18 “Cold Soup” Recipes for Summer

Kissairis Munoz via Dr. Axe – Soups are generally thought of as cold-weather dishes, and cold soup is usually considered in need of a heat-up. It’s true that there’s something comforting about a hot bowl of steamy soup, but it’s a shame to relegate an entire delicious food group to just one season.

Luckily, you don’t have to. There’s a wide range of cold soup recipes that are perfect for summer, and I’ve done the tough job of sampling them for you in the name of research. Healthy, easy to make and, most importantly, super tasty, you’re going to love eating these 18 cold soup recipes during the hot months of the year. (Photo by Nathalie jaramillo on Unsplash)

18 Cold Soup Recipes for Summer

1. Avocado & Arugula Soup

With no cooking involved and ingredients like fresh mint, goat cheese and pepitas, also known as the inside of pumpkin seeds, this cold soup is a summer dream. It’s creamy from all the avocado goodness, and arugula’s slight bitterness balances out the other flavors.

2. Beet Gazpacho

Is there any food that’s as gorgeous a color as beets? The shade alone is enough to want to eat this lovely gazpacho. Thankfully, it tastes great too. Precooking the antioxidant-rich vegetable beforehand allows this soup to come together in just 15 minutes when you’re ready to eat. Top with your favorite garnishes, like avocado, sour cream or chopped dill.

3. Chilled Cantaloupe Soup

Summer soups mean getting to use ingredients you might not normally cook with, like cantaloupes. The melon is loaded with vitamins A and C, giving this fruity dish a serious dose of nutrients. This recipe has only six ingredients, including anti-inflammatory ginger and fresh basil, so use the best quality you can!

4. Chilled Peach Soup with Fresh Goat Cheese

You know how summertime brings an influx of peaches? They come so fast and furiously at the supermarket and farmer’s market, it’s hard to know what to do with them — but they’re so ripe and juicy you can’t resist buying them. This chilled peach soup is the answer.

The fruit marinates overnight in a blend of honey, goat cheese, balsamic vinegar, garlic and olive oil. In the morning, you’ll puree it into one of the most flavor-packed soups. Topped with freshly made croutons, sliced cucumbers and bell peppers, you will want to make this one over and over again.

5. Chilled Strawberry Soup

Far from being a smoothie in a bowl, this creamy strawberry soup is the perfect way to start or end a special meal. Best of all, it requires just four ingredients — sliced, fresh strawberries, plain Greek yogurt, white grape juice and honey for natural sweetness. This recipe is ready in just minutes, but don’t forget to account for chilling time to let the flavors meld together.

6. Cold Carrot Soup with Jalapeno Coconut Milk

Carrots are usually supporting actors in winter stews and soups, but in this cold summer soup, they’re the star of the show. Cooked with shallots, coconut milk and lime juice, this dish packs a punch. Don’t skip the jalapeno coconut milk garnish — creamy and spicy, it makes the perfect finishing touch.

7. Cold Zucchini Soup

You’ll be surprised that just a handful of ordinary ingredients are transformed into a cool and creamy bowl of goodness. I love that it uses fresh zucchini, which is low on calories but high on nutrition — it’s a perfect way to use up the veggie when it’s growing out of control in the garden! Serve this as a light lunch or as an appetizer.

8. Cream of Basil Soup with a Corn & Cucumber Salad

Featuring some of summer’s best bounty, this raw, vegan basil soup is just what the doctor ordered on a hot day. The creamy texture is thanks to the raw soaked cashews, but you likely have the other ingredients — fresh basil, kale or spinach and seasoning — on hand. The accompanying salad complements the cold soup really well. Don’t skip it!

9. Cucumber-Tahini & Cumin-Spiced Roasted Chickpeas

You likely haven’t had a soup like this Middle Eastern-inspired one before. Though the roasted chickpeas require you to crank up the oven, one spoonful of this chilled summer soup will let you know it was worth it. It’s full of detox-friendly cucumber and fresh herbs, including dill, basil and parsley, for a refreshing dinner that’s the sum of its parts.

10. Detox Carrot Ginger Pineapple Soup

You’d be forgiven for thinking that the three main ingredients of this cold summer dish are more often served as a juice combo than as a soup. But adding coconut milk adds a decidedly “slurp with a spoon” feel to the recipe. It’s also gluten- and dairy-free and perfect for Paleo eaters as well.

11. 5-Minute Blender Chilled Strawberry Coconut Soup

Your summer plans might not include the tropics, but you can certainly dream of them with this cold soup. Best served as a dessert, this strawberry concoction is ready in just minutes and filled with yummy ingredients like vanilla, cinnamon, fresh orange and lemon juices, and of course, strawberries. When you’re craving something a little naughty but want to stay nice, this strawberry coconut soup fits the bill.

12. Ginger, Turmeric Spiced Spring Carrot Soup

Your body will thank you for eating this carrot-based soup. That’s because it’s chock-full of ginger and turmeric, two super powerful natural ingredients. With a hint of spiciness thanks to red pepper flakes and silky smooth texture without any dairy, this soup will please your taste buds and belly. Bonus: Because it tastes just as good hot as it does chilled, you can enjoy this soup year-round.

13. Melon & Lavender Soup

If you’ve never cooked with lavender, you’re in for a treat. It works perfectly in this raw, chilled summer soup. The ingredients list is minimal, with melons keeping things sweet and satisfy a sugar craving without adding anything extra. Serve with blueberries and shredded coconut.

14. No-Cook Blender Soup

With no cooking tools but a blender required, this soup is a terrific way to introduce more raw recipes into your diet while cooling off in the summer. I love that there are two variations: one that’s sun-dried tomato-based and another with leafy green spinach and spirulina. Use the recipes as a guide, and get creative with what you have on hand!

15. Sweet Corn Gazpacho

Five minutes, sweet corn, white beans for protein, and not a stove or pot in sight. If this isn’t the perfect summer soup recipe, I don’t know what is. The raw corn that’s sprinkled on top of the finished dish adds a nice texture to this take on gazpacho that the whole family will enjoy. Serve as a starter or alongside a sandwich for an no-stress dinner.

16. Thai Gazpacho Soup

And now gazpacho heads to Asia for a Thai-inspired version of the most famous chilled soup of them all. Though foreign ingredients can be difficult to come across, this recipe keeps it simple by using ginger, fish sauce, coconut milk and fresh herbs. The amount of flavor that’s blended in this soup — that’s right, no cooking involved! — is just incredible. It might not be authentic, but it sure is tasty.

17. Thai Pea Soup

Many of us have bad memories of overcooked, tasteless peas from our childhoods. Put those out of your mind, because this pea soup is like nothing you’ve tried before. Thanks to lemongrass, jalapeno, red pepper flakes and coconut milk, this cold soup couldn’t be boring if it tried. And it’s whipped up completely in the blender, eliminating pesky pot and pan cleanup, too.

18. Vichyssoise (Cold Leek & Potato Soup)

A handful of “boring” ingredients like potatoes and leeks combine to make a light, French-style soup that can be served either cold or hot. With pantry staples like chicken stock and salt and pepper making up the bulk of the recipe, you’ll be glad you can keep this chilled summer soup on the menu when the seasons change.

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