The saying “cool as a cucumber” has the ring of truth to it, as this refreshing vegetable has the ability to cool an overheated body on the most torrid of summer days. A chilled cucumber soup sounds appealing, but most recipes turn out quite bland. Here’s what we discovered:
Test Kitchen Discoveries
- Pureeing the cucumbers into a base of sour cream and buttermilk makes the most of the subtle cucumber flavor. Add a diced cucumber for texture.
- Accent the soup with a little Dijon mustard and garlic. Make sure to mince the garlic very fine or press it through a garlic press so that it completely blends into the soup.
Adding a pound of small cooked shrimp makes this soup a perfect main course for a luncheon or light summer dinner. This soup should be eaten the same day it is made.
You might need to buy:
- Dijon mustard
- minced fresh dill
- sour cream
- Table salt and ground black pepper
- buttermilk
You might need to buy:
- ranch or blue cheese dressing
- cream cheese
- granulated garlic
ready in about 35 minutes;
serves 8
You might need to buy:
- * 3 tablespoons olive oil or vegetable oil
- * About 1 cup matza meal or fine dried bread crumbs
- * About 3/4 teaspoon table salt or 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
- * Ground black pepper to taste
- * Vegetable oil for frying
- * Lemon wedges for serving
You might need to buy:
- Wheat Chex
- Rice Chex
- Corn Chex
- garlic powder
- onion powder
You might need to buy:
- Kraft Old English cheese spread
- cream cheese
- Garden Vegetable or Chive flavored cream cheese
- Garlic powder
- red wine vinegar
ready in about 250 minutes;
serves 4
You might need to buy:
- chopped cooked chicken or pork
- rice wine vinegar
- soy sauce
- chili paste or 1 t hot chili oil
- Asian sesame oil
- cornstarch
- cold water
- chopped cilantro or sliced green onions
ready in about 375 minutes;
serves 10
You might need to buy:
- tamari or soy sauce
- chili garlic sauce or chili paste
- minced fresh ginger
- water
- cornstarch
- dark sesame oil
2 g of carbs per drummette
You might need to buy:
- red pepper sauce
- garlic salt
- chicken drummettes or 12 wings
- margarine or butter
- Original Bisquick
- onion salt
- pepper
5g of carbs per snack
serves 12
You might need to buy:
- Original Bisquick
- boiling water
- half-and-half
- egg
- finely shredded carrot
- grated lemon peel
- salt
- garlic powder
- five-spice powder
ready in about 5 minutes;
serves 24
You might need to buy:
- chopped cilantro