Seasonal Soup & Salad Recipes ♥ August

Seasonal Soups & Salads for August, summer recipes and a monthly feature ♥ A Veggie Venture, packed with fresh vegetables and all our favorite summer ingredients.
Seasonal Soup and Salad recipes, ideas perfect for the month of August, all from A Veggie Venture's decade+ collection of 1000+ vegetable recipes. August's recipes are mostly veg(etari)an and call for easy-to-find ingredients. Find your late-summer salad (and soup! especially chilled soup!) inspiration here ... (Readers from the Southern Hemisphere? Look for your late-winter seasonal soup and salad recipes in the February collection!)

About August's Recipe Collection

Any guesses how many soup and salad recipes are listed in this seasonal recipe collection? Forty-freaking-two! Yes, 42! But isn't that what August does to a seasonal eater? For a few weeks, it's pure vegetable gluttony! (To say nothing of melons and peaches and and and and ...)

Maybe it's these deep dives into A Veggie Venture's 14+ year collection of soup and salad recipes but I find myself completely fascinated by simple salad combinations of vegetables. It's affecting our eating patterns because LOL I have minus zero interest in cooking dinner: instead, I just want to make a salad (and BLTs and peach pound cake and blueberry cookies and ...)

Below, the August salad recipes call for caseloads of tomatoes because here in the Midwest, our local tomatoes hit in late July at the very earliest but more often early in August and then play out into early October in good years. And beets, too, because once you cook some beets, a beet salad is no more than 5 or 10 minutes from the table.

Weight Watchers, Start Here for Low-Point Summer Salads & Soups

37% of these summer soup and salad recipes – 0 or 1 myWW blue points
63% of these soup & salad recipes – low carb (10 or fewer net carbs)
About half are vegan (or easy converted to vegan)
Four chilled soups, so wonderful this time of year
Three "staple" recipes that work year-round, ones to make over and over again
A dozen "no recipe" recipes, easy (and easily memorable) combinations of fresh summer produce

A Year of Seasonal Soup & Salad Recipes? Sooo Close!

January February March April May June July August September October November December

Quick Lists for August

(click right through or scroll down for more information on why I've chosen each recipe)

NOT TO MISS, No Matter What – August
Old Liz's Old-Fashioned Cucumber & Tomato Salad 15min/45min–ww1–pp2–sp2–fs1–green1–blue1–purple1–carb7
Jerusalem Salad 30min/30min–ww1–pp2–sp2–fs1–green1–blue1–purple1–carb5
Tomato Gazpacho 30min/24hrs–ww2–pp2–sp4–fs2–green2–blue2–purple2–carb9
Summer's Best Corn Chowder 50min/3hrs–ww2–pp3–sp4–fs2–green3–blue2–purple1–carb19
Greek Greens (Flash Cook to Eat Later) 15min/20min–ww0–pp0–sp1–fs0–green0–blue0–purple0–carb6

SALADS of the Month – August
SUPPER SALADS
Roasted Eggplant with Pomegranate & Buttermilk-Yogurt Sauce 20min/4hrs–ww5–pp6–sp9–fs5–green5–blue5–purple5–carb7
Grilled Steak with Tomato-Avocado Salad in a Warm Poblano-Bacon Vinaigrette (Kitchen Parade)

IF YOU HAVE GOOD SUMMER TOMATOES
Tomato-Tomato 10min/10min–ww1–pp1–sp1–fs0–green1–blue0–purple0–carb6
Tomato & Zucchini Salad 10min/10min–ww1–pp1–sp2–fs1–green1–blue1–purple1–carb6
Tomato Platter with Olives & Feta 10min/10min–ww2–pp2–sp2–fs2–green2–blue2–purple2–carb2
Pepper & Tomato Salad 15min/15min–ww0–pp1–sp1–fs0–green0–blue0–purple0–carb4
Grape Tomato Caprese Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette 15min/15min–ww3–pp3–sp4–fs3–green3–blue3–purple3–carb4
Warm Tomato, Corn & Okra Salad 15min/20min–ww2–pp3–sp4–fs1–green2–blue1–purple1–carb17
Grilled Pepper & Tomato Salad 15min/45min–ww2–pp3–sp4–fs2–green2–blue2–purple2–carb8
Lentil Salad with Tomatoes, Dill & Basil 20min/45min–ww1–pp2–sp2–fs0–green1–blue0–purple0–carb7
Fattoush (Traditional Middle Eastern Salad) 20min/20min–ww4–pp4–sp6–fs1–green1–blue1–purple1–carb17
Turkish Cucumber-Tomato-Olive Chopped Salad with Sumac 20min/20min–ww1–pp1–sp2–fs1–green1–blue1–purple1–carb3

