Cucumber And Yoghurt Soup - Perfect For A Hot And Steamy Night

Who can believe that we are now in the thick of 2018?  And here is my first recipe blog post for the year - a cold, smooth soup that is just right for the very steamy nights we are having here in sunny Brisbane.  Ironically, Mr P. and I went down to (usually) cool, grey Melbourne to visit family and friends and boiled in the 41C heat!  (105F for you folk of North American climes.)

Years ago when I lived in share houses with lots of crazy people, my housemate and I used to make a version of this soup with loads of garlic.  We didn't have a food processor so I guess we had to grate and chop everything by hand.  Eek!  Must have taken us ages.  Worth it though:=)  We all went around the next day with garlic burn - hmm, I mean breath.  

dive in to some icy cool soup 

Recipe from the brain of Sherry's Pickings:


Serves 4 as an entrée, generously:


ingredients: 


1.5 long thin cucumbers, roughly peeled and chopped into large chunks = approx. 470g. (1 lb.)

3-4 garlic cloves, peeled and roughly chopped

a (very) large handful of walnuts - about 80g.

1 large, ripe avocado - peeled and chopped into large chunks

zest and juice of 1 large lime (or 2 small)

sea salt to taste - maybe 1/4-1/2 tsp

ground black pepper to taste 

200 mLs iced water - add more if you like it thinner

a pinch of dried chilli flakes (optional)

5-6 ice cubes, plus extra for serving

1-2 tbs extra virgin olive oil

500g. plain thick yoghurt

a large handful of green herbs, torn roughly or chopped - I used chives and parsley but use your fave - plus extra for serving



Method:


Pretty much, you are just going to blitz everything in your food processor

Start off with the chunks of cucumber and whizz

Then add the garlic cloves; and whizz some more

Throw in the walnuts and yep - blitz 'em

Add the rest of the ingredients except the yoghurt and herbs and blitz away till smooth and lush

Now chuck in the yoghurt and herbs and whizz again

Serve with the extra herbs, and throw in an ice cube or 2 to each bowl if desired

Nice with a brown rice cracker or 2


Notes:


Use whatever kind of cucumber you prefer; it will all taste good

Dill and mint are also good in this soup but we like parsley and chives more:=)

Experiment with the amounts and herbs; have it how you like it

Make sure you have a large food processor, or make it in batches

I only added half the yoghurt into the processor, then whisked in the rest later

Sparkling water gives it a nice zing

gather your ingredients

zap those cukes

more zapping (I used sparkling water)

lots of blitzing later...

pour into a large bowl and whisk in the ice cubes 

sprinkle on some extra herbs

This soup will leave you feeling very virtuous and refreshed.  All that delicious and tasty, nutty. garlicky fun.  Just make sure your loved one eats it too.

my cucumber doodle