Great Ideas For Using Fruit In Your Soup Recipes

Create Soup From The Sweet Side Of The Harvest Basket

If visions of big bowls of hearty vegetable soup have you headed to the farmers market soon, don't forget to take a moment to admire the produce on the other side of the aisle - the fruit and berries.

Soup in all forms has been a staple food for as long as we've been trying to feed ourselves. It only makes sense that during ancient times we used whatever harvest we could find - sweet, savory, or anywhere in between. Since fruits and berries form a large part of our planet's produce, let's consider some of the options when it comes time to harvest this plentiful crop.

Strawberries

When picked at the height of ripeness, this berry is extremely sweet and juicy. With just a few whirls of the blender or food processor, you will end up with a lot of 'soup' for your money. Mix blended strawberries with other fruit or berries to reduce the sweetness if you like. Lime, lemon, and even grapefruit will help build acidity to a level to make the balance between sweet and tangy perfect. Stir in icy cold white wine and top with a sprig of mint or even cilantro or dill for a very different soup that refreshes and intrigues the taste buds.

Blueberries

Even though blueberries can be blended and served as a soup without too many other ingredients, they are not truly juicy enough to stand alone. Mix blueberries with honeydew melon, for instance, for a delicate flavor and powerful color that will definitely please the palate. Mint is a very nice addition, but so is ginger. Since blueberries are not as sweet as other berries, drizzle in a little honey to bring out the natural flavor.

Pineapple

You can certainly throw pineapple in a blender to puree it, but I find it easier to buy natural pineapple juice, especially if you want soup in minutes. Pineapple juice actually makes a nice base for both chunky soup and pureed soup. Add lightly mashed berries to pineapple juice and crushed pineapple pieces and chill. You can give this a whirl in the blender if you want it less chunky. Either way, serve it very cold with a dollop of unsweetened whipped cream on top and a curl of lemon peel.

Cantaloupe

If you like intense flavor, ripe cantaloupe will give you that. You can even blend the cantaloupe with a little cucumber if you want your soup to have more layers of flavor. Ginger is a must in this soup, but another surprising addition is fresh basil. Just add a leaf, blend, then taste. You just want the basil to be a mystery in the background, not overpowering the sweetness but complementing it. You can even drop a tiny bit of very soft cheese on top before serving.

These are just a few ideas for adding fruit and berries into your soup recipe file. Mix and match a sweet harvest with a savory harvest and see what interesting cold soups you can come up with. I guarantee any of these soups will be a surprise and a delight on your family's dinner table.