IF YOU HAVE CUCUMBERS
Julia Child's Cucumber Salad 10min/6hrs–ww1–pp1–sp1–fs1–green1–blue1–purple1–carb1
Cucumber Salad with Lime & Fresh Mint 15min/15min–ww0–pp1–sp1–fs1–green1–blue1–purple1–carb5
Watermelon, Cucumber & Feta Salad 15min/15min–ww1–pp2–sp3–fs1–green1–blue1–purple1–carb9
Watermelon & Celery Salad with Honey-Lime Vinaigrette 15min/15min–ww2–pp3–sp4–fs2–green2–blue2–purple2–carb14

IF YOU HAVE BEETS
Honey-Pepper Beets 10min/10min–ww1–pp2–sp3–fs1–green1–blue1–purple1–carb14
Beets with Caraway 10min/10min – WW1 – PP2 – SP3 – FS1 – NetCarb10
Mustard Beets 15min/15min–ww1–pp2–sp3–fs0–green0–blue0–purple0–carb10
Twice-Roasted Beets with Red Grapes, Cherries, Blueberries & Avocado Feta Cream 15min/45min–ww4–pp5–sp8–fs5–green5–blue5–purple5–carb19

IF YOU HAVE ... OTHER FULL-SUMMER VEGETABLES!
Homemade Blueberry Vinaigrette 10min/10min–ww1–pp1–sp2–fs1–green1–blue1–purple1–carb2
Broccoli, Bacon & Raisin Salad with Cheddar 15min/20min–ww3–pp4–sp6–fs5–green5–blue5–purple5–carb13
Israeli Couscous Salad with Yellow Squash & Sun-Dried Tomatoes 15min/2hrs–ww2–pp3–sp3–fs3–green3–blue3–purple3–carb18
“Lost Recipes” Classic Coleslaw with Boiled Dressing 20min/24hrs–ww1–pp1–sp2–fs2–green2–blue2–purple2–carb4
Fresh Three-Bean Salad 30min/50min–ww1–pp2–sp3–fs0–green2–blue0–purple0–carb9

SOUPS of the Month – August
Cool-as-a-Cucumber Avocado Soup 10min/10min–ww3–pp4–sp5–fs5–green5–blue5–purple5–carb8
Tomato Bisque 10min/60min–ww2–pp3–sp4–fs4–green4–blue4–purple4–carb3
Raw Corn Chowder 15min/15min–ww5–pp6–sp7–fs4–green7–blue4–purple4–carb18
Summer Borscht 25min/25min–ww5–pp5–sp9–fs7–green7–blue7–purple7–carb10
Quick Cauliflower Soup or Quick Broccoli Soup 15min/25min–ww1–pp2–sp2–fs1–green1–blue1–purple1–carb7 (Kitchen Parade)
Chilled Zucchini Soup Shooters 15min/4hrs–ww2–pp2–sp3–fs1–green1–blue1–purple1–carb7
Curried Corn Chowder with Coconut Milk 25min/60min–ww4–pp5–sp8–fs3–green7–blue3–purple3–carb17
Cream of Zucchini Soup (Julia Child's Recipe) 35min/75min–ww2–pp3–sp4–fs2–green2–blue2–purple2–carb11

BONUS CONTENT of the Month – August
Practical Home Canning Tips
Never Take a Good Tomato for Granted: Twelve Favorite Tomato Recipes
Pretty Ways to Serve Summer's Best Tomatoes

Want to Know More?

There's more info about each recipe below. Just scroll down!

Insider Tip

Click any image, you'll click right through to the recipe! Convenient, eh?




NOT TO MISS, No Matter What for AUGUST

Old Liz's Old-Fashioned Cucumber & Tomato Salad

15min/45min–ww1–pp2–sp2–fs1–green1–blue1–purple1–carb7

Not to Miss, Not Matter What. Fresh & Summery. Low Carb. Weight Watchers Friendly. Not just vegan, "Vegan Done Real". Pinterest Loves It! August's Best Salad Recipe in 2008!

Old Liz's Old-Fashioned Cucumber & Tomato Salad, another easy summer salad ♥ AVeggieVenture.com. Fresh & Seasonal. Low Carb. Weight Watchers Friendly. Vegan. Pinterest Loves It! Best Recipes 2008.
Would you call your mom "Old Liz"? This guy does, albeit with much love and affection. This was the very first recipe from Jerry's family that I shared, just a few weeks after we met. Readers love it too, perhaps now there's one more reason to check out this old-fashioned tomato and cucumber salad? Tee hee ...



