Ingredients & Substitutions
Here I explain the best ingredients for my cold cucumber soup recipe, what each one does, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card.
Cucumbers – For the best cucumber soup, I recommend English cucumbers, because the seeds are small, the flavor is mild, and they have a thin skin, which means you don’t have to peel them. Persian cucumbers would also work, though. Chop the cucumbers into cubes for easier blending. Greek Yogurt – Whole milk plain Greek yogurt will give you the creamiest texture, but if you prefer something lighter, nonfat or 2% works just fine. You can also use regular plain yogurt for a less tangy flavor. Olive Oil – I prefer extra virgin olive oil here, but light olive oil or avocado oil work, too. Lemon Juice – Fresh lemon juice works best for its bright, natural flavor, but bottled lemon juice makes a fine substitute. You can even try trading it for lime juice. Garlic – Normally, I’d say one clove isn’t enough, but since we’re not cooking the garlic, one large clove is perfect. Toss in two if you’ve got smaller ones. For a shortcut, jarred minced garlic will do the trick. Fresh Herbs – Fresh dill and chives are ideal for the flavors in my cucumber soup, but you can experiment with flat leaf parsley, basil, mint, or even green onion. I always recommend using fresh herbs to get the best flavor, but if you need to use dried, just use 1/3 of the amount since they’re more concentrated. Sea Salt & Black Pepper
How To Make Cucumber Soup
I have step-by-step photos here to help you visualize the recipe. For full instructions with amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card.
Storage Instructions
Keep the soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Since it keeps well for up to 3 days and needs time to chill anyway, I love making it ahead! If it separates, you can give it a quick blend again.
Want the soup extra creamy? Replace a few tablespoons of the yogurt with sour cream. Want extra vegetables? Some cucumber soup recipes have other veggies, like tomatoes, red onions, bell peppers, or celery. Throw in whatever you like to make it your own! Blend until silky smooth. Depending on how long you blend and how powerful your blender is, the texture of your cucumber soup can be very smooth or slightly chunky. You can adjust to your preference, but I highly recommend making it totally smooth. Don’t have a powerful blender? A food processor or immersion blender would also work well. Adjust to taste after chilling, not before. The flavors develop more when you chill the soup, so I only make adjustments at the end. You can add more salt as needed, or a splash more lemon juice if it tastes too salty. Chill your soup bowls. This is not required, but I do this to keep the cucumber soup cold longer while I’m eating. And it’s the best when it’s cold!
Serving Ideas
My cucumber soup is tasty and light, but too light to be a meal by itself. Here are my favorite picks to round out your meal:
Main Dishes – Grill some chicken legs or throw shrimp on the grill, and serve the chilled soup on the side. For a light, veggie-forward meal, whip up my pesto sauce and serve over zucchini noodles. Salads – Craving a soup-and-salad lunch? Pair your soup with my classic chicken Ceasar salad or a Caprese salad. Try my quinoa salad for a more hearty option.
More Fresh Cucumber Recipes
If you make this cucumber soup and have more fresh cucumbers to use up, try one of my other recipes with them:
My Favorite Blender For This Recipe
I swear by this blender! It makes my cucumber soup velvety smooth, and cleans up in seconds. (I just blend some water with dish soap in it, then rinse.) Please enter your first name for your account. Your saved recipe will also be sent to your email. That’s because there’s also me not pictured, running around like a chicken with its head cut off, trying to keep up with “all the summer things”. Anyone else feel like summer relaxation is overestimated? It’s easy to get swept up in “perfection” you see on the internet, but here’s your reminder (and mine) that real life is messy… and that it’s ok. But even when life gets hectic, I hope you’ll find 10 minutes to whip up a batch of this cold cucumber soup. I’m grateful for this refreshing pick-me-up this summer.
