Yogurt Mint Soup Recipes

CHILLED ZUCCHINI-YOGURT SOUP WITH FRESH MINT

Steps:

• Place the water in the bottom of a saucepan fitted with a steamer and bring to a boil. Place the zucchini in the steamer, set over the boiling water, cover and steam 15 minutes. Remove from the heat and allow to cool for about 5 minutes. Do not drain the steaming water.
• Place half the zucchini in a food processor fitted with the steel blade, add 3/4 teaspoons salt, and puree until smooth. Add half the steaming water and pulse until smooth. Scrape into a bowl, and repeat with the remaining zucchini and steaming water, and another 3/4 teaspoon salt. Scrape into the bowl with the first batch. Whisk in the yogurt, the chopped mint, pepper, lemon juice, and optional garlic. Taste and adjust salt. Chill, either in the refrigerator or in an ice bath.
• Strain the cold soup through a medium strainer into a bowl. Use a rubber spatula to press the soup against the strainer and to scrape the soup off the outside of the strainer, to extract maximum flavor and to get as much soup through as you can.
• Toss the thinly sliced zucchini garnish with a generous pinch of salt and place in a strainer set over a bowl, or in the sink. Let sit for 15 minutes. The zucchini will soften. Rinse and pat dry. Ladle the soup into bowls and garnish with several slices of zucchini and a sprinkle of slivered mint leaves.

YOGURT MINT SOUP

Steps:

• Rinse and drain the rice. In a large pot bring the water, bouillon, rice, and two pinches of salt to a boil. Cook until the rice is tender.
• In a small bowl, mix the yogurt, milk or buttermilk, egg yolk, and flour until combined. Take a few spoonfuls of the hot liquid from the pot and incorporate into the yogurt mixture. Slowly add the yogurt mixture to the pot while stirring continuously. Cook for an additional 10 minutes.
• Melt the butter in a small skillet and add the dried mint. Cook and stir until fragrant. Add the butter mixture to the soup pot or place a spoonful as topping to each bowl.

YOGURT MINT SAUCE

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients in a small bowl, and stir well to combine. Sauce can be made up to 1 day ahead; store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

CHILLED CUCUMBER MINT SOUP

Steps:

• Cut one of the cucumbers into small dice, and set aside for garnish. Cut the others into large chunks. Combine cucumber chunks, garlic, yogurt, lemon juice, and water in a blender and puree until smooth.
• Add scallions and mint leaves, reserving some of the mint for garnish, and puree briefly. Season with salt and pepper, and add more lemon juice if a tarter flavor is desired.
• Chill until ready to serve. Stir well before serving, and ladle into bowls or mugs, garnishing each serving with a big spoonful of diced cucumber and a sprig of mint.

RED LENTIL SOUP WITH LEMON-MINT YOGURT

Steps:

• Melt butter in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onion, salt, and tomato paste. Cook, stirring often, until the onion softens and the tomato paste turns a deep brick red or brown color, 5 to 7 minutes.
• Add garlic, cumin, and cayenne; cook, stirring, for 2 more minutes. Stir in the broth and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to medium-low and add the lentils, celery, and carrots.
• Stir and bring to a simmer. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the lentils and vegetables are very tender, 30 to 40 minutes.
• Meanwhile, grind the mint and salt into a paste using a mortar and pestle. Add lemon zest, lemon juice, and yogurt, and stir together until combined. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
• Taste the soup and adjust seasoning as needed. Serve as-is or use an immersion blender to puree about half of the soup to achieve a creamier texture. Serve hot with spoonfuls of the lemon-mint yogurt.

LENTIL SOUP WITH MINTED YOGURT

Steps:

• Heat oil in heavy large pot over medium heat. Add onions, carrots and garlic and sauté until vegetables begin to soften, about 10 minutes. Add curry, then lentils and stir 2 minutes. Add 9 cups broth and bring to boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer until lentils are tender, adding more broth if soup is too thick and stirring occasionally, about 1 hour 15 minutes. Season soup with salt and pepper.
• Whisk yogurt, mint, cilantro and basil in small bowl to blend. Season herbed yogurt with salt and pepper. (Soup and herbed yogurt can be made 1 day ahead. Cover separately and chill. Bring soup to simmer, thinning with more broth if needed, before continuing.) Ladle soup into bowls. Spoon generous dollops of herbed yogurt atop soup and serve.

BROAD BEAN, YOGURT & MINT SOUP

Steps:

• Fry the onion and celery gently in the butter in a covered saucepan over a low heat for about 10 minutes until very tender. Tip in the rice, add the savory or thyme and cook for another minute, uncovered. Now add the broad beans, pour in 1 litre/13⁄4 pints stock and season with salt and pepper. Bring to the boil, simmer for about 5 minutes, then tip in the peas and cook for a further 5 minutes, by which time the rice will be tender.
• Remove the herb sprig and purée the soup in batches in a blender or food processor, then return to the rinsed-out pan. (If you've got a hand blender, use it in the pan.)
• Shortly before serving, reheat the soup thoroughly and add more stock if the consistency is too thick for your liking. Take the pan off the heat and stir in 1 tbsp of the yogurt and the chopped mint. Continue to stir in the yogurt, 1 tbsp at a time, until it's all incorporated. Taste for seasoning, then serve in warmed bowls with an extra spoonful of yogurt stirred into each and a grinding of black pepper on top.