Jerusalem Salad

30min/30min–ww1–pp2–sp2–fs1–green1–blue1–purple1–carb5

Not to Miss, No Matter What. Middle-Eastern Classic. Weight Watchers Friendly. Low Cal. Low Carb. Gluten Free. Not just vegan, "Vegan Done Real".

Jerusalem Salad, another easy summer salad ♥ AVeggieVenture.com, just tomatoes, cucumber, peppers and romaine lettuce, all tossed in a lemon tahini dressing. Weight Watchers Friendly. Low Cal. Low Carb. Gluten Free. Vegan.
Fun Fact: For awhile, Wikipedia linked to my recipe! It's such a simple salad, if you love tahini, put this a Jerusalem Salad on your make-asap list.



Tomato Gazpacho

30min/24hrs–ww2–pp2–sp4–fs2–green2–blue2–purple2–carb9

Not to Miss, No Matter What. Classic Spanish Summer Soup. Great for Meal Prep. Weight Watchers Friendly. Low Carb. Not Just Vegan, "Vegan Done Real".

How to make Tomato Gazpacho, the classic chilled Spanish summer soup ♥ AVeggieVenture.com. Great for Meal Prep. Weight Watchers Friendly. Low Carb. Vegan.
Way back in 2006, it was a bloggy thing to feature another blogger's recipe as a sort of tribute. That's how I came to adapt my friend Elise's recipe for gazpacho. All these years later? Despite my own adaptations and adjustments? I'm grateful for Simply Recipe's original. Just like a classic Spanish gazpacho, it's all about the tomatoes. And the peppers. And the cucumbers. Serve it to rave reviews.



Summer's Best Corn Chowder

50min/3hrs–ww2–pp3–sp4–fs2–green3–blue2–purple1–carb19

Not to Miss, No Matter What. A Summer Classic. Great for Meal Prep. Great Way to Use Up Many Vegetables At Once.

Summer's Best Corn Chowder, a classic summer soup ♥ AVeggieVenture.com, packed with our favorite fresh and seasonal summer vegetables. Great for Meal Prep.
I've been making Corn Chowder as long as I've been cooking. It's rarely quite the same twice because the vegetables can vary. Just be sure to include a few potatoes, lots of corn ... and let it rest for 24 hours before serving. It makes all the difference!



Greek Greens (Flash Cook to Eat Later)

15min/20min–ww0–pp0–sp1–fs0–green0–blue0–purple0–carb6

Not to Miss, No Matter What. Low Carb. Weight Watchers Friendly. Great for Meal Prep. Not Just Vegan, "Vegan Done Real". Naturally Gluten Free.

Greek Greeks, how to hold dark leafy greens for later, another simple technique ♥ AVeggieVenture.com. Weight Watchers Friendly. Low Carb. Great for Meal Prep. Vegan. Naturally Gluten Free.
I almost left Greek Greens off this list because ugh! a new photo is definitely in order. But the thing is, this is one of A Veggie Venture's most useful recipes in 14+ years. If you come home with greens and then they get slimy in the fridge? Instead, make Greek Greens as soon you get home. If you want to eat more dark leafy greens? Make Greek Greens.




Seasonal Salads for AUGUST


Roasted Eggplant with Pomegranate & Buttermilk-Yogurt Sauce

20min/4hrs–ww5–pp6–sp9–fs5–green5–blue5–purple5–carb7

Make It a Meal. Weight Watchers Friendly. Naturally Gluten Free. Vegetarian.

Roasted Eggplant with Pomegranate & Buttermilk-Yogurt Sauce, a simple vegetarian summer meal ♥ AVeggieVenture.com, an unexpected explosion of flavors. Weight Watchers Friendly. Naturally Gluten Free. Vegetarian.
Yotam Ottolenghi fans, you'll recognize this dish as the cover of Plenty: Vibrant Vegetable Recipes from London's Ottolenghi! It's just roasted eggplant halves topped with an unexpected explosion of flavors, a garlicky yogurt sauce, sour pomegranate, spices and fresh herbs. Just gorgeous, this!



(Kitchen Parade)

Summer Celebration On a Plate. Easy and Messy.

Grilled Steak with Tomato-Avocado Salad in a Warm Poblano-Bacon Vinaigrette ♥ KitchenParade.com, grilled steak atop a wet and messy salad of tomatoes, avocado and lettuce, slightly wilted in an onion-bacon-poblano vinaigrette.
So many summer salads are still lifes on a plate, all composed and perfect. This? NOT. It's a messy bowl of summer flavors, ripe tomatoes and soft avocados. Perfect for a lazy weekend supper with steak-lovin' friends ...



Tomato-Tomato

10min/10min–ww1–pp1–sp1–fs0–green1–blue0–purple0–carb6

Worthy of the Best Tomatoes. Weeknight Friendly. Very Weight Watchers Friendly. Vegetarian. Naturally Gluten Free. Low Carb.

