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Home ยป Drink Recipes

How to Make Chilled Cantaloupe Soup

Published: Aug 11, 2016 ยท Modified: Jul 4, 2023 by Madalaine ยท This post may contain affiliate links ยท

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Years ago I ordered a chilled cantaloupe soup and it blew me away.  I haven't been able to get it out of my mind since. A great melon soup is light, a little sweet, and just the slightest bit of tang.

cantaloupe soup in little blue and white cups on matching saucers

Chilled Cantaloupe Soup Recipe

If you don't have sour cream on hand, you can use plain Greek yogurt instead. Both of these ingredients give the soup substance and a special tanginess that's the perfect partner to a sweet cantaloupe.

Ingredients

  • 1 cantaloupe peeled, seeded, and cubed
  • 1 lime juiced
  • 1 cup fresh squeezed orange juice
  • ยผ teaspoon ground cardamom
  • ยผ cup sour cream or creme fraiche
  • 1 pinch of Himalayan sea salt
  • 4 sprigs of basil

Instructions

  1. Put cantaloupe, orange juice, lime juice, cardamom, and salt into the food processor or blender.
  2. Blend on high until smooth.
  3. Pour into 4 glasses or bowls.
  4. Garnish with 1 tablespoon of sour cream (or creme fraiche) and a sprig of basil on top of each glass.
single cantaloupe soup recipe
Cantaloupe soup smoothie recipe - light and refreshing perfect for a summer afternoon.

Building a Chilled Cantaloupe Soup recipe

I looked online and asked around for a recipe and couldn't find anything close to what I had that night.  I found recipes that called for orange juice and mint leaves.  Anyone who has had a glass of OJ after brushing their teeth knows that.  I wanted to find a spice that would blend well with the cantaloupe and enhance its natural sweetness without overpowering it.

For the love of cardamon

I love cardamon.  It has a deep rich flavor like cocoa that's almost nutty, kinda earthy like pepper, and aromatic just a bit like honeysuckle.  It would be like if a cocoa pod, cinnamon stick, and a bit of honey all got together and had a love child in Tahiti.  That'd be cardamon.

stages of cardamom
cardamom

Sure enough, just a little bit of the spice nailed it.  It's from the ginger family and like ginger, cardamon is a digestive aid and has been used to help fight infection and inflammation.  Often, you can find it in Indian cooking like green chicken curry or in sweet dishes like sticky mango coconut rice.  

Years ago, I had an amazing Lebanese baklava with cardamon, rose water, and honey.  It's been over 20 years and I still remember it. Cardamon is also delicious in coffee, tea, and now cantaloupe soup!

top down view of 2 cantaloup soups in blue and white cups with little spoons

Soup or Smoothie?

All the ingredients came together beautifully.  This cold soup is refreshing, different, and a bit exotic.  But then I got to thinking... "Is it really a soup?  

What is the difference between a chilled fruit soup and a fruit smoothie?  And for that matter, how do they differ from a vichyssoise or a gazpacho?"   

Well, let's start with soup.  My Webster's Dictionary defines soup as liquid food.  

Vichyssoise is a cold soup made of leeks, potatoes, and cream.  It's French and has been around forever.  And a gazpacho is a cold Spanish soup (with possible roots dating back to the Romans) made of pureed herbs, spices, and vegetables such as tomatoes are cucumbers.  

A soup can be a meal eaten on its own or served as one course in a multi-course meal.  A soup is also eaten with a spoon and a smoothie is sipped through a straw.  

So, I think the question of soup vs. smoothie, is more of a question of where not what.  If it's in a bowl, it's soup.  If it's in a glass, it's a smoothie.

