Cold Soups and Cocktails for Hot Summer Weather

When the weather is scorching, it is going to have an effect on the type of things you want to eat and drink. The hotter the weather, the lighter the dishes that taste and feel satisfying. Here are a few ideas for some light snacks and refreshing drinks for those sun-kissed days.

Gazpacho

Gazpacho is the classic Spanish ‘cold soup’, and while that may seem like an odd combination if you’ve never had it before, once you’ve enjoyed a chilled gazpacho on a blazing hot day, you’ll never want to go back. Gazpacho is a true celebration of summery Mediterranean flavors, bursting with tangy tomatoes and garlic. The recipe is flexible, but the key ingredients are tomatoes, garlic, cucumber, peppers and olive oil. Dice the vegetables and blend them with the olive oil in a food processor. Soak some crusty bread in water for 10 minutes, before tearing into small pieces and adding to the mix. Blend the whole thing together until the texture is silky and smooth, and then season with salt, pepper and a small amount of sherry vinegar. Refrigerate until wonderful and chilled, and serve with your choice of garnish.

Cold Watermelon Soup

Another easy and delicious cold soup can be made using watermelon, and, as everyone knows, cold watermelon is one of the most refreshing things known to man. Simply de-seed your watermelon flesh and dice into cubes. Add this to a blender alongside fresh lime juice, diced chervil and olive oil and blend until smooth. Once the mixture is pureed, strain through a sieve to remove any remaining pulp and then return the strained mixture to the blender. Blend once more while adding a little xanthan gum, and season with black pepper, salt and tabasco sauce, before refrigerating until chilled. Serve with shredded chervil leaves.

For those sun-drenched afternoons, nothing beats a fruit daiquiri as a refreshing and relaxing drink. Often made with strawberries or peaches, they can be made with any fruit, and you don’t need much more than a blender and ready supply of ice to make them.

Daiquiris

For a summery tropical treat, try a strawberry and pineapple daiquiri. Add chopped strawberries (you can use either fresh or frozen) and pineapple chunks to a blender, alongside frozen lemonade concentrate, a few teaspoons of powdered sugar and some light rum – how much is up to you! Blend together and then add ice cubes to the mix until it reaches the consistency that you desire. Then it’s ready to serve – delicious, a little naughty and gloriously refreshing.

-*-*-*-*-
About the Author:
Sally Perkins is a professional freelance writer with many years experience across many different areas. She made the move to freelancing from a stressful corporate job and loves the work-life balance it offers her. When not at work, Sally enjoys reading, hiking, spending time with her family and travelling as much as possible.
-*-*-*-*-