Tomato-Tomato, another easy summer salad ♥ AVeggieVenture.com. Worthy of the Best Tomatoes. Weeknight Friendly. Very Weight Watchers Friendly. Vegetarian. Naturally Gluten Free. Low Carb.
Just whisk together a few pantry ingredients, stir in wonderful summer tomatoes and some basil. That.Is.It. But it's so good!



Tomato & Zucchini Salad

10min/10min–ww1–pp1–sp2–fs1–green1–blue1–purple1–carb6

Quick & Adaptable. Weeknight Easy, Even Lunch Easy. Low Carb. Great for Meal Prep. August's Best Salad in 2005.

Tomato & Zucchini Salad, another easy summer salad ♥ AVeggieVenture.com. Weeknight Easy, Even Lunch Easy. Low Carb. Great for Meal Prep. August's Best Salad in 2005.
One of my personal most-made salads on A Veggie Venture, just raw chopped vegetables tossed with Italian dressing, fresh herbs and just a spoonful of cheese. I call this "lunch" lots of days! And as I look more closely, this is perhaps the very genesis of how I first learned to make a vegetable salad, way back in 2005. It's so simple, right? But maybe it'll inspire another combination, maybe with Broccoli, Pepper & Celery Salad?



Tomato Platter with Olives & Feta

10min/10min–ww2–pp2–sp2–fs2–green2–blue2–purple2–carb2

Great for Potlucks & Casual Gatherings. Scales from Small Plates to Large Platters. Weeknight Easy for One or Two. Low Carb.

Tomato Platter with Olives & Feta, another easy summer salad ♥ AVeggieVenture.com, small plates to large platters. Weight Watchers Friendly. Gluten Free.
My friend Mary is The.Best at coming up with simple, stunning contributions to gatherings. The beauty of her approach with this simple platter? It scales down for one or two just like that, no thinking or math required.



Pepper & Tomato Salad

15min/15min–ww0–pp1–sp1–fs0–green0–blue0–purple0–carb4

Very Weight Watchers Friendly. Low Cal. Low Carb. Naturally Gluten Free. Paleo. Not just vegan, "Vegan Done Real".

Pepper & Tomato Salad, another easy-easy summer salad ♥ AVeggieVenture.com, just colorful veggies tossed with lemon and cilantro. Very Weight Watchers Friendly. Low Cal. Low Carb. Naturally Gluten Free. Paleo. Vegan.
What an easy rainbow of a salad, just a mix of colorful chopped bell peppers, tomato and cilantro all tossed/enhanced with bright lemon and cilantro. During that first year of A Veggie Venture, when I was really just learning/experimenting with vegetables, this was a "new" way to put together salad. It might seem commonplace now for a beginner? It's a great place to start.



Grape Tomato Caprese Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette

15min/15min–ww3–pp3–sp4–fs3–green3–blue3–purple3–carb4

Weeknight Easy, Weekend Special. Weight Watchers Friendly. Low Cal. Low Carb. Naturally Gluten Free. Vegetarian.

Grape Tomato Caprese Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette, another easy summer salad ♥ AVeggieVenture.com. Weeknight Easy, Weekend Special. Weight Watchers Friendly. Low Cal. Low Carb. Naturally Gluten Free. Vegetarian.
There are dozens of ways to make a traditional Italian caprese salad but this one's extra quick and easy. Start with good summer tomatoes (and in fact, don't even bother if the tomatoes aren't special ...) then stir in fresh basil and a drizzle of good balsamic vinegar.



Warm Tomato, Corn & Okra Salad

15min/20min–ww2–pp3–sp4–fs1–green2–blue1–purple1–carb17

Fresh & Seasonal. Weeknight Easy. Not just vegan, But "Vegan Done Real". Weight Watchers Friendly.

Warm Tomato, Corn & Okra Salad, another easy but memorable summer salad ♥ AVeggieVenture.com. Fresh & Seasonal. Weeknight Easy. Vegan. Weight Watchers Friendly.
Honesty: I haven't made this warm combo in ... um ... 13 years. Truth: I still remember it vividly, the surprising richness of warm fresh tomatoes, brought to temperature under the broiler. Yes, it's on the Make Now list. If only our garden were producing okra this year ...



Grilled Pepper & Tomato Salad

15min/45min–ww2–pp3–sp4–fs2–green2–blue2–purple2–carb8

Low Carb. Not just vegan, "Vegan Done Real". Easily Scales from Small Plates to Large Platters. Weeknight Easy, Weekend Special. A Reader Recipe!