Cantaloupe Smoothie in a tall cut crystal glass

Regardless of how you eat this as a soup or smoothie, it's perfect for a light dinner on a hot summer day!

single cantaloupe soup recipe
4.34 from 6 votes
Print

Chilled Cantaloupe Soup

This is such a delightful chilled summer treat! ย It lets a sweet cantaloupe really show off it's stuff. Serve cold as an appetizer or drink it as a smoothie. ย Either way, it's divine. ย | www.lakesidetable.com
Course Beverage, Soup
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 0 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Servings 6 servings
Calories 72 kcal
Author Madalaine

Ingredients

  • 1 cantaloupe peeled, seeded, and cubed
  • 1 lime juiced
  • 1 cup fresh squeezed orange juice
  • ยผ teaspoon ground cardamom
  • ยผ cup sour cream or creme fraiche
  • 1 pinch himalayan sea salt
  • 4 sprigs of basil

Equipment

  • food processor or blender
  • knife and cutting board

Instructions

  1. Put cantaloupe, orange juice, lime juice, cardamom, and salt into the food processor or blender. ย Blend until smooth.
  2. Pour into 4 glasses.
  3. Garnish with 1 tablespoon sour cream (or creme fraiche) and a sprig of basil on top of each glass.
Nutrition Facts
Chilled Cantaloupe Soup
Amount Per Serving
Calories 72 Calories from Fat 18
% Daily Value*
Fat 2g3%
Saturated Fat 1g6%
Cholesterol 5mg2%
Sodium 23mg1%
Potassium 353mg10%
Carbohydrates 13g4%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 11g12%
Protein 1g2%
Vitamin A 3254IU65%
Vitamin C 58mg70%
Calcium 27mg3%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
This is such a delightful chilled summer treat! It lets a sweet cantaloupe really show off it's stuff. Serve cold as an appetizer or drink it as a smoothie. Either way, it's divine. | www.lakesidetable.com
This is such a delightful chilled summer treat! It lets a sweet cantaloupe really show off it's stuff. Serve cold as an appetizer or drink it as a smoothie. Either way, it's divine. | www.lakesidetable.com

Chilled cantaloupe soup is perfect for hot summer days.  It's cool and refreshing vegetarian treat!  No artificial sweeteners needed for this clean healthy snack. This recipe lets a sweet cantaloupe really show off it's stuff. Serve cold as an appetizer or drink it as a smoothie. Either way, it's divine.

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Comments

  1. Surya says

    June 19, 2020 at 4:52 am

    5 stars
    Sounds perfect for a hot day!

  2. Suhair says

    July 19, 2020 at 4:29 pm

    Looks delicious ty

    • Madalaine says

      August 02, 2020 at 9:30 am

      Awesome! Let me know if you have any questions, Suhair.

  3. Shannon says

    June 19, 2023 at 6:23 pm

    5 stars
    What a beautiful cantaloupe soup! I can relate, I still remember the first time I had melon soup. It was so unique and so delicious! I love that cardamom is the magic ingredient in your recipe. I can see how that would complement the cantaloupe perfectly. Great recipe!

  4. Ronit says

    June 19, 2023 at 9:42 pm

    Lovely soup, so fresh and fragrant! ๐Ÿ™‚

  5. Velva says

    June 20, 2023 at 11:37 am

    5 stars
    The cardamom brings this melon soup to a new level. I am a big fan of fruit soups. they re light, refreshing and perfect as a palate cleanser or the start of the Nic meal. Thanks for sharing this great recipe.

    Velva

    P.S. You have a beautiful blog. Thanks for visiting Evening With A Sandwich.

  6. David Scott Allen says

    June 25, 2023 at 8:32 am

    Chilled cantaloupe (or other melon) soup is a favorite in our house - so light and refreshing especially when the temperatures are ridiculously high! Thanks for stopping by C&L the other day - I know I am going to enjoy your posts. We do share a couple of important philosophies, which I very much appreciate.

  7. Amia says

    February 04, 2025 at 12:28 pm

    5 stars
    This chilled cantaloupe soup sounds so refreshing and perfect for warm days! I love how it combines the sweetness of ripe cantaloupe with a savory twist. Itโ€™s such a unique way to enjoy this fruit in a more savory dish. I can already imagine how refreshing it would be as a light appetizer or even a summer lunch. Canโ€™t wait to try this out! Thanks for sharing such a creative and delicious recipe!

    • Madalaine says

      February 23, 2025 at 9:07 pm

      I love how you captured the essence of this dishโ€”refreshing, light, and perfect for warm days! Cantaloupe really shines in this unique soup, and the balance of sweet and savory makes it a fun twist on a classic summer treat. Hope you enjoy every spoonful!

4.34 from 6 votes (2 ratings without comment)
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