Jerusalem : Compass of the Diaspora Jew
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Get ready for the hot weather.
The hot weather is nearly here. We need to use all the tricks available to keep the temperature down. I suggest a refreshing first course chilled soup.
A chilled soup becomes an exciting cool beverage that really stimulates your appetite. It's best served in a wide-mouth glass or cup with a spoon, then the option of drinking it or eating it with a spoon is available. Croutons are also a nice addition to this unusual appetizer. Make sure it's spiced to perfection so your guests come back for more.
Chilled Zucchini-Cumin Soup
Heat oil in a heavy medium saucepan over medium heat. Add onion; sauté until tender; about 5 minutes. Add cumin; stir until aromatic, about 30 seconds. Mix in zucchini. Add broth; bring soup to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer until zucchini is very tender, about 30 minutes. Cool slightly.
Mix 1/3 cup chopped basil into soup. Working in batches, puree soup in blender until smooth, or you can leave the soup in its chunky form. Transfer to a bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Cover; chill until cold, about 3 hours.
Ladle soup into bowls. Top each with 1 tbsp. sour cream and sliced basil.
Makes 4 servings.
Cold Melon Soup
Peel and seed the melons. Scoop out some melon balls with a melon baler and reserve them for garnishing. Coarsely chop the remaining melon to make 2-3 cups. Puree all the ingredients except the sour cream.
Strain and serve chilled, with a dollop of sour cream, additional mint leaves and a few reserved melon balls in each bowl.
Makes 4-6 servings.
Gazpacho
Pour tomato juice, oil, and vinegar into a blender. Cut vegetables into chunks, put into the blender. Add garlic, salt, pepper and chili pepper. Blend on medium speed until the vegetables are chopped. Chill thoroughly, 2 hours or longer. Can be made in advance.
May be garnished with cubed avocado, bean sprouts, chopped cucumber, peppers, tomatoes, hard boiled eggs, parsley or croutons.
Fruit Soup
Mix all fruit with sugar, cover with water. Boil on a slow flame 30-40 minutes, until tender. Add 1 tbsp. cornstarch to 1 cup cold water. Stir in slowly, add more cornstarch if needed. Serve very cold.
Cucumber Soup
I received this recipe from Bubbie Irma, of blessed memory. A friend of hers sent it to her.
"This was my great aunt's recipe. She left Poland in 1939, just as the Nazis came in. She got a job in America as a housekeeper for a wealthy family on the Main Line outside Philadelphia, and taught herself to be a gourmet cook. The original recipe called for 4 small packages of frozen chopped spinach. I made that many times and it was always great. But then one day, I substituted cucumbers and onions for the spinach and it was also great. (I think I should also try it with other vegetables.)"
Cut the cucumbers and onions and place in a pot. Add the water and boil. Then add the dill, soup mix, lemon juice and black pepper. (DO NOT ADD SALT!) Simmer until cucumbers and onions are very soft. Mix in 1 small container of sour cream. Puree in blender. Chill. (It's also good hot.)
VARIATIONS:
Makes 12 servings.