Ina Garten’s Refreshing Cucumber Soup Recipe: Cool & Crisp

Cucumber soup transforms ordinary ingredients into a remarkable culinary experience that refreshes and delights.

Cool and sophisticated, this soup captures summer’s essence with elegant simplicity.

Creamy textures blend harmoniously, creating a light yet satisfying dish perfect for warm afternoons.

Mediterranean influences shine through its delicate balance of tangy and smooth components.

Sophisticated palates will appreciate the nuanced flavors dancing across each spoonful.

Chilled soups represent a smart approach to seasonal cooking, offering versatility and unexpected depth.

Fresh herbs and quality ingredients elevate this recipe from ordinary to extraordinary: get ready to impress.

Tips for Light and Zesty Results

• Maximize Flavor Depth: Let the soup rest in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours to allow the cucumber, dill, and lemon notes to fully meld together, creating a more complex taste profile.
• Master Smooth Blending: Process the soup in small batches to prevent overflow and ensure a silky, creamy consistency without lumps or uneven texture.
• Dial in Perfect Seasoning: Start with a conservative amount of kosher salt, tasting and adjusting gradually to prevent over-salting and maintain the delicate balance of flavors.
• Elevate with Fresh Elements: Choose crisp, fresh dill and squeeze lemons moments before adding to preserve bright, vibrant flavors that transform the soup from good to exceptional.
• Create Visual Appeal: Garnish the soup just before serving with delicate dill sprigs and thin lemon slices to add a professional touch and burst of fresh color.

Best Storage for Cold Soups

• Freezer Protection: Safeguard your cucumber soup by portioning it into small freezer-safe containers. Divide the soup into single-serving sizes before freezing to prevent repeated thawing and maintain optimal flavor and texture. Each container can preserve the soup's freshness for up to 2 months.
• Cooling Strategy: Rapidly chill the soup before refrigeration to prevent bacterial growth. Transfer the soup to a shallow container and place it in the refrigerator, allowing it to cool completely within 2 hours. This technique ensures food safety and preserves the soup's delicate taste profile.
• Container Selection: Choose glass or high-quality plastic containers with tight-sealing lids to prevent flavor absorption and maintain the soup's original taste. Avoid metal containers, which can alter the cucumber soup's delicate flavor and potentially cause unwanted chemical reactions.

Creative Cucumber Soup Variations

• Spicy Cucumber Cooler: Add a kick of heat by mixing in finely chopped jalapeños or a dash of sriracha sauce for those who love a spicy edge to their cold soup.
• Mediterranean Herb Blend: Incorporate fresh mint, parsley, and a sprinkle of za'atar spice to transform the soup into a Mediterranean-inspired refreshment with complex herbal notes.
• Creamy Avocado Fusion: Blend in ripe avocado chunks to create a richer, more luxurious texture that adds healthy fats and a smooth, velvety consistency to the original recipe.
• Cucumber Gazpacho Remix: Replace half-and-half with tomato juice and add roasted red peppers for a Spanish-style cold soup that brings a vibrant, tangy profile to the classic cucumber base.

Cucumber Soup Wrap-Up

Refreshing cucumber soup emerges as summer’s ultimate culinary companion, offering cool sophistication with Ina Garten’s signature style.

Mediterranean influences dance through each silky spoonful, highlighting cucumber’s delicate charm.

Greek yogurt provides creamy richness while fresh dill adds aromatic complexity to this elegant dish.

Minimal ingredients create maximum flavor, transforming simple vegetables into sophisticated fare.

Chilled perfection awaits those seeking gourmet comfort without extensive kitchen labor.

Passionate epicureans will savor this recipe – share its delightful essence, spark conversation, spark culinary curiosity, and spread delicious inspiration across social platforms.

Why Cucumber Soup Is a Cool Favorite

• Craft Refreshing Summer Coolness: This cucumber soup delivers an instant chill factor, perfect for beating scorching temperatures with its smooth, cold texture that feels like a liquid breeze on hot days.
• Whip Up Effortless Elegance: The recipe requires minimal cooking skills, using simple techniques like mixing and blending, making it accessible for home cooks wanting to impress guests with a sophisticated, restaurant-quality appetizer.
• Embrace Healthy Hydration Boost: Packed with fresh cucumbers, yogurt, and herbs, this soup provides a nutritious, light meal that hydrates and refreshes the body while delivering a powerful punch of clean, crisp flavors that dance on your palate.
• Create No-Cook Culinary Magic: By avoiding any stovetop cooking, this recipe saves time and energy, allowing you to prepare a gourmet dish in under 15 minutes with just a food processor and refrigeration, making it ideal for busy weeknights or casual summer gatherings.

What You’ll Need for a Chilled Cucumber Blend

• Greek Yogurt: Creamy foundation that adds tanginess and smooth texture to the soup.
• Half-and-Half: Provides rich, silky consistency and helps balance the soup's flavors.

