Cold play - inventive soups to chill out with this summer
Chicken soup sure is great for the soul or if you have the sniffles, but with all this summer heat, a bowl of piping hot broth at the beginning of a meal just doesn’t sound appealing. Which is why cold soups are the way to go. Most restaurants in the city are already serving an array on their menus, which are refreshing and loaded with the best of seasonal produce. Here’s our pick of some fascinating coolers being served this summer.
Cucumber and yoghurt soup @Anise, Taj Coromandel
The best part about having chilled soups, says Chef Sujan Mukherjee, the Executive Chef at Taj Coromandel, is that they are low in calories. He adds, “People travel and explore different cuisines and culture, so cold soups are not alien to them.” At Anise, diners can indulge in a variety of cold soups, including a cumin-scented cucumber and yoghurt soup and a sugar beet and orange soup which is garnished with fresh herbs. Says Chef Sujan, “These soups work ideally in replenishing the loss of fluid in the body.” For a twist: Churn a sorbet out of it. Available for lunch and dinner @ Rs 2,310 (price of buffet)
Summer blush @ Cafe Mercara, ITC Grand Chola
If you thought bell peppers were all about the heat, think again. “This soup uses a base of sweet bell peppers, which when chilled has a cooling effect on the body,” says Ajit Bangera, Senior Executive Chef at ITC Grand Chola. Other ingredients include avocado, feta cheese, cumin, garlic, beans and spring onions, providing layers of texture to the soup. Talking about how healthy it is for the body, Chef Bangera says, “The capsaicin (which controls the level of heat in the pepper), is less in this particular variety of pepper. Plus it is available abundantly in summer. Apart from being high in Vitamins A and B6, the soup is packed with a plethora of nutritional benefits,” he adds. For a twist: Chef Bangera recommends churning it with ice and tequila to make a great summer margarita. Available for lunch and dinner. Price on request
Carrot puree with crumbled feta and mint pesto @Colony, The Raintree, St Mary’s Road
If there was anything that screamed of summer, it’d probably be this soup. Served as a part of the buffet, it is a purée of carrot with watermelon essence with crumbled feta and mint pesto, created by Chef Deepak Dhande, the Executive Chef at The Raintree, St Mary’s. The chef says, “We’ve used a lot of fruit elements in the dish, to ensure that the body remains hydrated. The pesto of mint is the refreshing element on the soup.” For a twist: The chef suggests using the same ingredients to whip up a breezy summer salad.
Available for lunch @ Rs 350+taxes
Avocado and yogurt soup with frozen watermelon @Cappuccino, Crowne Plaza Adyar
The Executive Chef at Crowne Plaza, Chef Deva Kumar believes that tender coconut water and kanji are traditional coolants which people opt for in summer, which is why the concept of cold soups is not as popular in the city. Diners can sample the avocado and yoghurt soup here which is served with the seasonal frozen watermelon chunks. Talking about its nutritional benefits, Chef Deva Kumar says, “Probiotic yoghurt regulates the digestive system. Watermelon is a source of water content, is rich in antioxidants. So the soup is perfect for weight watchers.” For a twist: Add mint for some extra zing
Available 24x7 @ Rs 495+taxes
Papaya and ginger with yoghurt and mint terrine @ESPA, The Leela Palace Chennai
Chef Dharmen at The Leela Palace Chennai serves cold soup as a part of their spa cuisine. The papaya and ginger mix, the chef says, is not a traditional veggie soup, but a fruit one, which is why people often end up confusing it with a smoothie. “The mix we have is delicious —it is papaya blended with pickled ginger and ginger ale and served with a terrine made of yoghurt, gelatine and mint. Packed with antioxidants, it is probiotic, easily digestible and has a detoxifying effect on the body,” says Chef Dharmen. For a twist: Dharmen says that chia seeds, which is all the rage as a new health food now, could add an element of texture in the soup.
Available during spa timings @ Rs 650+taxes
Beetroot soup with buttermilk and dill @ Vascos, Hilton Chennai
Made for the health conscious, this one has everything from beetroot and cucumber, blended in with buttermilk and garnished with boiled egg whites and dill. “All the water comes from the buttermilk and the cucumber that we use. Also, beetroot improves circulation while cucumber and buttermilk are coolants, like fresh dill,” explains the chef. Ask him if cold soups are popular here, he says, “only if there is a familiar ingredient in it.” For a twist: Replace buttermilk with honeydew melons (a summer fruit). Available for lunch and dinner @ Rs 375+taxes