUCUMBER SOUP

Steps:

• Combine cucumber, sour cream, yogurt, vegetable broth, and garlic in a large bowl; blend together using an immersion blender until smooth. Blend in mint and dill. Refrigerate until chilled, about 1 hour.

CHILLED CUCUMBER GARLIC SOUP

Steps:

• Line a sieve with cheesecloth (muslin) and place over a large bowl.
• Spoon the yogurt into the sieve and let drain in the refrigerator for 4 hours.
• Discard the captured liquid and place the yogurt in the bowl.
• Add the grated cucumber, garlic, olive oil, mint, chopped dill and milk.
• Mix well.
• Stir in the vinegar or lemon juice.
• Cover and chill for 1 hour.
• Before serving, season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Ladle the soup into chilled individual bowls and garnish each serving with a cucumber slice and a dill sprig.
• Serve well chilled.
• NOTES: Cucumbers are native to Asia, where they have been eaten for thousands of years.
• They contain a great deal of water, which makes them particularly refreshing in the hot summer months.
• When choosing cucumbers, avoid the waxed variety sold in grocery stores year-round, and instead seek out the long, thin-skinned English or hothouse variety.
• It has a superior flavor, less water and far fewer seeds.
• Three lemon cucumbers can be substituted for the single English (hothouse) cucumber, if you like.