Chilled Zucchini Cumin Soup Food

CHILLED ZUCCHINI SOUP WITH CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Heat 3 tablespoons olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the leeks, season with salt and cook, stirring, until very soft, 4 to 5 minutes. Add the zucchini, bay leaves and a pinch of salt; cook, stirring, until coated, about 2 minutes. Add 4 cups water, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer until the zucchini is very tender, about 10 minutes. Discard the bay leaves.
• Working in batches if necessary, transfer the zucchini mixture to a blender and puree with the buttermilk, 1 cup dill and 1/2 cup parsley. Pour into a large metal bowl set in a larger bowl of ice water. Let sit, stirring occasionally, until cooled, about 10 minutes. Season with salt if necessary.
• Meanwhile, toss the bread cubes with 1 tablespoon olive oil and a pinch of salt; spread on a baking sheet. Bake until toasted, 10 to 12 minutes.
• Combine the chicken, remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil, the lemon zest and juice, mustard and 1 tablespoon each chopped dill and parsley in a bowl. Season with salt and pepper and toss.
• Divide the soup among bowls and top with the chicken and croutons. Sprinkle with the chopped dill and parsley.

CHILLED ZUCCHINI SOUP

Steps:

• Cook shallots in oil in a 4-quart heavy saucepan over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes.
• Add zucchini, zest, salt, and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until zucchini is softened, about 5 minutes. Add broth and water and simmer until zucchini is tender, about 3 minutes.
• Purée zucchini mixture, including zest, along with parsley and dill in a blender (in 2 batches if necessary) until smooth (use caution when blending hot liquids). Transfer to a metal bowl, then set bowl into a larger bowl of ice and cold water (to quick-chill). Cool, stirring occasionally, about 20 minutes.
• Stir in buttermilk and season with salt.

CHILLED ZUCCHINI SOUP

Steps:

• Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat and cook onion until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add tomatoes and cook for 2 minutes, stirring constantly.
• Pour water into the saucepan and bring to a boil. Add 4 sprigs of mint and zucchini. Reduce heat to low and simmer soup, covered, for 15 minutes. Remove mint.
• Stir together cornstarch and cold water and add to the soup. Increase heat to medium and whisk cornstarch mixture so soup thickens. Season with salt and pepper. Remove from heat and set aside to cool.
• Chill soup in the refrigerator until cold, about 2 hours. Before serving, add lemon juice and garnish with remaining mint, basil, and remaining olive oil.

ZUCCHINI CHEESE SOUP (A.K.A. VACHE QUI RIT SOUP)

Steps:

• Put the zucchini and onion in a medium saucepan and add chicken stock. (The stock will not cover the vegetables.) Add salt and pepper, to taste, and cumin, if using.
• Bring to a boil then lower heat and simmer until vegetables are tender, approximately 10 to 15 minutes.
• Remove from heat, add cheese and puree. (An immersion blender works well and keeps dishes to a minimum.).
• Gently reheat to serve.
• NOTE: A herbed cream cheese, such as Kraft Philadelphia Cream Cheese with Garlic and Herbs, makes this soup really delicious!

CURRIED ZUCCHINI SOUP

Steps:

• In a medium pot, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the onions and garlic and cook, stirring, until soft, about 3 minutes. Add the curry powder, salt, and cayenne, stir, and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the zucchini, reduce to medium heat, and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft, 5 to 6 minutes. Add the stock and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer until the zucchini is very tender, about 20 minutes.
• Remove from the heat. With a hand-held immersion blender, or in batches in a food processor, puree the soup. Return to medium heat and stir in the cream. Simmer for 3 minutes. Adjust the seasoning, to taste.
• Pour into a clean container and let cool slightly. Refrigerate until well chilled, 4 to 6 hours.
• To serve, ladle into large cups, garnish with cilantro, and serve with hot pappadums or pita toast. This soup may be served hot or cold.

COLD ZUCCHINI SOUP

Steps:

• In a food processor, combine the tomatoes, zucchini, celery, peppers, onions, lemon juice, basil, cumin and lemon rind.
• Process with on/off turns until smooth.
• Serve chilled.

CHILLED AVOCADO AND ZUCCHINI SOUP

Steps:

• In a steamer set over boiling water steam the zucchini, covered, for 10 minutes, or until it is very tender. In a blender pureé the zucchini with the avocado, halved, peeled, and chopped, the buttermilk, 3/4 cup of the ice cubes, the lemon juice, and the cumin, adding enough of the additional ice cubes to reach the desired consistency. Divide the soup between 2 bowls and sprinkle it with the chives. Makes about 2 1/4 cups, serving 2.

EASY CHILLED ZUCCHINI SOUP

Steps:

• Heat oil in a pot over medium-high heat. Cook onion in oil for 4 to 5 minutes. Add garlic and curry powder. Add zucchini, water, broth, and potato. Season with salt. Reduce heat and let simmer until tender, about 25 minutes.
• Puree mixture using an immersion blender until smooth. Let cool to room temperature or chill until cold, about 30 minutes. Serve with almonds.

CHILLED ZUCCHINI-YOGURT SOUP WITH FRESH MINT

Steps:

• Place the water in the bottom of a saucepan fitted with a steamer and bring to a boil. Place the zucchini in the steamer, set over the boiling water, cover and steam 15 minutes. Remove from the heat and allow to cool for about 5 minutes. Do not drain the steaming water.
• Place half the zucchini in a food processor fitted with the steel blade, add 3/4 teaspoons salt, and puree until smooth. Add half the steaming water and pulse until smooth. Scrape into a bowl, and repeat with the remaining zucchini and steaming water, and another 3/4 teaspoon salt. Scrape into the bowl with the first batch. Whisk in the yogurt, the chopped mint, pepper, lemon juice, and optional garlic. Taste and adjust salt. Chill, either in the refrigerator or in an ice bath.
• Strain the cold soup through a medium strainer into a bowl. Use a rubber spatula to press the soup against the strainer and to scrape the soup off the outside of the strainer, to extract maximum flavor and to get as much soup through as you can.
• Toss the thinly sliced zucchini garnish with a generous pinch of salt and place in a strainer set over a bowl, or in the sink. Let sit for 15 minutes. The zucchini will soften. Rinse and pat dry. Ladle the soup into bowls and garnish with several slices of zucchini and a sprinkle of slivered mint leaves.

CHILLED ZUCCHINI-CUMIN SOUP

Steps:

• Heat oil in heavy medium saucepan over medium heat. Add onion; sauté until tender, about 5 minutes. Add cumin; stir until aromatic, about 30 seconds. Mix in zucchini. Add broth; bring soup to boil. Reduce heat; simmer until zucchini is very tender, about 30 minutes. Cool slightly.
• Mix 1/3 cup chopped basil into soup. Working in batches, puree soup in blender until smooth. Transfer to bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Cover; chill until cold, about 3 hours. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Keep refrigerated.)
• Ladle soup into bowls. Top each with 1 tablespoon yogurt and sliced basil.