Chef Mike Jaster's
Chilled "Hungarian Black-Cherry & Vanilla Soup"
Crème Fraiche & Madagascar Cinnamon Twists
Ingredients
Soup
Yields 10 servings
3 Pints dark sweet cherries (Bing, Black, etc.)
3/4 Cup vanilla sugar(granulated with opened vanilla bean)
3 C Riesling (sweeter the better)
vanilla beans as needed
½ lemon (Meyer, if available)
Crème Fraiche
3-4 containers Cherry Yogurt (As desired/any brand)
2 C heavy cream
1 C buttermilk
2 T Kirsch
Madagascar Cinnamon Twists
Says Chef Jaster, "This adds a nice touch to the soup with something crunchy while the cinnamon compliments the other flavors. "
Yields 10
Ingredients
Madagascar cinnamon as needed for dusting.
10 strips puff astry *(Scratch or ready to use).
sugar as needed for dusting.
clarified melted butter *As needed for brushing.
Methods*
*Note: Assemble and mise en plase all ingredients and equipment.
Method for Crème Fraiche
Pour the heavy crèam into a sauce pan and then add buttermilk. Stir to mix, and heat ever so slightly until cream just feels warm, (About 75 degrees). Pour the mixture into a glass bowl. Cover leaving enough room for an air-gap. Leave until thickened enough to hold a mark of a spoon and it tastes slightly acidic.
Method for Soup
Pit cherries with cherry pitter. Split 1 vanilla bean length-wise. Place cherries in heavy bottomed pot with sugar and vanilla bean and wine, allow to macerate for 20 minutes or so. Now heat and stir occasionally until sugar is dissolved. Allow flavors to meld/marry. Simmer until cherries are soft and then allow to cool slightly. Remove vanilla bean. Pour cooled cherry mixture into a blender.
Blend well and then strain through fine chinois. Stir kirsch and ¾’s of the crème fraiche into the soup until evenly mixed. Squeeze a little lemon juice into the soup to brighten the flavor.
Method for Cinnamon Twists
Preheat oven to at least 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Cut puff pastry into strips and twist them as you desire. Brush with butter and dust generously with cinnamon and sugar. Bake in oven on baking sheet until nice and brown or to your preference.
To plate
The crème fraiche will thicken and lighten the color of soup. You may garnish or add a dollop of creme fraiche as you choose. Adjust the taste according to how sweet you desire.
*Note: This soup is great for a dessert item or for a refreshing spring/summer appetizer item that is different than most soups you see. These are especially popular in Eastern-Europe as they are very light and cool. Enjoy!