Name: Cool Jade Soup
Cook time: 1 1/4 hr (includes shelling beans)
Total time: 2 1/2 hr
Ingredients: 3 pounds lima beans in pods, shelled (scant 3 cups beans), or 2 (10-ounces) packages frozen baby lima beans, thawed; 1 pound green beans, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces (5 cups); 4 cups water; 2 1/2 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth; 2 scallions, chopped; 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin; 1/8 teaspoon cayenne; 1/4 cup packed flat-leaf parsley leaves; 1/4 cup packed cilantro leaves; 2 tablespoons dill leaves; 2 tablespoons mint leaves; 1/2 cup olive oil

Image may contain Bowl Food Dish Meal Cutlery Spoon Pottery Art Porcelain Saucer Plant Vase Jar and Soup Bowl

Photo by John Kernick

The inspiration for test kitchen director Ruth Cousineaus velvety chilled bean soup comes from Mediterranean-cooking authority Claudia Roden's recipe for bissara, an Egyptian bean-and-herb purée. The beans here are lima and green, simmered in chicken broth (you can use vegetable broth if you want to go vegetarian) and then puréed until silky. The herbs—parsley, cilantro, dill, and mint—are blended with olive oil so that you can finish the soup with a verdant drizzle, but dont think of the herb oil as merely a garnish: Its bright flavor brings everything together.

Cooks' Note

Soup, without herb oil, can be chilled up to 2 days. Add herb oil just before serving.

Recipe notes

See Related Recipes and Cooking Tips

36 Cold Soup Recipes to Keep You Cool This Summer
Whether you're craving classic Spanish gazpacho or an earthy-sweet bowl of blended beets, these cold soups are just the refreshment you're looking for.

Rosemary and Dried Cherry Pork Chops

Rehydrating dried cherries in hot water turns them plump and juicy—exactly what you want scattered throughout a rosemary-scented pan sauce for pork chops.

Brussels Sprout Pasta

This brussels sprout pasta recipe taps nutty brown butter, crunchy pecans, and hot Italian sausage to create an easy dinner bursting with fall flavors.

Béchamel Sauce

This classic 15-minute sauce is your secret weapon for homemade mac and cheese, chowder, lasagna, and more.

Butternut Squash–Kale Salad With Roasted Garlic Vinaigrette

Round out these autumn greens with tart pomegranate seeds, crunchy pepitas, and a shower of Parmesan.

Our Favorite French Onion Soup

Caramelized onions, melty Gruyère, and a deeply savory broth deliver the kind of comfort that doesn’t need improving.

Frijoles Peruanos (Peruvian Refried Beans)

Mayocobas, or canary beans, are the quick-cooking pantry ingredient you should know about.

White Bean Turkey Chili

A dash of cocoa powder adds depth and richness to the broth of this easy turkey chili.

French Silk Pie

A no-bake Oreo crust, a rich chocolate filling, and a tower of whipped cream come together in this shut-the-room-up dessert.

Recipe notes

36 Cold Soup Recipes to Keep You Cool This Summer