Author: Lesley at Lola Rugula

Pan Roasted Ratatouille with Melanzane Rosso Di Rotonda Eggplant

Pan Roasted Ratatouille with Melanzane Rosso Di Rotonda Eggplant

Check out these little garden gems! These little red eggplant are Melanzane Rosso Di Rotonda eggplant from Baker’s Creek Heirloom Seeds and they are just as delicious as they are beautiful. I started my plants inside in late winter so I had a good headstart on 

Lamb Burger Sliders with Pesto and Feta Cheese

Lamb Burger Sliders with Pesto and Feta Cheese

I know, I know…another lamb recipe! This one is so easy and delicious that I believe it’s truly a recipe that will make you like lamb if you don’t already. I’ve shared numerous lamb recipes with you over the last few years, including my most 

Chilled Cucumber Soup

Chilled Cucumber Soup

This soup is an ode to summer gardens everywhere, much like my Golden Heirloom Gazpacho recipe and my Summer Garden Gazpacho recipe. This chilled cucumber soup celebrates the summer garden, full of fresh cucumbers, herbs, and heirloom tomatoes.

My chilled cucumber soup is made with (gasp!) pickling cucumbers because, well, those are the cucumbers I grow and have a ton of.  Have a bunch of pickling cucumbers and wondering what to do with them besides pickles? Trust me when I tell you that this soup is divine and a great way to use your overload of pickling cukes. Do not be discouraged by the naysayers who will tell you that pickling cukes are too bitter for soup and that you must use English cucumbers for the best soup. When you remove (most of) the skin and (most of) the seeds, this soup will prove that you can make a delicious cold cucumber soup from pickling cucumbers. Trust me when I tell you that I’ve done this for years and everyone devours it.

lola rugula chilled cucumber soup photo 1

Chilled Cucumber and Yogurt Soup Recipe

Soup Base
  • 2 lbs. pickling cucumbers, peeled (I like to leave just a bit of green skin for color and contrast), ends removed, and the bulk of the seeds scooped out and discarded
  • 1 small clove garlic
  • 1 small shallot
  • 2 shishito peppers (you can substitute with a half of serrano or jalapeno (or, if you don’t want any hint of heat at all, omit altogether)
  • 1/4 cup loosely packed fresh dill fronds
  • 1/4 cup + 1 tablespoon whole milk Greek yogurt
  • 3/4 cup buttermilk
  • Zest of 1/2 lemon
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
Soup Garnish
  • 1 medium pickling cucumber, striped with a peeler, ends removed and seeds removed, diced small
  • 1 medium (preferably a colorful heirloom) tomato, ends, seeds and membrane removed, diced small
  • 1 1/2 inch slice red onion, diced small
  • 1/2 teaspoon finely chopped fresh mint
  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 squeeze – about 1/2 teaspoon – fresh lemon juice
  • Pinch of kosher salt
  • 1 tiny mint leaf for the finishing touch
Directions
  • For the soup base, put cucumbers, shallots, garlic, and peppers in a food processor and pulse a few times.
  • Scrape down sides and puree about 30 seconds.
  • Scrape down sides again and add dill, yogurt, buttermilk, lemon zest, lemon juice, and salt.
  • Blend for 1 minute, scrape sides of the bowl and blend 20 seconds more.
  • Using a spatula, scrape soup into a dish, cover, and refrigerate at least 4 hours or overnight.
Serving
  • Before serving, make the garnish by combining all but the tiny mint leave in a bowl.
  • Ladle the soup into small serving bowls.
  • Spoon a tablespoon or so of the soup garnish onto the top of each serving.
  • Place a small mint leave at the side of the garnish and serve.

lola rugula chilled cucumber soup photo 2

This is easily a healthy, vitamin-packed and delicious way to use your pickling – or any – cucumber load. The fresh garnish with heirloom tomatoes, red onion, and fresh mint really adds texture and brightness. The olive oil in the garnish adds a bit of depth and flavor that blends the whole soup together – it’s honestly a major player in this soup.

What to make with a whole bunch of pickling cucumbers or any cucumber? Now you know!

Cool off this summer with this cold cucumber soup and relax. Summer is meant to enjoyed.

Sausage and Radicchio Fettuccine

Sausage and Radicchio Fettuccine

I always love when I can share a recipe that includes something from my garden and this is an easy pasta dish that can be customized in many ways, which I’ll share with you later. This recipe involves green radicchio, which is a bitter green. 

How to Make Homemade Ghee

How to Make Homemade Ghee

I’ve always known ghee as this somewhat obscure, beautiful, rich fat that pairs beautifully with vegetables and roasted meats, along with being a delicious addition to a stir-fry or soup.  Nowadays, it seems to be everywhere and you can even buy it premade. Many people confuse 

Lamb and Couscous Lettuce Cups

Lamb and Couscous Lettuce Cups

What do you make with leftover lamb? If you’re me, you make these delicious butter lettuce cups stuffed with chunks of leftover grilled lamb kabobs and couscous salad and then serve them with tzatziki sauce. Genius, no?

It’s rare that I don’t share an actual recipe, per se, but this is definitely a recipe idea worth sharing. I was feeling a little under the weather the last couple of days so I spent some time going through my photos. We enjoyed these awesome little lettuce wrap meals last week, taking advantage of the couscous salad and tzatziki sauce that I had on hand. I’d made lamb kabobs for the two of us one night on the grill but, as is typical, there was too much lamb for just one dinner. Cue the leftovers.

lola rugula lamb lettuce cups photo

Butter Lettuce Cups with Lamb, Couscous, and Tzatziki Recipe

Directions
  • Take an individual leaf of butter lettuce and top with a tablespoon of couscous salad.
  • Add chunks of leftover lamb
  • Top or serve with tzatziki sauce

Delicious and easy! Now you have a great way to use leftover lamb. Another way to use leftover lamb is my Easy Lamb Stew, which is to die for.  Or, if you have lamb leftover from my Grilled Butterflied Leg of Lamb, this is a great way to use it. People often tell me that they don’t know how to cook or serve lamb, so I’m always trying to give you some new ideas.

If you don’t have couscous salad to serve these with, my orzo salad is a good substitution. If you only have leftover lamb and tzatziki, that will work, too. Don’t ever be afraid to play with your food.

Enjoy and always eat well!

Sticky and Sweet Grilled Pork Shoulder

Sticky and Sweet Grilled Pork Shoulder

Summertime calls for grilling and this is a perfect recipe for it. I use a boneless butt roast for this, which I trim of excess fat and cut into smaller chunks for a faster cook time and more intense meat-to-sauce-to-grill flavor ratio. This is also