Grilled Pepper & Tomato Salad, another easy summer salad ♥ AVeggieVenture.com. Weight Watchers Friendly. Low Carb. Vegan. Weeknight Easy, Weekend Special.
If tomatoes are abundant in August, peppers rank a close second. The farmers market will have overflowing bins of multi-colored, odd-shaped other-worldy nubbins of chiles, both sweet and warm and outright hot chiles. This reader recipe pairs familiar tomatoes and familiar peppers into a salad that somehow manages to turn out entirely different.



Lentil Salad with Tomatoes, Dill & Basil

20min/45min–ww1–pp2–sp2–fs0–green1–blue0–purple0–carb7

Fresh & Seasonal. Great for Meal Prep. Weight Watchers Friendly & Freestyle Friendly. Low Fat. Not just vegan, Vegan Done Real. Naturally Gluten Free. Low Carb. Low Fat.

Lentil Salad with Tomatoes, Dill & Basil, another healthy summer salad ♥ AVeggieVenture.com. Great for Meal Prep. Weight Watchers Friendly. Low Fat. Low Carb. Vegan.
One of my very favorite summer salads, a simple summer concoction of meaty French lentils combined with summer-ripe tomatoes and other vegetables for a hearty, healthy salad. And even more good news? The recipe is "lightened up" with no oil — and no missing it!



Fattoush (Traditional Middle Eastern Salad)

20min/20min–ww4–pp4–sp6–fs1–green1–blue1–purple1–carb17

Middle-Eastern Classic. Substantial Enough to Call "Dinner". Weight Watchers Friendly. Not just vegan, Vegan Done Real.

Fattoush (Traditional Middle Eastern Salad), another easy summer salad ♥ AVeggieVenture.com. Middle-Eastern Classic. Weight Watchers Friendly. Vegan.
The long name for Fattoush? Middle Eastern Salad with Romaine, Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Fried Pita Chips and Lemon-Sumac Dressing. Whew, it takes a lot of words to describe what is in fact a super-simple traditional Lebanese / Syrian / Middle Eastern salad. You really don't want to miss this classic summer tomato salad while this year's tomatoes are so perfect!



Turkish Cucumber-Tomato-Olive Chopped Salad with Sumac

20min/20min–ww1–pp1–sp2–fs1–green1–blue1–purple1–carb3

Not just vegan, Vegan Done Real. Low Carb. WW Friendly. Totally Addictive.

Turkish Cucumber-Tomato-Olive Chopped Salad with Sumac, another healthy summer salad ♥ AVeggieVenture.com. Vegan. Low Carb. WW Friendly. Totally Addictive.
A gorgeous summer salad, a colorful crunchy mix of fresh-fresh summer vegetables in a lemony dressing spiced with the delightful sourness of sumac plus cumin, smoked paprika and oregano. It makes a great supper salad or better yet, a salad for a Mediterranean or Middle Eastern meze platter.



Julia Child's Cucumber Salad

10min/6hrs–ww1–pp1–sp1–fs1–green1–blue1–purple1–carb1

Great Crunch. Low Carb. Not just vegan, "Vegan Done Real". WW Friendly.

Julia Child's Cucumber Salad, another easy summer salad ♥ AVeggieVenture.com. Great Crunch. Low Carb. Vegan. WW Friendly.
If you have big seedy cucumbers spitting like bullets out of the garden, this is your recipe, including a technique for soaking the cucumbers until they're totally tasty.



Cucumber Salad with Lime & Fresh Mint

15min/15min–ww0–pp1–sp1–fs1–green1–blue1–purple1–carb5

Great Crunch. Weight Watchers Friendly. Low Carb. Naturally Gluten Free.

Cucumber Salad with Lime & Fresh Mint, another easy summer salad ♥ AVeggieVenture.com, like a spicy cucumber mojito. Great Crunch. Weight Watchers Friendly. Low Carb. Naturally Gluten Free.
So simple! It's just thin slices of cucumber tossed with fresh lime juice, fresh mint and just a touch of heat. It's like a spicy cucumber mojito, a mix of wet cucumber, fresh lime juice and a smattering of fresh mint.



Watermelon, Cucumber & Feta Salad

15min/15min–ww1–pp2–sp3–fs1–green1–blue1–purple1–carb9

Fresh & Seasonal. A Summer Classic. Great for Last-Minute Supper Salad. Easy Weeknight Salad. Low Carb. Low Fat. Weight Watchers Friendly. Vegetarian. Naturally Gluten Free.

Watermelon, Cucumber & Feta Salad, another summer salad recipe ♥ AVeggieVenture.com, a simple classic combo. Quick. Weeknight Easy. Low Carb. Weight Watchers Friendly. Naturally Gluten Free.
With good watermelon, this salad is way more than the sum of its parts! It's one of summer's classic salad treats, an easy no-measuring-required combination of sweet ripe melon, crisp cucumber, a touch of savory onion and crumbles of salty feta.



