Best Chilled Zucchini Soup With Lemon Cumin Shrimp And Cilantro Cream Recipes

Chilled Zucchini-Cumin Soup image

Yield Makes 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 8

1 teaspoon olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 1/2 pounds zucchini, trimmed, cut into 3/4-inch pieces
2 14 1/2-ounce cans low-salt chicken broth
2/3 cup chopped fresh basil
4 tablespoons plain nonfat yogurt
Sliced fresh basil

Steps:

Heat oil in 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 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. Transfer to bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Cover; chill until cold, about 3 hours. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Keep refrigerated.)
Ladle soup into bowls. Top each with 1 tablespoon yogurt and sliced basil.

Chilled Zucchini Soup image

Yield Makes 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 12

1/4 lb shallots, thinly sliced crosswise (1 cup)
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 1/2 lb zucchini (3 to 4 medium), peeled and halved lengthwise, then cut crosswise into 1/8-inch-thick slices
2 (2- by 1 1/2-inch) strips fresh lemon zest
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 3/4 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth (14 fl oz)
1 3/4 cups water
1 cup loosely packed fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh dill
1/2 cup well-shaken buttermilk or plain yogurt
Garnish: thinly sliced or torn zucchini blossoms

Steps:

Cook shallots in oil in a 4-quart heavy saucepan over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes.
Add zucchini, zest, salt, and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until zucchini is softened, about 5 minutes. Add broth and water and simmer until zucchini is tender, about 3 minutes.
Purée zucchini mixture, including zest, along with parsley and dill in a blender (in 2 batches if necessary) until smooth (use caution when blending hot liquids). Transfer to a metal bowl, then set bowl into a larger bowl of ice and cold water (to quick-chill). Cool, stirring occasionally, about 20 minutes.
Stir in buttermilk and season with salt.