Lebanese Cucumber Soup Recipes

SIMPLE CUCUMBER SOUP

Steps:

• Melt butter with the oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Cook and stir onion and garlic in the butter mixture until tender, 3 to 5 minutes. Add cucumber and zucchini slices; cook and stir until softened, 2 to 3 minutes. Pour vegetable broth over the mixture; bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low, and let simmer until the vegetables are cooked through, 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from heat and cool a few minutes.
• Pour soup into a blender no more than half full. Cover and hold lid in place with a towel; pulse a few times before leaving on to blend. Puree in batches until smooth.

BULGARIAN CUCUMBER SOUP WITH WALNUTS

Steps:

• Place the garlic in a mortar with 1/2 teaspoon salt, and mash to a paste.
• Place the yogurt in a large bowl. Stir in the oil, garlic and walnuts. Whisk in the water and the lemon juice. Add salt and freshly ground pepper to taste. Chill for one hour or longer.
• Meanwhile, season the cucumbers lightly with salt, and allow to drain in a colander for 15 minutes. Add to the yogurt mixture and stir together.
• If you wish, place an ice cube in each bowl, and ladle in the soup. Top with chopped walnuts, a drizzle of olive oil if desired, and a sprinkling of dill or mint.

EASY COLD CUCUMBER SOUP

Steps:

• Combine cucumber, sour cream, yogurt, vegetable broth, and garlic in a large bowl; blend together using an immersion blender until smooth. Blend in mint and dill. Refrigerate until chilled, about 1 hour.

CUCUMBER SOUP

Steps:

• Finely chop a third of one of the cucumbers and set aside for when you're ready to serve later. Roughly chop the remaining cucumbers and tip into a blender or food processor along with the yogurt and lime juice. Add the tarragon, most of the mint leaves and most of the chives. Blitz until the mixture is smooth.
• Pour the soup into bowls or small cups, scatter over the finely chopped cucumber, remaining mint leaves and the rest of the chives. Drizzle with a little rapeseed oil just before serving.

PICKLED LEBANESE CUCUMBER

Steps:

• Place the water, vinegar, sliced garlic and coriander seeds into a small saucepan and bring to the boil, simmer for 10 minutes and leave to cool.
• Slice the Cucumbers to about 1/3rd inches thick (I used a slicer to make sure they were all the same thickness) place in a plastic bowl and sprinkle the salt in layers over the cucumber.
• cover and leave for at least 4 hours stirring every so often - this dehydrates the slices (and forces the water out of the cucumber)) this is d one so that the vinegar will penetrate easily.
• Rinse the cucumber 3 times, changing the water completely every time. Leave to drain and dry off.
• Pack into sterile glass jars carefully and pour in the liquid, spooning in the garlic and coriander seeds. Seal and leave in a cupboard for one to two weeks. Serve and enjoy.