Spiced Plum Soup
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Ingredients 2 pods star anise 1 cinnamon stick 1 teaspoon whole cardamom pods 3-inch piece unpeeled ginger, cut into thin coins 4 cups water 1/2 cup granulated cane sugar 1 whole vanilla bean 2 pounds red-fleshed plums (about 6), plus 1 extra plum sliced and reserved for garnish

Instructions

In a heavy-bottomed skillet, dry toast (heat without oil) the star anise, cinnamon stick, and cardamom about 1 minute, until fragrant and lightly browned. Transfer spices to a cutting board and lightly crush with back of skillet. (If you own a mortar and pestle, coarsely grind the spices in it.)

Add the spices and the ginger to a medium saucepan with the water and sugar. Cut the vanilla bean in half lengthwise, scrape out the seeds with the tip of the knife, and add the seeds and the pod to the liquid. Bring to a boil over medium heat, lower heat and simmer until liquid reduces to 3 cups, about 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, cut each plum in half and remove the pit.

Add the plums to the simmering liquid and simmer until the plums are softened and skins start to slip off, about 10 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to transfer plums to bowl; when cool, remove their skins. Pour the poaching liquid through single-mesh strainer and into bowl with peeled plums; discard spices.

Working in two batches, purée the plums and the poaching liquid in a blender until smooth.

Pour soup through a single-mesh strainer. Refrigerate the soup until chilled, at least two hours and up to two days.

Serve each bowl garnished with a few pieces of plum

Serving Size

Serves 4

Notes

Besides plums, you can make this soup with apricots, peaches, or nectarines—whatever looks most luscious. If you do use plums, you’ll have the most flavorful results with the purple-skinned, dark-fleshed ones.

Related Recipes

• Chicken Pot Pie Soup – Sukkot • Blueberry Soup (pareve or dairy) • Mexican Red Onion Soup (pareve or meat) • Chicken Tortilla Soup (meat) • Black Bean Soup

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Please note that we are posting recipes on www.oukosher.org as a public service.

The recipes arrive from a variety of sources. We cannot guarantee that all the ingredients are available with OU certification, and the cook must investigate whether the ingredients can be purchased with acceptable supervision. In the absence of Kosher sources, some substitution of ingredients may be necessary. If you have a question about the availability of a Kosher ingredient, please e-mail the Webbe Rebbe at kosherq@ou.org .