Homemade chicken or beef broth is one of those wonderful foods that imparts both amazing flavor and is full of nutrition. It helps build healthy bones, improves liver health, improves your digestion, and provides a wealth of nutrition. Read more about it here. But when the heat of summer comes, eating a hot bowl of soup with homemade broth isn’t first priority.
But there are refreshing and delicious ways to enjoy tasty homemade broth during the summer! Here are a few things to consider.
Use a slow-cooker to make broth
Whether you are making beef broth or chicken broth, use your slow cooker to keep your kitchen cool. I traded out my Rival Crockpot for a Hamiliton Beach Slow Cooker after hearing that their slow cookers tested as lead-free several years ago when there was a lot of worry about lead in slow cookers. Their website says:
“Q Does the crock contain lead?
A Hamilton Beach specifications applicable to all slow cookers and their components (including the earthenware crocks) prohibits the product from containing any measurable amounts of lead. Furthermore, the factories that manufacture the earthenware crocks for Hamilton Beach are certified ceramic production facilities whose ceramic ware is deemed to satisfy FDA heavy metal requirements. Hamilton Beach takes all reasonable steps to ensure that the earthenware crocks accompanying our slow cookers provide safe and satisfactory service to our consumers.”
I use their inexpensive 8 Quart Oval Slow Cooker
Make Savory Chilled Soups
One of the best ways to enjoy broth in the summer is to make chilled soups. I especially love ones that don’t require any cooking time. I’ve been playing around with my Chilled Avocado and Cucumber Soup (pictured above), adding a small amount of chopped red onion and garlic (now that I not pregnant with a sensitive stomach), and serving it with black beans and salsa. Traditional chilled soups using broths include Gazpacho and Vichyssoise (a Potato and Leek Soup). Other ideas include this Chilled Zucchini Soup or this Chilled Cucumber Soup with Smoked Salmon.
There are a lot of options with chilled soups, and they are very refreshing, hydrating, and cooling on a hot day.I didn’t think I really liked chilled soups, but I’ve found them delightful when flavorful.
Make Spicy Ethnic Soups
In many countries with a hot climate, hot beverages and soups are served year round, but they are generally very spicy. I have to say that I enjoy a hot bowl of pho soup, even on a hot day. There is something about the spices that both heat you up and cool you down at the same time. If you don’t enjoy chilled soups, this is one way to enjoy broth during the summer.
Serve soup in the morning
In our area, the mornings are still mild, and having a cup of broth or a bowl of miso soup is delicious, even though it is hot later in the day. Many Asian cultures served soup at breakfast, so even though it can sound unusual to sweet-loving appetites, eating soup for breakfast is very traditional. We especially like miso soup, but I’ve also served a simple cup of salted chicken broth along side eggs, vegetables, or whatever else I have planned for breakfast.
I’d love to hear your thoughts and suggestions!
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Don’t forget risotto and other rice dishes! I also do honey baked lentils with broth.
Thank you for this post! This will be our first summer in Portland in 8 years. We have been in San Francisco where it is very rarely over 80 degrees. We eat soup almost everyday and it is one of the only things my toddler will eat. I have been getting nervous for 90+ temperatures and not eating soup or the decrease in this nutrient dense food for my kid. I love these ideas! (On the flip side, we are very excited to employ your salad cookbook almost daily with the up-coming heat!)
Kimmi,
I am not able to opent the recipe for Avocado Soup.
I was not able to open the recipe for Avocado Soup. I would love to have it!
Hey All! I fixed the link. Sorry about that. 🙂 I also put in half a bunch of cilantro and lime juice in my last batch (along with a little bit or red onion and garlic). Yum!
Hi,
I got a warning when I tried to open your avocado soup recipe…
We would love to have the recipe, it looks wonderful!
We use bone broth in our baked beans in the summer too- sprouted navy beans, cooked in a crock pot …summer staple here.
Here are a few non-soup ways to eat broth:
Meatballs: http://voogtrecipes.blogspot.com/2011/12/sweet-and-sour-meatballs-grain-free.html
Gravy (how I eat my veggies for breakfast): http://voogtrecipes.blogspot.com/2011/11/fat-filled-vegetablesgaps-gravy.html
A real trick…broth in a smoothie!: http://voogtrecipes.blogspot.com/2011/11/guest-post-pumpkin-smoothieplus-gaps.html
I cook my quinoa in chicken broth…it adds a nice flavor!
so smart!! and i agree broths are nutrition powerhouses!
As you mentioned in your post, I serve a glass or cup of broth with breakfast and dinner every day. My kids drink it with a straw. My husband prefers to eat his with a spoon. Works great for all of us, and we get the nutrition boost we need.
How do you make miso soup? I hear so much about avoiding soy?
warmly,
Nicole
If you ever buy the Zisha slow cooker, PLEASE do a review! I’ve been very curious about it myself since I saw you mention zisha clay a few months ago. I did some research into zisha products, and I’m very curious about how well that slow cooker works.
chilled soup in the summer is such a fantastic way to get some extra farm-fresh veggies into your body! just puree and eat!
Small side note: Tomorrow (wed) is the very first posting for our Fresh Foods Link Up! Come share your CSA collections, farmer’s market treasures, home grown/raised hauls, and/or any seasonal recipes or DIY projects or tutorials! We’ve got a way for bloggers AND blog readers to participate!