Soup in the summer? You betcha! If you haven’t tried a chilled summer soup, you are in for a treat. Gazpacho is a popular cold soup but is traditionally made with tomato and other raw vegetables. For a kidney-friendly spin, we use cucumber as the star ingredient to make this a low potassium soup. The result: a cool, creamy, and refreshing way to add more veggies!
Cucumbers: A versatile veggie that’s low in potassium
Have you ever noticed that some veggies get more attention than others? For example, sweet potato and kale always seem to be in the limelight. Or cauliflower which has been having a heck of a moment. While these vegetables deserve credit for all of the high quality nutrients they provide, we believe that some of the modest veggies deserve some love too!
One underdog that we can’t get enough of is cucumber! Cucumber is technically a fruit though most people use it as a vegetable. The high water content of cucumbers makes them extremely refreshing, and they provide fiber and a variety of vitamins and minerals.
Cucumbers are low in potassium making them an ideal choice if you’re watching potassium. They’re also extremely versatile, thanks to their mild taste, they adapt to whatever flavors you pair them with.
Choosing and preparing cucumber
While there are a variety of cucumbers available, the garden cucumber is one of the most common. When choosing garden cucumbers, we recommend peeling the skin because it has a bitter taste and is often covered in wax to retain moisture. If you don’t want the hassle of peeling your cukes, opt for the thinner skinned English or Persian cucumbers. These variety’s are about as low maintenance as it gets.
There are so many ways to enjoy cucumber above and beyond slicing it into a salad. Here are some of our favorite recipes that feature cucumber!
- Cucumber infused water– a hack for when you don’t enjoy plain water. Elevate cucumber water with other add in’s like mint or berries.
- Mediterranean cucumber salad – a tasty side dish that is easy to make and can be tailored to your taste!
- Kidney Friendly summer salad – a delicious way to add more fruits and veggies to your day.
Want to learn more about delicious nourishing foods that support kidney health?
We are here to help! To find out how we use the power of nutrition to preserve kidney function, join our free monthly class. Prefer a one-to-one setting? Consider scheduling a consultation with one of our expert Renal Dietitians.
Low Potassium Chilled Cucumber Soup
Ingredients
- 1 large cucumber about 2 cups, deseeded and chopped
- 1/2 avocado chopped
- 1 spring onion both green and white parts, roughly chopped
- 1/2 cup plain coconut milk yogurt
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoon low sodium homemade pesto
- 4-5 fresh mint leaves
- 1/2 clove garlic
- 1/4-1/2 jalapeño seeds removed then minced, to taste
- 1/2 lemon juiced
- 1 dash of salt to taste
- 1 dash of black pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a powerful blender, add all ingredients. Blend until smooth, adding water as needed to achieve desired consistency. Adjust seasoning to taste.
- Place in the fridge to chill for at least 4 hours.
- Serve chilled with a drizzle of olive oil, cucumber slices, and/or a dollop of coconut yogurt as garnish.
Nutrition
KidneyRD Verdict for Chilled Cucumber Low Potassium Soup:
This chilled cucumber soup has become a fast favorite this summer. It’s a refreshing way to add vegetables to a meal and is a breeze to make. Intimidated by the high power blender? My dated Cuisinart blender was able to do the job just fine by adding some extra water. This soup would make a great starter course at a summer brunch, lunch, or dinner party. Serve in lieu of salad and we promise that your guests will be swooning over how beautifully unique and tasty this summer soup is!
ALL information you read on KidneyRD.com is purely for informational and educational purposes. Information is not intended to treat, cure or prevent any disease.