Chill out in the kitchen with our cold soup recipes

It’s currently 39 degrees and so humid you could fill a glass of water from the air. On days like these, which we’ll certainly have plenty more of as the UAE summer extends into September, the last thing you want to do is cook and eat a hot heavy meal. The solution? Cold soups, celebrated around the world for their cooling effects. The Weekend tabloid! challenged some of the UAE’s top chefs to come up with easy recipes that require minimal cooking -- or no cooking at all, in cases like the Spanish gazpacho and the Korean cucumber and seaweed (essentially a crisp, soupy salad). Many should be prepared ahead of time and left to chill in the fridge, so the flavours can infuse. Remember, chilled food needs good seasoning for the flavours to stand out.