Iced Cucumber and Yogurt Soup is one of my earliest cooking memories, one of the first times I ventured beyond brownies. I think I discovered it during the hot summer after college when I was suddenly responsible for feeding myself. You don’t even need a blender or food processor to do it, you can finely chop or grate the cucumber and stir it into the yogurt. It’s refreshing, light, and a godsend when it’s actually too hot out to eat.
Most cultures around the globe have some version of this soup. For variations, you can use cream instead of yogurt, fresh mint in place of the dill, or use lemon or lime juice to do the job of the vinegar… the soup just needs that little lift of acidity to perk up the creaminess of the yogurt.
It’s about the most refreshing thing there is.
Iced Cucumber and Yogurt Soup
Ingredients
- 1/2 English seedless cucumber about a 6-7 inch piece
- 1 cup Greek yogurt
- 2 Tbsp approximate fresh dill
- 1 Tbsp champagne vinegar or sherry, or apple cider vinegar
- 1/4 tsp onion salt
- 1/4 tsp fresh cracked black pepper
garnishes
- micro-greens or
- fresh dill
- halved tiny tomatoes
- slivered snap peas
- drizzle of olive oil
Instructions
- You can peel the cucumber, or not, according to your taste. The English cukes have soft edible skin that hasn't been waxed. I left a little bit on for a touch of color, but peeled most of it. Chop it in large chunks and add to the bowl of a food processor filled with the metal blade. Give the machine about 20 pulses, until the cucumber is pureed but retains a little texture.
- Add the yogurt and dill and pulse about 10 more times. Pulse in the vinegar, salt, and pepper.
- Remove the soup to a bowl and refrigerate for a few hours until nice and cold.
- Serve in small glasses topped with garnishes of your choice. If the soup seems too thick, thin it with a little cold water.
You can garnish it with anything that looks good to you.
More chilled soup…
Chilled Cauliflower and Yogurt Soup
15 Comments
Amy
July 29, 2015 at 2:14 pmThis looks so good. I’ve been low-carbing it lately (and lost 15 lbs, yay!) so I’d like to swap out the Greek yogurt with cream as you mentioned. Can’t wait to try this! As always your photos are just beautiful!
Susan
July 29, 2015 at 12:38 pmNot only delicious but beautiful to look at! So refreshing for a hot summer day.
Gerlinde @Sunnycovechef
July 27, 2015 at 9:48 pmThis is the perfect soup for a got day. Thank you!
Eileen
July 27, 2015 at 4:23 pmThis sounds like the best thing to eat on a hot afternoon! It’s almost tzatziki in soup form. Yay!
Maria | Pink Patisserie
July 27, 2015 at 9:46 amI really love soups like this. So healthy and refreshing. Perfect!
Toni | Boulder Locavore
July 27, 2015 at 4:07 amWhat a light and simple soup to take the edge off Summer’s ‘dog days’! Beautiful too.
Jennifer @ Seasons and Suppers
July 27, 2015 at 3:42 amThis is so pretty and perfectly refreshing! Great use for all the garden cucs ๐
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July 26, 2015 at 8:45 pmBit chilly here for cold soup but your styling and garnishing are superb!
Tricia @ Saving room for dessert
July 26, 2015 at 4:20 pmThere you go with those utterly gorgeous garnishes! You are amazing Sue! Love this soup and since I have a pile-o-cucumbers from our garden I think I need this recipes ๐ Lovely – pinning and sharing!
cheri
July 26, 2015 at 2:05 pmHi Sue, this is the perfect summer soup, beautiful and light!
Sue
July 26, 2015 at 3:34 pmThanks Cheri – I maker it at least once every summer, usually during the hottest stretch!
Linda L.
July 26, 2015 at 12:07 pmYou must be psychic!! I have some cukes from the garden and was thinking how wonderful a cool raita would be in these scorching temps and here you are! I was going to wing it and would never have thought to put the vinegar/lemon/lime in it.
Plus now my daughter will believe me that cucumber soup is not a figment of my (admittedly vivid) imagination – thanks!!
Sue
July 26, 2015 at 3:35 pmEnjoy — I envy you your garden fresh cukes ๐
Chris Scheuer
July 26, 2015 at 10:07 amThis soup is a sight for sore eyes! It’s been so… hot here and this sounds wonderful! Pinning!
Sue
July 26, 2015 at 11:28 amthanks Chris!