Watermelon & Celery Salad with Honey-Lime Vinaigrette

15min/15min–ww2–pp3–sp4–fs2–green2–blue2–purple2–carb14

Weight Watchers Friendly. Low Cal. Naturally Gluten Free. Not just vegan, "Vegan Done Real".

Watermelon & Celery Salad with Honey-Lime Vinaigrette, another easy summer salad ♥ AVeggieVenture.com. Totally captivating! Weight Watchers Friendly. Low Cal. Naturally Gluten Free. Vegan.
Watermelon salads often pair the melon with cucumber – here it's celery, also wet and crunchy, am I right?! It's a captivating summer salad!



Honey-Pepper Beets

10min/10min–ww1–pp2–sp3–fs1–green1–blue1–purple1–carb14

Quick & Easy. Beets + Just a Few Pantry Ingredients. WW Friendly.

Honey-Pepper Beets, another easy summer salad ♥ AVeggieVenture.com. Quick & Easy. WW Friendly.
Regular readers know I'm the self-dubbed "beet queen" and these three recipes might have been where my devotion to beets ingrained itself. Was it the speed? the convenience? the lovely earthiness of roasted beets tossed in light dressings? I'm combining three recipes here, the Honey-Pepper Beets plus Beets with Caraway and Mustard Beets.



Twice-Roasted Beets with Red Grapes, Cherries, Blueberries & Avocado Feta Cream

15min/45min–ww4–pp5–sp8–fs5–green5–blue5–purple5–carb19

Weeknight Simple, Worthy of a Weekend Occasion. Familiar Ingredients In An Unfamiliar Combination. Best Recipe August 2014. Naturally Gluten Free. Vegetarian.

Twice-Roasted Beets with Red Grapes, Cherries, Blueberries & Avocado Feta Cream, another easy summer salad ♥ AVeggieVenture.com. Weeknight Simple, Worthy of a Weekend Occasion. Familiar Ingredients In An Unfamiliar Combination. Best Recipe August 2014. Naturally Gluten Free. Vegetarian.
We can't stop making this "fancy pants" salad, just roasted beets roasted a second time alongside summer fruits like grapes and cherries and blueberries. Served warm! On the side? A gorgeous-green creamy sauce of no more than avocado, feta and buttermilk mixed in minutes in the blender. Gorgeous!



Homemade Blueberry Vinaigrette

10min/10min–ww1–pp1–sp2–fs1–green1–blue1–purple1–carb2

Never Buy Salad Dressing Again! Weeknight Easy, Worthy of a Weekend Occasion. Low Carb. Not just vegan, Vegan Done Real. Weight Watchers Friendly.

Homemade Blueberry Vinaigrette, another easy salad dressing ♥ AVeggieVenture.com. Never Buy Salad Dressing Again! Weeknight Easy, Worthy of a Weekend Occasion. Low Carb. Vegan. Weight Watchers Friendly.
Just look at that color! Need I say more?



Broccoli, Bacon & Raisin Salad with Cheddar

15min/20min–ww3–pp4–sp6–fs5–green5–blue5–purple5–carb13

The Potluck Favorite, Just Lighter & Fresher. Classic Combo, Classic Comfort Food. Great Crunch.

Broccoli, Bacon & Raisin Salad with Cheddar, a popular potluck salad ♥ AVeggieVenture.com, except fresher and lighter and almost virtuous. Great Crunch. Crowd Favorite. Perfect for Potlucks.
My lighter and almost virtuous version of the broccoli salad that shows up at church potlucks and family gatherings all summer long, a real crowd favorite.



Israeli Couscous Salad with Yellow Squash & Sun-Dried Tomatoes

15min/2hrs–ww2–pp3–sp3–fs3–green3–blue3–purple3–carb18

Pretty Colors. Great for Meal Prep. Not just vegan, "Vegan Done Real".

Israeli Couscous Salad with Yellow Squash & Sun-Dried Tomatoes, another easy summer salad ♥ AVeggieVenture.com. Great for Meal Prep. Vegan. Pretty Colors.
Take sexy Israeli couscous and match it up with pretty yellow squash. What do you get? Summer in a bowl.



"Lost Recipes" Classic Coleslaw with Boiled Dressing

20min/24hrs–ww1–pp1–sp2–fs2–green2–blue2–purple2–carb4

Old-Fashioned Slaw With Added Zip. Great Crunch. Cook's Illustrated Recipe.

