Chilled Avocado Soup with Lemon Basil

Avocado soup gets a summery kiss from sweet-puckery lemon basil. Chilled and refreshing, this creamy summer soup is the perfect appetizer or brunch starter!

Even as a big-time fan of soup, I’m the first to admit that it takes a back seat in summer cooking. Not because it’s a hot dish — we still drink coffee and make big pots of barbecue baked beans afterall — but maybe because it’s just so cool-weather-comforting that it almost seems a waste to have soup in the summer, when that big warm hug in a bowl just isn’t necessary.

But summertime doesn’t mean soup is left completely in the lurch. Chilled classics like gazpacho and cucumber are refreshing and so easy to make, you don’t even have to turn on the stove: it’s all done in the blender — one of my favorite parts of summer soups: they’re so easy!.

Chilled avocado soup is a new-to-me-favorite that’s hit my table many times this season, and I wanted to share my twist on it with you today.

You’ll find most avocado soup recipes on the interwebs have guacamole leanings — lots of cilantro with a hit of chili peppers. Quite naturally, I think, because guacamole is summer’s most perfect food.

But when I first made avocado soup, I had something else in mind: basil. Lemon and basil, to be exact. I’m completely smitten with my lemon basil plant, and its perfectly flavored leaves have gone into everything from vinaigrettes to caprese salads to pasta dishes. (You don’t need lemon basil for this recipe to work, though — regular basil will do just fine with a little extra lemon zest.)

A guacamole-flavored soup is a thing of beauty (holla!), but I really love this basil-y, puckery riff on avocado soup.

How to Make Chilled Avocado Soup – It’s So Easy!

Soups like this one are absolutely made for summer. Here’s why:

• This is a dump-and-blend recipe. Add everything to the blender jar and have at it.
• The most difficult part of this recipe is the waiting: avocado soup tastes best when chilled for at least 2 hours. Oh, the waiting!
• Prep, blend, chill … done!
• Because there’s no cooking involved, your home won’t heat up from the stove.
• Avocado soup is naturally creamy, but light and completely refreshing on hot summer days. It’s perfect for a light lunch or appetizer, and is delightful as a first course for brunch.

I don’t know how the amazing avocado does it, but it manages to be both light and creamy-rich at the same time. A big salad and a cup of cold avocado soup is pretty much the perfect meal in my book. Oh, and it’s vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, egg-free, and nut-free, so you can serve this tasty soup worry-free to a crowd.

More Chilled Soups to Enjoy:

• Carrot Gazpacho
• Spicy Green Goddess Gazpacho
• Yellow Gazpacho

Chilled Lemon Basil Avocado Soup

by Karen Gibson

4.74 from 15 votes

Creamy avocado soup gets a brightening kiss from lemon and lemon basil in this delicious chilled soup. It’s light on the palette but rich in texture, so consider serving it as an appetizer (cute in shot glasses) or as a starter.

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 10 minutes mins

Ingredients

 

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• 2 ripe avocados roughly chopped (peeled, pit discarded)
• 1 cup coconut milk I used lite
• 1 cup low sodium vegetable broth a mild, light tasting broth works great
• 1 tablespoon lemon zest
• 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
• 1 tablespoon lemon basil chopped (or use regular basil with extra lemon zest)
• 2 teaspoons shallots minced
• 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt

Instructions

 

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• Add all ingredients to a blender and puree until very smooth. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours to let the flavors blend (can be made the night before). Taste, and add more salt and/or another squeeze of lemon juice, if necessary. Note that the soup will taste very mild when first blended, but don’t add salt at this point. Wait until it’s set for the minimum time before making seasoning adjustments.

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