Secret Recipes

Ernest Hemingway's Cold Cucumber Soup

• 3 cucumbers
• 1 Tbsp butter
• 1 Tbsp chopped fresh dill or mint
• 1 leek, white part only, sliced, or 1/4 cup chopped onion
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 Tbsp all-purpose flour
• 2 cups fresh chicken stock or canned broth
• 1 tsp salt, or to taste
• White pepper
• 1 cup half & half
• Juice of 1/2 lemon
• 1 Tbsp honey

Peel and slice two of the cucumbers. Peel, seed and grate the remaining cucumber. Heat the butter in a large, heavy saucepan. Add the sliced cucumbers and cook over low heat for a few minutes. Add the dill or mint, leek and bay leaf and cook over low heat until tender, about 20 minutes. Stir in the flour and cook for a few more minutes, stirring constantly. Add the stock and salt and simmer gently for 30 minutes. Remove the bay leaf and let the mixture cool slightly. Purée the mixture, half at a time, in a blender or food processor. Return to the pan and add the white pepper to taste. Add the half & half, lemon juice and honey; then taste and adjust the seasoning. Stir in the grated cucumber. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Serve in a chilled bowl.

Servings:

4 to 6