'Lost Recipes' Classic Coleslaw with Boiled Dressing, another easy summer salad ♥ AVeggieVenture.com. Cook's Illustrated Recipe. Great Crunch.
An old-fashioned recipe for coleslaw, just cabbage in a "boiled" dressing, updated to give it some "zip" the original recipe lacked.

But there's more to this recipe than slaw. Back in 2006, people questioned me (and other bloggers) alllllll the time, Why do you blog? This recipe sparked a comment from a 98-year old Canadian who loved blogs, it remains my single-most favorite interchange with a reader and is memorialized here, Dear Anonymous: THIS Is Why We Blog. Go ahead, it's really short and it just might be an antidote to wretched headlines. :-)



Fresh Three-Bean Salad

30min/50min–ww1–pp2–sp3–fs0–green2–blue0–purple0–carb9

Pretty Color. Recipe Makeover. Not just vegan, "Vegan Done Real". Weight Watchers Friendly. Low Carb (yes, even with the kidney beans).

Fresh Three-Bean Salad, another easy summer salad ♥ AVeggieVenture.com, made skinny with less oil and less sugar. WW Friendly. Gluten Free. Low Carb. Vegan.
It's a recipe makeover! Inspired by Cook's Illustrated, it's that old potluck favorite except with fresh green beans and "skinny" with less oil and less sugar. So good!




Seasonal Soups for AUGUST


Cool-as-a-Cucumber Avocado Soup

10min/10min–ww3–pp4–sp5–fs5–green5–blue5–purple5–carb8

Cold Soup for Summer. Just Four Ingredients! Silky & Sumptuous. Fresh & Seasonal. Quick to Make, Quick to the Table. Low Carb.

Cool-as-a-Cucumber Avocado Soup, another easy summer soup ♥ AVeggieVenture.com. Just Four Ingredients! Vegan. Low Carb. Gluten Free. Quick & Easy.
These first soups are richer than my usual soups but somehow they're perfect for full summer, a small serving to pair with a supper salad, a plate of tomatoes. And no doubt, an avocado soup can be a calorie bomb. But not this avocado soup, thanks to the addition of cucumbers! It's made in the blender and served cold, a cooling treat during steamy summers.



Tomato Bisque

10min/60min–ww2–pp3–sp4–fs4–green4–blue4–purple4–carb3

Fresh & Seasonal. Weeknight Easy, Weekend Special. Low Carb.

Tomato Bisque, another easy summer soup ♥ AVeggieVenture.com, start with Marcella Hazan's Famous Tomato-Onion Sauce. Fresh & Seasonal. Weeknight Easy, Weekend Special. Low Carb.
Start off with Marcella Hazan's famous and super-simple three-ingredient Tomato-Onion Sauce (mine uses fresh summer tomatoes), then make a creamy-dreamy bisque. Unlike other soups in this summer recipe collection, Tomato Bisque is served hot, perhaps on a rainy day that carries a prescience of fall?



Raw Corn Chowder

15min/15min–ww5–pp6–sp7–fs4–green7–blue4–purple4–carb18

Cold Soup for Summer. Just Two Ingredients, Really. Weeknight Easy, Weekend Special. Not just vegan, "Vegan Done Real".

Raw Corn Chowder, another easy summer soup ♥ AVeggieVenture.com, served cold. Just Two Ingredients! Weeknight Easy, Weekend Special. Vegan.
Uncooked summer sweetcorn is so ... sweet! That makes it an especially lovely choice for a raw soup. You will want "good" olive oil ...



Summer Borscht

25min/25min–ww5–pp5–sp9–fs7–green7–blue7–purple7–carb10

Cold Soup for Summer. Beautiful Color. Weeknight Easy, Weekend Special.

Summer Borscht, another easy summer soup ♥ AVeggieVenture.com, served cold. Beautiful Color. Weeknight Easy, Weekend Special.
Most of us know about borscht and I have my favorite recipe from a part of Finland that was taken by Russia a hundred years ago, it's Karelian Borscht (Finnish - Russian Beet Borscht Soup). But for summer? There's no beating (ha! get it?!) a chilled beet soup for color and rich earthiness. Gorgeous!



Quick Cauliflower Soup or Quick Broccoli Soup

15min/25min–ww1–pp2–sp2–fs1–green1–blue1–purple1–carb7 (Kitchen Parade)

One Recipe, Two Soups. Weeknight Easy. Great for Meal Prep. Year-Round Staple. Weight Watchers Friendly. Low Carb. Naturally Gluten Free.

