Warm weather favorites unite in a refreshingly light and vibrant chilled soup.
While a steaming bowl of soup is probably the last thing that comes to mind when temperatures are on the rise, sipping on a chilled version is an entirely different story. Sometimes a chilled soup is just the thing for beating the heat.
Although summer is still young peaches are already making an appearance and they are soft, sweet and juicy. While I think the best way to enjoy them is straight off the tree or fresh from the market, this chilled soup recipe comes in handy whenever you find yourself with too many peaches that have gone ripe at once.
That’s the thing about peaches, there are bound to be a few in the bunch with one too many bruises to wait any longer to eat them and this is an easy way to put them to good use.
With just a few minutes of work and no stove involved this soup takes minimal effort to put together. Everything goes right into the blender and gets blitzed into a silky puree that’s chilled until icy cool and topped with a pistou of sorts made from fresh basil and pistachios.
Ripe yellow heirloom tomatoes join the peaches, adding a savory undertone while lime juice and zest bring a lively acidity and add a vibrant note. A pinch of salt ties the savory and sweet elements together and makes the whole thing sing. Basil adds a touch of peppery brightness and pistachios a rich nutty counterpart.
Serve this cool refreshing sip as an appetizer, a not too sweet alternative to dessert after a rich meal, or swap the tomatoes out for more peaches for a purely fruit-filled sip anytime of the day.
Chilled Tomato Peach Soup with Pistachio Basil Topping (Pistou)
Warm weather favorites (tomatoes and peaches) unite in a refreshingly light and vibrant chilled soup.
Ingredients
- 4 medium ripe yellow peaches
- 2 large yellow heirloom tomatoes
- Fleur de sel (divided use)
- 8-10 fresh basil leaves (divided use)
- The juice of 1 large or two small limes
- The zest of ½ a lime
- ¼ cup/28g pistachios, shelled
- 1 ½ Tablespoon/22ml pistachio oil or or extra virgin olive oil
Instructions
- Peel the peaches and tomatoes using a sharp paring knife (the skins should come off fairly easily if ripe) or by briefly blanching in boiling water.
- To blanch peaches and tomatoes make a small slit with a paring knife at the base of each. Gently lower into a large pot of boiling water for 30 seconds. Using a slotted spoon remove the peaches and tomatoes from the hot water, and plunge into an ice water bath to cool. The skins should slip off.
- Combine the peeled peaches and tomatoes with a pinch of salt and four or five large basil leaves in a blender along with the lime juice and lime zest. Blend on high until smooth and finely pureed. Taste and season with additional salt if needed. Refrigerate until well chilled (at least 2 hours).
- Meanwhile make the pistachio basil pistou by pulsing together the shelled pistachios and four or five basil leaves with a pinch of salt in a small food processor or finely chop by hand with a sharp chef’s knife . Add the pistachio oil and pulse until just combined or stir into the finely hand chopped basil and pistachios.
- Serve soup in chilled bowls or glasses topped with the pistachio basil pistou.
Notes
Gluten-Free, Grain-Free, Vegetarian, Vegan, Raw (peel by hand rather than blanching), Paleo
Recommended Products
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
4Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 109Total Fat: 6gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 21mgCarbohydrates: 15gFiber: 2gSugar: 11gProtein: 1g
Nutritional information for recipes contained on this website, such as calories, fat, carbs, etc. are only estimates and are not guaranteed to be accurate.
Sylvie Shirazi is the recipe developer and food photographer behind Gourmande in the Kitchen. For the last 10 years she's been making eating more healthfully easy and accessible with gluten-free, grain-free, paleo and vegan recipes that are free from processed ingredients.
Gwen @simplyhealthyfamily says
Lovely combonation of flavors I'm loving for this hot weather! I've always been curious, what makes a chilled blend of ingredients a soup and not a smoothie or say a gazpacho?
Sylvie says
I call this a coup because it has a savory element to it from the tomatoes and the pistachio basil pistou but yes it's similar to a gazpacho in concept.
Phoebe Lapine @FeedMePhoebe says
This looks so delicious and creative! Can't wait to make it. 🙂
najwa kronfel says
What a beautiful soup! Love the flavor combination!
El says
What a glorious treat! Love peaches!!
Laetitia says
Love gazpacho soups. This sounds like a delicious cold soup as well and looks so refreshing. Perfect for a summer lunch.
Anna says
This chilled soup sounds delicious. Never thought of making chilled soup before, but now I am convinced 🙂 I love peaches, so I bet your soup tastes super delicious. Pinned too!
Joyti says
That looks and sounds delicious. Tomato and peach - what a great, but unusual, combination. Love the photographs, especially the first one. Gorgeous!
It's been a pretty cool summer here in SF (it rained last night!) so no summer soup for me. I once made a banana-coconut - pretty good chilled - and I love classic vichyssoise 🙂
Susanne Runion says
This looks so light and delicious! Perfect for Summer. I am definitely going to have to try this.
EA-The Spicy RD says
Loving everything about this post since i am currently on a chilled soup kick! The pistou sounds like it adds a delicious kick. Happy summer 🙂
Meredith says
Perfectly refreshing!