Kiwi and Blackcurrant Soups

Hot ways to serve fruit during the winter months.

These two soups could be desserts and one of them even has wine included in the recipe – Save that one for the grown-ups maybe!

Cold Kiwi Fruit Soup with White Wine

Ingredients

1 pint / 600mls / 2½ cups of sweet white wine

4-5 tablespoons of caster sugar

4 whole cloves

1 stick of cinnamon

4-5 tablespoons of maple syrup

5 kiwi fruit

4fl oz / 125mls / ½ cup of whipping cream

Few sprigs of mint to garnish

Method

1. Put the wine, sugar, cloves and cinnamon n a pan and bring to the boil
2. Remove from heat and stir in the maple syrup. Leave to cool then strain.
3. Peel the kiwi fruit, cut a few slices and reserve for garnish.
4. Sieve the remaining fruit to remove the seeds.
5. Beat the puree into the spiced wine with the cream. Chill
6. Serve the soup decorated with slices of kiwi fruit and sprigs of mint.

The next one is alcohol free!

Blackcurrant Soup with Apples

Ingredients

12oz / 350 g / blackcurrants

2 medium sized cooking apples

3 oz / 75g / ⅓ cup of sugar

Strip of lemon rind

1 stick of cinnamon

18 fl oz / 500 mls / 2¼ cups of water

Juice of 1 lemon

2-3 tablespoons cornflour (cornstarch)

Little extra sugar

Method

1. Wash the blackcurrants and place in a pan with the sugar, lemon rind, cinnamon and water.
2. Bring to the boil, then simmer for about 15 minutes or until the fruit is soft
3. Press the soup through a sieve, discarding the lemon rind and cinnamon stick.
4. Make up to 1¼ pints / 750mls / 3 cups with more water if necessary
5. Peel, quarter and core the apples. Cut into slices and place in a pan with the fruit soup and lemon juice.
6. Bring to the boil and cook for 5 minutes.
7. Blend the cornflour with a little cold water, add to the soup and stir until thickened.
8. Simmer for a further 5 minutes and add extra sugar to taste.

Serve hot or cold

Bon Appetit!

Linda x

P.S. If you’re thinking about growing blackcurrants and/or apples there are some easy to follow downloadable guides on this page: Mini Guides and before you go, I’d like to share this gorgeous book that’s currently on my wish-list but you can also find it on Amazon!

Fruit: Recipes that celebrate nature

“This is a beautifully designed and sumptuously photographed cookbook which shows how seasonal fruit harmonizes and enhances myriad vegetable and meat dishes.”

Fruit: Recipes that celebrate nature