Chilled Cucumber Soup

ingredients

• 60g butter
• 1 onion, diced
• 3 cucumbers, roughly chopped
• 1.5l chicken stock
• ½ bunch of chives, chopped
• ½ bunch of parsley, leaves chopped
• Juice of 2 lemons
• 200ml single cream

starter | serves 10–12

1. Melt the butter in a large pan and sauté the onions over a medium heat for 4–5 minutes, until softened. Add the cucumber, reduce the heat to low and continue to cook for 5 minutes. Add the stock, bring to the boil then reduce the heat again. Season well, and leave to simmer for 5 minutes.
2. Add the chives, parsley and lemon juice and cook for a further 5 minutes.
3. Transfer to a blender and purée until smooth (in batches, if necessary). Place the soup in a bowl, allow to cool at room temperature then refrigerate until cold. Pour into a large thermos or two to take to your picnic, then whisk in the cream and season to taste there.

Per serving 133 cals, 9g fat (5g saturated), 4.7g protein, 7.7g carbs, 4.5g sugars

Taqueria Guacamole with Mango

Ingredients

• 2 large ripe avocados, halved, pitted, peeled, chopped
• 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
• Kosher salt
• (2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro - or substitute chopped green onion?)
• Optional wow: 1 mango

 

Preparation

Mash avocado, lime juice, and a pinch of salt in a mortar and pestle or a medium bowl with a fork until thick and smooth. Mix in 1/4 cup water 1 tablespoonful at a time until mixture is creamy and smooth. Season with salt. Add optional mango.

First time we tried something like this was on: July 11th, 2014! With baguette, gruyere, chorizo and liverwrust. Yum!