Irish Warm Cucumber Soup

Cooking Irish can also be viewed at Pinterest and PETITCHEF.

I had only had cucumber soup served as a cold soup in the heat of summer before I tasted it warm on a winter's day in Limerick City in County Limerick in the Province of Munster in the midwest of Ireland. County Limerick boasts a vibrant bustling city in Limerick City as well as a charming rural environment. Limerick City has an interesting, colourful history, and its castles, ancient walls, and museums bear witness to this. Limerick City's 800-year charter is older than that of London's. The city has undergone a facelift in recent years and is now an excellent center for shopping, dining, and entertainment.

Limerick is also considered the sporting capital of Ireland because of its passionate devotion to rugby and its excellent sports facilities. The surrounding countryside is dotted with picturesque towns and villages like Castleconnell on the banks of the Shannon and Adare with its old world thatched cottages and medieval churches.  Activities like horseriding, golf, and angling are readily available.  The River Shannon flows through the city of  Limerick and into the Atlantic Ocean at the north of the county.

I remember on this particular day when we stopped at the pub for a late lunch, we had been traveling all morning and most of the afternoon.  My daughter was 15 at the time and not very interested in Irish countryside, whereas my son who was 11 was enthused and did not miss a sheep, castle, lake, river, bridge, etc.  I later good-naturedly chided my daughter that she slept through the entire country of Ireland.  She woke to eat and go back to sleep in a cozy bed at night.

Erin and Eli in 1984

This recipe is simple and very close to the one we all had that day in Limerick City.  I altered a recipe I found in an old recipe book of my mother's from a trip to South Carolina.  She loved cookbooks too.  At the front of the cookbook she wrote that she visited the Boone Hall Plantation in Mt. Pleasant, SC on 23 January 1984 and purchased the cookbook there.  Again, I have altered their recipe to reproduce the soup we had in Limerick City.  I hope you enjoy this variation of the classic cucumber soup.

Irish Warm Cucumber Soup    [Serves 4]

Ingredients:

4 slices of bacon
1 large leak, washed and finely chopped
5 large cucumbers, peeled, seeded, and sliced
2 cloves of garlic, crushed
Zest of ½ a lemon peel
8 oz. of sour cream
1 stick of butter
Dash of quality olive oil
½ cup of dry white wine
1 tsp. of beau monde [recipe incuded]
½ tsp. of white pepper
Half and half
1 tsp. of dill for garnish

Directions:

Fry bacon just until crisp.  Place on paper towels to drain.  Add butter to pan and leave just a bit of grease for flavor.  Sauté leaks and garlic just until soft, not brown.  Be careful not to overcook the garlic as it will become bitter. Place in a blender the leaks and garlic, cucumber, lemon zest, olive oil, and sour cream.  Blend well.  Transfer to pot and add the wine, beau monde, and white pepper.  Heat and continue to stir while adding enough half and half to form the desired consistency of a creamed soup.  Heat thoroughly until almost to a boil strring constantly. Do not bring to a boil.  Serve immediately and garnish with dill and crumbled bacon.

Are you too in Limerick City on a cold winter's day?

Beau Monde is a seasoning salt. It can be found in the spice section of most grocery stores. Spice Islands® is an inexpensive choice. If you can't find it, ask your grocer to stock it for you or follow the recipe below.

Beau Monde Seasoning Salt

Ingredients:

1 T. of  ground cloves
1¼ tsp. of ground cinnamon
1 T. of salt
1 T. of ground bay leaf
1 T. of ground allspice
2 T. of ground black pepper
1 T.  ground white pepper
1 tsp. of ground nutmeg
1 tsp. of ground mace
1 tsp. of celery seed

Directions:

In a small mixing bowl, mix together all ingredients. Pour into a tightly closed jar and store in a cool, dry place.  Yields approximately 9 tablespoons.