20 Make-Ahead Cold Soups for Summer

In the searing heat of summer, eating an entire meal can often seem like the most unappealing prospect, even for the hungriest, most food-obsessed among us. The thought of eating something hot starts to make us sweaty and uncomfortable, so cold — preferably ice-cold  — food is what we turn to again and again. Sadly, there’s a limit to how long we can survive on a diet of ice cream and iced coffee alone. Thankfully, cold soups have come to our rescue. These healthy, filling, flavor-packed recipes will refresh and cool you down on the hottest of summer days.

This white sibling of the classic Spanish gazpacho is wonderfully garlicky, nutty, creamy, and refreshing.

For the Ajo Blanco recipe, click here.

A classic gazpacho is a must-have for every hot summer. Ripe tomatoes blended to a thick pulp make the most wonderful lunch on a sunny day.

For the Authentic Spanish Gazpacho recipe, click here.

Make this rich avocado soup ahead of time and sear the spicy shrimp just before you’re ready to eat.

For the Chilled Avocado Soup With Seared Chipotle Shrimp recipe, click here.

Incorporate more Thai-inspired, spicy, sweet flavors in to your summer soups by adding coconut milk, ginger, and cumin to your butternut squash soup.

For the Chilled Butternut-Coconut Soup recipe, click here.

This vegan corn soup is super smooth, creamy, and sweet, really showing off the flavors of this popular summer vegetable.

For the Chilled Corn Soup recipe, click here.

A chilled, herb-filled, fennel soup is everything we could ask of the perfect lunch on a hot, hot day.

For the Chilled Fennel Soup recipe, click here.

This delicate, summer-perfect soup is a beautiful, vibrant color and has a wonderfully light, refreshing flavor to match.

For the Chilled Pea and Mint Soup recipe, click here.

For a more exotic chilled soup, this Persian recipe is exactly what you’re looking for. Filled with rose petals, herbs, nuts, and raisins, this bowl of soup is exploding with flavor.

For the Chilled Persian Yogurt Soup recipe, click here.

The sweetness of the ripe tomatoes is enhanced further in this soup by adding a few tablespoons of honey.

For the Chilled Tomato and Red Pepper Soup recipe, click here.

Try this cool, Japanese-inspired noodle soup, which is packed full of all your favorite Asian tastes and ingredients.                                                                              

For the Cold Cucumber Noodle Soup recipe, click here.

This super simple zucchini soup has a gentle hint of spice from curry powder and a summery tingle from fresh mint leaves.

For the Cold Zucchini Soup With Curry and Mint recipe, click here.

When it is almost too hot to eat, we always turn to this incredibly light, refreshing, zingy cucumber soup.

For the Cucumber Soup With Basil and Buttermilk recipe, click here.

Using avocado in a dairy-free soup adds an intensely creamy, satisfying richness, which means you won’t even notice that delicious cream is missing.

For the Dairy-Free Creamy Avocado Soup recipe, click here.

This delicately flavored soup is filled with refreshing mint and topped with peppery sour cream, a sprinkling of crunchy hazelnuts, and some fresh chives.

For the Green Asparagus Soup With Celery Seed Sour Cream recipe, click here.

This simple, hearty Italian soup is packed full of all our favorite Mediterranean flavors: ripe tomatoes, fresh basil, and extra-virgin olive oil.

For the Pappa al Pomodoro recipe, click here.

Pineapple adds both a sweet and acidic note to a classic gazpacho. This soup is also garnished with macadamia nuts for some extra richness.

For the Pineapple-Cucumber Gazpacho recipe, click here.

Transform the classic, well-loved Italian dish of melon and prosciutto into a soup by garnishing this chilled melon soup with a couple slices of salty cured ham.

For the Two Melon Soup recipe, click here.

This delicate, French-inspired chilled zucchini soup is a wonderfully refreshing experience for the palate.

For the Vichyssoise de Courgettes recipe, click here.

Soups don’t get much more refreshing than a watermelon gazpacho. The sweet flavors of watermelon and tomato come together in a chilled, balanced bowlful of summer-perfect dinner.

For the Watermelon Gazpacho recipe, click here.

This spicy gazpacho uses yellow heirloom tomatoes for a vibrant variation on the classic Spanish recipe.

For the Yellow Tomato Gazpacho recipe, click here.