Don’t you just love recipes that require a blender and a bowl? Absolutely. Today we’re playing it cool and simple with a chilled cucumber soup, bejewelled with a cheeky grape and watermelon salsa. Pale pistachio pools of rehydration. As always, using fresh local ingredients results in the best tasting food and what better than summery pink watermelon and candy crush black grapes? Now Monday isn’t just meat-free, we’re going heat-free too. No cooking!
Cooks are often asked to choose their favourite or most useful kitchen gadget. Simple you’d think, until you have to choose. I love reading through the lists, ranging from knives to trusty Kitchen Aid mixers – the household workhorse of most pastry chefs and generally all those ‘bonkers for baking’ fans. If I were to pick my most indispensable appliance, first prize would go to the food processor. That said, at least one processor is turfed out every year. Very disappointing and expensive, but not altogether surprising.
Powering my way through gallons of nice cream concoctions, cocoa-nibbed chocolate bliss balls and enough hummus to supply a falafel den in Tel Aviv, destruction is to be expected. My latest addition, a dinky-sized blonde Kitchen Aid, has been churning out nut butters, smoothies and impressive homemade nut flours. As yet, it’s still whizzing happily away so I’m holding thumbs that we’ll become long-standing friends.
Onto the soup. Joining my ever growing list of things to make in a blender, this chilled cucumber soup is a current favourite, especially when it’s hot as Hades outside. A few points to consider when making the soup is the best quality everything – Extra virgin olive oil, fresh herbs, crisp cucumber and full fat Greek yoghurt. Honest and Simple. Same applies to the fruit salsa. It’s all about freshness and quality. The combination of vegetables and fruit might sound an unusual partnership but it’s this contrast that makes for sensational food. I use fresh mint, lemon and tarragon to brighten the flavour and baby radishes for sharpness and a subtle burn. This soup is a real surprise and a refreshingly good one at that.
This soup is excellent paired with Glen Carlou’s unwooded chardonnay, as recommended by my good friend and wine connoisseur, Michael Olivier.
Chilled cucumber soup with grape and watermelon salsa
- 1 large English cucumber, skin on, deseeded and roughly chopped
- 3 cups (750ml) Greek yoghurt
- 3 spring onions, diced
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- a handful fresh mint
- 2 teaspoons chopped chives
- 1 teaspoon fresh tarragon, chopped
- juice of 1/2 lemon (about 2 tablespoons)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- sea salt flakes and freshly ground black pepper
- 3/4 cup chilled water
For the grape and watermelon salsa
- 1/2 cup black grapes, thinly sliced into rounds
- 4 radishes, finely sliced
- a wedge of watermelon, deseeded and cut into 5mm cubes (to make about 1/3 cup)
- 2 tablespoons toasted pistachio nuts, roughly chopped
- chopped chives, for finishing
- extra virgin olive oil, for drizzling
- micro herbs, optional
- Grate the cucumber on a large grate. Season lightly with sea salt flakes and set aside for 10 minutes.
- Press together lightly to remove excess water from cucumber.
- Place the cucumber and all the remaining soup ingredients, except the water, in a processor and blitz until smooth.
- Taste and adjust the seasoning either by adding a little more salt or lemon juice to brighten the flavours.
- Add about 3/4 or up to 1 cup cold water to the soup to thin it out slightly. It should be the consistency of cream but not too runny.
- Chill the soup for several hours.
- To make the salsa, combine the grapes, radishes and watermelon in a bowl.
- When ready to serve, whisk the soup briefly with a balloon whisk Pour into glass tumblers or shallow soup bowls.
- Arrange the grape and watermelon salsa on top, scatter with chives and pistachio nuts. Drizzle with extra virgin olive oil and serve immediately.
9 Comments. Leave new
Stunning Di
The colours and contrasts are stunning – this looks perfect for a summer dinner!!
Texture, flavour and colour – my favourite combination for sensory eating. Also a great way to serve chilled soup sip shots with pre-dinner drinks.
Hi Di, thank you – made this and loved it! A question though about the blender/ processor situation: how do you find the Kitchen Aid? Are you using a stick blender, blender or food processor? I adore my KA mixer and am thinking of taking the plunge for a blender. I’m most interested in canvassing opinions. Many thanks in anticipation of your thoughts! Jacqueline
Hi Jacqueline. The KA mini food processor works especially well for most pastes and to puree firmer textured foodstuffs. Also looking into stick blender alternatives at the moment that can deliver super smooth consistencies. Will let you know how I go here. Good luck.
Hello Di
I made this for Sunday lunch and it was a total hit! So delicious and so easy. The soup is delicious as a starter during this hot weather and the salsa is scrumptious. Thank you so much for this recipe.
You’re most welcome Marie. I could eat a bowlful of the salsa on its own and call it salad.
I never leave reviews on anything, but I absolutely have to for this. I made this for the first time 9 months ago, and I’ve remade it nearly twice a week since then, doubling it every time. It’s my absolute favorite recipe (or food, for that matter), I can’t even explain it! If I could eat only this for the rest of my life, I would.
My edits over time (mostly for convenience and expense): I double everything except for the yogurt (I use one 32oz container); I use one bunch of green onion instead of spring onion (I can rarely find any); 2 tsp of fennel seeds instead of tarragon; I use a Vitamix, not a food processor; I don’t grate the cucumber, I just remove the seeds and chop it into chunks; I use raw pistachios and never toast them; I freeze the grapes beforehand to easily slice them on a mandoline slicer. When I make it for company, I’ll usually make it exactly as the original recipe directs since it does end up better over all, but I opt for convenience when making it for myself since it’s in my fridge so often.
Thank you so much for creating this!!
Hello Marissa. I’m so delighted you love this chilled soup recipe! It’s super refreshing and cooling for hot summer days. I love all the swaps you’ve made. The pistachios sound so delicious too. Thank you for the lovely comments. All the best Di