For me life is often about contrasts. Wearing red lipstick, a dress, and high heels one day, Vaseline, a track suit, and slippers the next. Writing a comedy script and then a tearjerker. Watching a comedy and then a tearjerker. Reading a comedy … okay you get the picture on that one.
It’s listening to Taylor Swift and then Matchbox Twenty. Talking non stop for an hour and then having some quiet time. Meditating and then getting on the elliptical.
These are the things that keep me going, my brain and my body constantly guessing what is next always looking forward to, moving on toward the new task or stimulation that will follow.
Contrasts are everywhere in cooking. What’s a sweet dessert without a savory dinner? Except on those days, you know the ones I’m talking about, when dessert needs to be dinner, sans its savory counterpart.
Hot and cold. Sweet and spicy. Herbaceous and fruity. Salty and acidic. Cooking and eating are contrasts and even when we think two particular tastes or textures might be at odds, we are often proven wrong and surprised at what magic happens when two dissimilar things make magic together.
Take this Chilled Peach Soup and Parmesan Toast. Cold soup, hot bread. Slightly sweet soup, salty cheese. Silky smooth soup, crunchy bread. They shouldn’t work together and yet they do.
One of my all time favorite food contrasts is hot and cold. There is nothing more satisfying than cold ice cream with hot caramel dripping down it. And this soup and toast combo almost bests it. Almost, I mean we’re comparing it to ice cream. Few things live up to ice cream.
You might be leery of the soup, but don’t be. Think of peach salsa or using peaches in a salad. They add body and sweetness, especially if you use partially frozen peaches. The onion, garlic, and pepper lend heat but in different ways, and the cucumber is there to bring it all together.
Then it’s matched with the super crunchy bread. Get the good stuff. Artisan bread with a thick crust and holes in the interior. The bread doesn’t need to be topped with anything more than the king of cheese. Boom! Dinner!
It’s really amazing how odds can be defied and things end up coming together in the least expected ways.
Chilled Peach Soup with Parmesan Toast #SundaySupper
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Ingredients
Soup
- 4 cups peaches, partially frozen, if possible
- 1 large or 4 mini English cucumbers, diced
- ½ large white onion, diced
- 2 large garlic cloves, chopped
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon turmeric
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- Pepper and olive oil for serving
Toast
- ¼ loaf crusty bread
- 4 ounces freshly shaved parmesan
Instructions
- Make the soup. In a blender place the peaches and any liquid, cucumbers, onion, garlic, vinegar, turmeric, and salt. Blend on high until completely smooth, about 1 minute. Pour into a bowl and chill until ready to serve.
- Make the toast. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Arrange toast on a baking sheet lined with foil for easy clean up. Cover with parmesan shavings and bake about 10 minutes until cheese is melted and bread is toasty.
- Serve the soup with a little freshly ground black pepper and a drizzle of oil alongside the toast. Soup may be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
Don’t forget to check out the other Sunday Supper dishes!
Sunday Supper Grilled Cheese and Soup Pairings
- Beef Patty Melts with Mushroom Stroganoff Soup by Palatable Pastime
- Chicken Parmesan Grilled Cheese with Chicken Vegetable Soup by Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
- Chilled Peach Soup with Parmesan Toast by Pies and Plots
- Creamy Tomato-Basil Bisque with Garlicky Grilled Cheese Croutons by The Weekend Gourmet
- Mushroom Grilled Cheese with French Onion Soup by Sunday Supper Movement
- Red Pozole with Chicken and Cheesy Tex-Mex Quesadillas by Positively Stacey
- Thyme Kissed Tomato Soup with Grilled Cheese Fingers by That Skinny Chick Can Bake
The Sunday Supper Movement is committed to bringing our readers delicious recipes that encourage them to gather and eat together around the family table. Search for your favorite ingredients on our Sunday Supper website. Also check out the Sunday Supper Pinterest boards for plenty more ideas and inspiration.
Would you like to join the Sunday Supper Movement? It’s easy. You can sign up by clicking here: Sunday Supper Movement.
It IS all about balance, especially when it comes to flavor. You nailed it!
I’d LOVE this combo!! Not too heavy (which I love!), but still a delicious party for your palate.
Chilled fruit soups are wonderful, aren’t they? And love using peaches in them. This looks awesome — just loaded with flavor. And those toasts look terrific, too! Thanks so much.
How would the soup do without the onion, do you think? It sounds wonderful but I can’t eat onions and would love to know how you feel it would be changed by leaving them out or subbing onion powder?
Thank you! I’ve got so many of your recipes bookmarked and realized I’ve never commented on your blog before and I’m not sure why, as I love it! 🙂
Hey Lo! Thank you for leaving a comment – I love hearing from my readers! You could absolutely leave the onions out. I might replace them with more peaches or cucumber or even radish or fennel.