• Cucumbers, Red Onion, Scallions: Crisp vegetables that create the soup's primary flavor profile and offer refreshing garden-fresh taste.

• Kosher Salt, Black Pepper: Essential seasonings that enhance and balance the soup's overall taste.
• Fresh Dill: Bright herb that adds aromatic and classic cucumber flavor complement.
• Lemon Juice: Adds zesty brightness and helps balance the rich dairy base.

Making Refreshing Cucumber Soup in Minutes

Step 1: Gather Fresh Ingredients

• Greek yogurt
• Half-and-half
• Cucumbers
• Red onion
• Scallions
• Kosher salt
• Black pepper
• Fresh dill
• Lemon

Step 2: Combine Initial Mixture

Toss all ingredients except dill and lemon into a large mixing bowl. Stir gently to create a uniform blend of ingredients.

Step 3: Blend Smooth Consistency

Transfer mixture to a food processor. Process in small batches until cucumbers break down into a coarse puree. Continue blending until the soup reaches a smooth texture.

Step 4: Chill and Enhance Flavors

Pour pureed soup into a clean bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. This resting period allows flavors to meld and develop.

Step 5: Final Seasoning Touch

Just before serving, squeeze fresh lemon juice into the chilled soup. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed with additional salt and pepper.

Step 6: Elegant Presentation

Ladle the chilled soup into serving bowls. Garnish with delicate sprigs of fresh dill and thin lemon slices for a beautiful finishing touch.

Serving Suggestion: Best enjoyed on a warm summer day as a light and refreshing starter or light meal.

Pro Tip: For an extra smooth texture, strain the soup through a fine-mesh sieve before chilling.

Ina Garten Cucumber Soup Recipe

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4.5 from 17 reviews

• Total Time: 2 hours 20 minutes
• Yield: 6 1x

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Description

Ina Garten’s cucumber soup delivers refreshing Mediterranean charm with cool cucumber notes and gentle herbal whispers. Creamy Greek yogurt and dill create a light summer starter that connects garden freshness with elegant simplicity you will savor with each delightful spoonful.

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Ingredients

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Main Ingredients:

• 3 7-ounce (198 grams) containers of Greek yogurt
• 2 hothouse cucumbers, unpeeled, seeded, and chopped
• 1 cup (240 milliliters) half-and-half

Flavoring Ingredients:

• ½ cup (75 grams) chopped red onion
• 6 scallions, white and green parts, chopped
• 3 tablespoons (45 milliliters) chopped fresh dill
• ½ cup (120 milliliters) freshly squeezed lemon juice (about 4 lemons)

Seasoning Ingredients:

• 3 teaspoons kosher salt (adjust according to taste)
• 1 ½ teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
• Thin slices of lemon, halved, for garnish
• Fresh dill, for garnish

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Instructions

1. In a spacious mixing vessel, amalgamate Greek yogurt, half-and-half (120 milliliters), finely diced cucumbers, minced red onion, sliced scallions, kosher salt, and freshly cracked black pepper.
2. Transfer the combined ingredients into a food processor equipped with a sharp steel blade, processing in multiple stages to achieve a textured, coarse cucumber puree.
3. Methodically blend the mixture until it transforms into a silky, uniform consistency, ensuring no substantial cucumber chunks remain.
4. Introduce freshly chopped dill into the smooth soup base, thoroughly incorporating the delicate herb throughout the mixture.
5. Hermetically seal the soup preparation with plastic wrap, then refrigerate for a minimum of 2 hours, allowing the flavors to meld and the temperature to drop significantly.
6. Immediately before serving, squeeze fresh lemon juice (approximately or 30 milliliters) into the chilled soup, carefully tasting and adjusting seasoning with additional salt and pepper as needed.
7. Present the soup in elegant serving bowls, garnishing with delicate sprigs of fresh dill and translucent lemon medallions for a visually appealing finish.

Notes

• Garnish carefully with delicate dill sprigs and bright lemon slices moments before bringing the soup to the table for maximum visual appeal and flavor freshness.
• Include only freshly squeezed lemon juice and crisp, fragrant dill to elevate the soup’s authentic taste profile and ensure maximum brightness.
• Divide processing the soup into smaller batches using a food processor to achieve a consistently smooth and creamy texture without lumps.
• Taste and modify salt levels incrementally, beginning with 3 teaspoons of kosher salt and adjusting carefully to prevent overwhelming the delicate soup’s flavor balance.
• Refrigerate the soup for a minimum of 2 hours, allowing complex flavors to meld beautifully and develop a supremely refreshing temperature and taste experience.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
• Category: Appetizer, Snacks, Lunch, Dinner
• Method: Blending
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 6
• Calories: 178 kcal
• Sugar: 4 g
• Sodium: 450 mg
• Fat: 8 g
• Saturated Fat: 5 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 15 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 9 g
• Cholesterol: 20 mg