Quick Broccoli (or Cauliflower) Soup ♥ KitchenParade.com, fast, delicious soup made with five ingredients. One Recipe, Two Soups. Weeknight Easy. Great for Meal Prep. Year-Round Staple. Weight Watchers Friendly. Low Carb. Gluten Free.
Switching gears! Let's move from rich and summery to two healthy soups that you can (and I do ...) make year-round. My cousin Sharon told me back in May, "I still make your broccoli soup." I knew exactly which broccoli soup she meant, even though the recipes date way back to 2005 and 2006. It's that good! Me? I go back and forth on whether the broccoli soup is better or the cauliflower soup is better. Hmm, let me have another spoonful, just to decide ...

Quick Cauliflower (or Broccoli) Soup ♥ KitchenParade.com, fast, delicious soup made with five ingredients. One Recipe, Two Soups. Weeknight Easy. Great for Meal Prep. Year-Round Staple. Weight Watchers Friendly. Low Carb. Gluten Free.
And while I combined the two variations in a single Kitchen Parade column, each recipe originated right here on Day 116 and Day 121 of A Veggie Venture's first year. How about that?! So many of my very best recipes came from that first year. You learn sooo much when you take a deep dive!

Quick Broccoli Soup with Chive Oil 15min/25min–ww1–pp2–sp2–fs1–green1–blue1–purple1–carb7
Quick Cauliflower Soup 15min/25min–ww1–pp2–sp2–fs1–green1–blue1–purple1–carb7



Chilled Zucchini Soup Shooters

15min/4hrs–ww2–pp2–sp3–fs1–green1–blue1–purple1–carb7

Rave Reviews! Fresh & Seasonal. Quick to Make. Weight Watchers Friendly. Low Carb.

Chilled Zucchini Soup Shooters, another easy summer soup ♥ AVeggieVenture.com. Rave Reviews! Fresh & Seasonal. Quick to Make. Weight Watchers Friendly. Low Carb.
Here's a soup that will satisfy as summer winds toward autumn, made with little more than zucchini charmed with a touch of curry and served cold. It tastes much richer than it is ...



Curried Corn Chowder with Coconut Milk

25min/60min–ww4–pp5–sp8–fs3–green7–blue3–purple3–carb17

Fresh & Seasonal. Lovely Golden Color. Vegetarian, Easily Made Vegan.

Curried Corn Chowder with Coconut Milk, another easy summer soup ♥ AVeggieVenture.com. Fresh & Seasonal. Lovely Golden Color. Vegetarian, Easily Made Vegan.
A hearty corn chowder, laced with zucchini and carrot and pungent with curry, this soup is also served hot. For anyone with a surplus of zucchini ... here you go!



Cream of Zucchini Soup (Julia Child's Recipe)

35min/75min–ww2–pp3–sp4–fs2–green2–blue2–purple2–carb11

Master Recipe. Weight Watchers Friendly. August's Best Soup in 2008.

Julia Child's Cream of Zucchini Soup, another easy summer soup ♥ AVeggieVenture.com. Master Recipe. Weight Watchers Friendly. August's Best Soup in 2008.
"Cream" soups are made with cream, right? Not here! Julia Child's technique is one that can be used to lighten up (and make vegan) other vegetable soups. What's that "creamy" ingredient? Rice!




Bonus Content for AUGUST


Practical Home Canning Tips

What To Do Before (and After) You Start Canning


Practical Home Canning Tips for both new and experienced home canners ♥ AVeggieVenture.com, the practical stuff, what to do before (and after) you start canning.
One of A Veggie Venture's top pages during the summer, it's a reference page I review every time I'm about to start a canning project. That's because what you do "before" and "after" is just as important as what you do "during".



Never Take a Good Tomato for Granted

Twelve Favorite Tomato Recipes


Never Take a Good Tomato for Granted! ♥ AVeggieVenture.com, a collection of favorite summer tomato recipes. Don't let another day pass, they'll be gone too soon!
Imagine a summer without tomatoes ... and then collect your own favorite summer tomato recipes. Perhaps I can inspire one (or two or three?) more?



Pretty Ways to Serve Summer's Best Tomatoes

Idea from Bloggers Across the World


Pretty Ways to Serve Summer's Best Tomatoes ♥ AVeggieVenture.com, ideas from creative food bloggers across the world.
The ideas are endless, I've collected some of my favorites to inspire your own platters and plates. So pretty!






Still Hungry?



MORE SOUP & SALAD RECIPES

~ more soup recipes ~
~ more salad recipes ~
from A Veggie Venture

~ more soup recipes ~
~ more salad recipes ~
from Kitchen Parade, my food column

A Veggie Venture is home of "veggie evangelist" Alanna Kellogg and the
famous asparagus-to-zucchini Alphabet of Vegetables.

© Copyright Kitchen Parade
2019 & 2020


Alanna Kellogg
Alanna Kellogg

A Veggie Venture is home of "veggie evangelist" Alanna Kellogg and the famous asparagus-to-zucchini Alphabet of Vegetables.

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