Baking with Burns: How to make cucumber soup

Although it may not feel much like summer at the moment, here's a seasonal savoury dish for you to make...

Summer is here and it’s time to enjoy all the juicy fruits and vegetables on offer.

If I had to name one fruit or vegetable which reminds me of summer, it would have to be the cucumber.

This green fleshy plant is a much-used ingredient in summer salads and is packed full of vitamins, including vitamin C, beta-carotene and manganese and is more than 90 per cent water.

The cucumber is originally from Southern Asia, but now grows on most continents, which means we can eat it all year round! 

This lovely light soup combines the fresh taste of cucumber with spring onions and potatoes.

It can be served hot or cold, and as either an appetiser or a main course. A perfect summer dish.

Ingredients

Serves 4-6

600g/21oz cucumber

Two tbsps olive oil

Four spring onions

Two large potatoes

One to one and a half pints of vegetable stock

Four tbsps of fresh cream

A few pinches of ground black pepper

A few sprigs of fresh mint (optional)

Method

1. Wash and then cut the cucumbers in half lengthways. With a teaspoon, scoop out the seeds, then chop the cucumber into small cubes.

2. Wash and finely chop the spring onions and peel and chop the potatoes into small cubes.

3. Heat oil in large pan or wok and sauté the spring onions and cucumber for a few minutes.

4. Add the potatoes and stock.

5. Bring to the boil and simmer for around 20 minutes until the vegetables are tender.

6. With a stick blender, puree the soup until no lumps remain. Add the fresh cream and black pepper to season. Decorate with mint leaves (if using).

How about a competition?

This week we are giving away a Sausage Dog Cookie Cutter, courtesy of Meri Meri.

Create adorable sausage dog cookies with our fabulous cutter. Made from stainless steel, it’s easy to make treats that put a huge smile on everyone’s face! Visit merimeri.co.uk for their unique range of treats, kits and dressing up bits.

To win the Sausage Dog Cookie Cutter, just answer the following question:

Where did the cucumber originate?

DUE TO THE CURRENT SITUATION WE WILL ONLY BE RECEIVING COMPETITION ENTRIES VIA EMAIL.

Email your answer and full contact details to: competitions@questmedianetwork.co.uk. 

The closing date is Thursday 27 August.