Soup-er Soups For Summertime
Soup might be something you associate with autumn and winter- and there’s no denying how comforting a big bowl can be on a cold evening. But actually, soups can be fantastic for all year round. You can make them yourself to be incredibly light and nutritious as well as tasty. Plus, it makes such an easy lunch- perfect if you’re bored of the same old sandwiches every day! Even if you’re on the go it can be popped into a Thermos, you just can’t go wrong. Here are some ideas for summertime soups you could consider throwing together.
Gazpacho
An obvious choice for a summer soup, gazpacho is a Spanish vegetable soup which is served ice cold. It’s wonderfully refreshing and makes a perfect weeknight lunch or an addition to a picnic. Vegetables include cucumber, pepper, tomatoes and spring onion- simply chop and marinate these in sherry vinegar for a few hours before whizzing them up with a blender. Add a drizzle of olive oil and a pinch of herbs on top and you’re good to go. Incredibly refreshing, light and packed full of the good stuff your body needs. If you’re after something a little more filling, serve with some crusty wholemeal bread or add homemade croutons
Odds and Ends Veg
We all know that food wastage is a huge issue, and for ethical, environmental and financial reasons should be aiming to reduce this as much as possible. Vegetables are one type of food that’s wasted the most, and chances are you end up with a couple of random bits and bobs left in the fridge at the end of the week. Transforming this into soup allows you to prevent it going to waste and gives you an extra lunch out of things that would have otherwise been thrown away. Carrots, onion, celery, potato, sweet potato, cabbage, leek- the list is endless. Just about any vegetable can be transformed into a tasty soup. Start by cooking the vegetables until they’re soft, and add a stock cube and some seasonings from the store cupboard. A mixture of dried herbs and spices will all bring the flavor to life. You could leave it as it is, or transfer to a blender and blend until the mixture is smooth. If you’re using a Ninja style blender, it’s very important to let the mixture fully cool before blending; since there’s nowhere for the steam to escape, it could expand and then cause an accident. But other than this, they make great blenders for soup (and the cup makes one perfect bowl size portion!) If you’re wondering what's the best ninja blender, it could be worth checking some reviews beforehand.
Tomato and Red Pepper
Tomato soup is a classic, and the addition of the red pepper gives it a super fresh and tangy undertone that’s perfect for the summer. You don’t just have to stick to standard tomatoes, there is a mixture of red, orange, yellow and green varieties that are available in the summer. Roast your tomatoes and peppers in the oven with a touch of salt and sugar, and once they’re soft, add them to the blender. Instead of piling in lots of heavy cream, add some natural yogurt instead to keep it light. Garnish with fresh salad leaves, and lots of black pepper is a must!
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