This zesty chilled soup is perfect in the summer, when it’s too hot to turn on the stove. Any type of melon works, from easy-to-find supermarket varieties to farmers’ market heirloom beauties. Sparkling sake adds its own rich melon notes and soft fizz.

Steps

1. Reserve 2 cups of melon and 2 tablespoons of mint to use as a garnish.
2. In a blender or food processor, combine all remaining ingredients except sake. Purée until consistently blended. Pour the sake into the purée, stirring gently but well.
3. Refrigerate the soup for at least two hours.
4. In the meantime, cut the reserved melon into ½-inch dice. When soup is chilled, stir gently but well. Spoon into bowls and garnish with reserved melon and mint.