Lighten Up Your Summer With Delicious Soups

With the produce at the farmers’ market and your garden at its peak, summer is the ideal time to make delicious soups. These figure-friendly dishes will make you feel light, cool and refreshed all season long.

For a lighter chowder, replace the lima beans with a can of drained and rinsed white beans, kidney beans, chickpeas or black beans. You could also add chopped kale or a handful of fresh spinach to the pot at the end for even more flavor.

Potato and Leeks Soup

Nothing can match a bowl of warm potato and leek soup on cold, brisk days. A classic French dish, it’s a comforting, creamy soup that can be enjoyed hot or cold (when served cold it’s called vichyssoise).

The key to making this potato and leek soup is to use a good quality oil. This helps to soften the leeks and bring out their flavour.

Similarly, it’s important to wash leeks carefully as they can have grit between their layers. This makes them difficult to peel and means they need to be thoroughly washed before using.

Next, saute the leeks and garlic in butter until soft. Add the potatoes, stock and seasonings.

Greek Yogurt Soup

When you want to lighten up a soup, try substituting Greek yogurt for sour cream. This will add a creamy texture to the dish without taking away from the flavor of the other ingredients.

This is a simple and refreshing Sommersuppe that only requires a few ingredients, which can be made quickly in the blender and is perfect for hot days. You can make this soup on the spot or prepare it in advance and store it for a few hours in the fridge until you are ready to enjoy it.

This cold cucumber soup is a delicious meal to make for any summer picnic or party. It’s also a good addition to any diet as it is low in calories and provides plenty of protein and calcium.

Corn Soup with Coconut Milk

This creamy vegan corn soup with coconut milk is a perfect way to enjoy those fresh summer sweet corn kernels. It’s rich and comforting, perfect for chilly days.

It’s loaded with warm spices and potatoes for a hearty soup that’s easy to make on the weeknight! It’s also vegan and gluten-free!

I like to buy fresh sweet corn from my farmer’s market because it has the best flavor, but frozen is also a great option. For extra depth of flavor, char shucked corn and poblano peppers on the grill or in the pan before adding to the soup for an extra punch of flavors!

Carrot Soup with Ginger and Turmeric

With its vibrant flavors and healing ingredients, this ginger turmeric carrot soup is sure to soothe your body, mind, and spirit this winter. It’s a vegan, gluten-free recipe that won’t weigh you down with calories or fat, but it still has plenty of robust flavor.

Fresh ginger adds a kick of flavor, while turmeric gives it a golden hue and has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and digestive benefits. Turmeric contains curcumin, which supports healthy digestion, reduces inflammation, and builds bone density.

Lavender Melon Soup

Summer is a time for sunshine, warm temperatures and fresh fruit. It’s also a great time to prepare delicious soups and stews that help us stay cool while enjoying the good taste of nature.

This summer soup recipe has a delicate flavor and fragrance that is the result of using lavender flowers. The melon is left to soak in the fragrance for several hours.

The melon is then pureed in a blender along with Greek yogurt, lemon zest, orange juice and basil. You can also garnish the soup with a mixture of yogurt and lavender honey.