12 Cool Soups Perfect for Hot Days

This riff on Spain’s classic tangy-sweet “white” gazpacho is made with Persian cucumbers, which are tender enough to use peel and all. (If you can’t find them, substitute peeled English cucumbers.) The drizzle of olive oil at the end brings the flavors together, so use the best oil in your pantry. Recipe: Grape and Cucumber Gazpacho

Ripe summer tomatoes meet a hearty helping of seafood for a soup that’s substantial enough to call dinner. Grill up slices of country bread brushed with olive oil to eat on the side.

Recipe: Cold Shrimp and Crab Soup

Think of this as “new and improved” borscht, with fruit and mint added for freshness and subtle spices for intrigue. If you like, roast extra beets to eat later in the week; they keep several days in the refrigerator.

Recipe: Plum and Beet Soup with Spiced Yogurt Swirl

When things heat up outside, cool off with a low-fat soup full summer's freshest ingredients.

Click ahead for 9 cool creations, each with fewer than 200 calories per serving.

In sizzling tropical summers, spicy foods have a paradoxically cooling effect. This aromatic soup is traditionally served hot, but we've chilled our version.

Make it a meal: Pair it with cold rotisserie chicken drizzled with oil and seasoned with salt and ground coriander, and add a few pieces of toasted naan for dipping.

Recipe: Spicy Indian Tomato Shorba

This yogurt-based soup — similar to cacik — is seasoned with Aleppo pepper, a chile grown in Syria and Turkey that has a smoky note.

Make it a meal: Add falafel or baked pita chips.

Recipe: Turkish Cucumber and Mint Soup

This tart twist on Mexico's classic shrimp cocktail uses tomatillos in place of tomatoes.

Make it a meal: Serve skewers of chilled cooked shrimp along with a few thick tortillas.

Recipe: Mexican Tomatillo Avocado Soup

This creamy soup is all about really good corn. Just purée cooked corn, chill, and add a drizzle of basil oil.

Recipe: Chilled Corn Soup

Soup for dessert? Why not. Jane Shapton's cold puréed soup of cantaloupe and peaches, topped with raspberries, captures the flavors of the season. She serves it for brunch or as an after dinner treat in hollowed-out melon halves. Recipe: Summer-Fruit Soup

This cold soup requires zero time in the kitchen. Really.

The only cooking involved in this chilled corn soup takes place on the grill, which makes it perfect for summer.

Recipe: Grilled Corn and Pepper Bisque

This tomato soup is almost as fun to look at as it is to eat. Avocados and a fresh cucumber garnish add the bright green touches.

Recipe: Tiered Tomato Soup

Gazpacho takes on a new color with yellow bell peppers. Grapes, tomatoes, cucumber, and almonds add interesting crunch.

Recipe: Golden Gazpacho