These cold soups for summer are easy to make, full of flavor, and so refreshing on hot days! This summer, keep your cool and make soup.

Warm weather is on its way and one thing I always want when the weather gets hot is light and refreshing dinner ideas. Preferably ideas which either don’t heat up the kitchen at all or can be done in the cool of the morning. But I don’t want boring dinners! I want dinners full of flavor and interest and which take full advantage of local, seasonal produce.

I suppose what I really want is a kicked up salad I can drink! 🙂 And that’s why summer is all about cold soups.

Cold Soups for Summer

So today for you I’ve pulled together four great cold soups. All soups that I love and make frequently. To start I have two takes on gazpacho – a classic Andalusian style gazpacho full of ripe tomatoes and an American twist on the concept using yellow tomatoes and fresh, sweet corn. Then we move to northern Europe for a cucumber buttermilk soup. Light, refreshing and a family favorite! Finally, I have an elegant pureed pea soup which is all about celebrating fresh peas and their delicate flavor.

Stay cool and eat soup.

Sweet and Spicy Corn Gazpacho

A pile of yellow vegetables – tomatoes, corn, and bell pepper, a few minutes with a blender, and you have dinner!

Smooth Tomato and Cucumber Gazpacho

Andalusian gazpacho is a classic for a reason. I love mine beautifully smooth and sippable with just the right balance of sweetness, spice, and acidity.

Cold Cucumber Buttermilk Soup

This cucumber buttermilk soup proves you don’t need an extensive ingredient list to make a complex and flavorful soup! Fresh buttermilk and the best thin-skinned cucumbers you can find make the base of one of my favorite soups.

Elegant Chilled Spring Pea Soup

This spring pea soup is a little more refined, wonderful as a first course or as a light lunch, and just about begs you to add some fancy swirls.