Chilled Cucumber Soup

Ingredients:

  • 1 1/2 pounds cucumber, peeled and cut into chunks
  • 4 yellow tomatoes, cut into chunks
  • 1 yellow bell pepper, cut into chunks
  • 1/3 cup chopped white onion
  • 2 tablespoons sherry vinegar
  • 4 teaspoons minced fresh dill
  • 4 teaspoons minced fresh parsley
  • 2 cloves garlic, smashed
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • Kosher salt
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 4 slices white sandwich bread, crusts removed, cut into 1/4-inch cubes

Directions:

Combine the cucumber and tomatoes in a blender, reserving 1/4 cup of each for garnish.
Add the bell pepper, onion, vinegar, 1 teaspoon each dill and parsley, 1 clove garlic and the sugar; puree until smooth.
Pass through a fine mesh strainer into a bowl, pressing with the back of a spoon to extract as much liquid as possible.
Season with 1 teaspoon salt. Refrigerate until chilled, about 1 hour.

Meanwhile, make the croutons:
Heat the remaining clove garlic with the olive oil in a skillet over low heat.
Add the bread cubes and the remaining 3 teaspoons each dill and parsley.
Cook, stirring, until golden and crunchy, 10 to 15 minutes.
Discard the garlic.

Pour the soup into chilled bowls. Dice the reserved cucumber and tomatoes; sprinkle into the soup. Garnish with the croutons.