This chilled cherry fennel soup is just slightly sweet with a tangy fennel and dill flavor.
This weekend epitomized summer.
There was a beer, bourbon and bacon fest that was attended which meant lots of boozing in the sun with friends, delicious bbq consumed afterwards and a stop at a local ice cream joint to cap the day off, an 8pm walk around the neighborhood with the pup in flip flops and 30 minutes spent outside on the deck pitting cherries.
Normally, that last one would make me all itchy with impatience. I don’t have a cherry pitter and spending 30 minutes on something like that can easily be seen as a waste of time.
Except, this time, instead of being annoyed that I was standing over my sink pitting cherries while the sun shined (shone? that’s a grammar one I’ll never get straight) bright outside, I took the bowl, cutting board and knife outside and decided to enjoy the downtime.
Meanwhile, the neighbor kids rode back and forth and back and forth and back and forth our lawn on their motorized Harley looking dirt bike contraption severely testing my ability to savor the outdoor cherry pitting.
But, a few deep breaths and forcing myself to remember what it was like to be 10 and fresh out of school for the summer put those stabby old lady thoughts aside.
The cold cherry soup came out perfect. Slightly sweet, a bit savory and super refreshing for eating in the warmer weather.
I topped it with some fennel fronds but pickled fennel would’ve been even better!
Don’t want to bother with cherries? This chilled strawberry soup is another great refreshing summer option!
Chilled Cherry Fennel Soup
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 cup finely chopped fennel
- 1/2 cup minced shallots
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- salt & pepper
- 3 cups pitted fresh cherries, although I don’t own it, I’ve used this cherry pitter in the past and love it!
- 3/4 cup buttermilk
- 1/2 cup plain yogurt
- 1/2 cup water
- 2 tablespoons fresh dill
Instructions
- Heat oil in a large sauce pan.
- Add fennel, shallots, garlic and salt & pepper.
- Saute for 6-8 minutes until softened.
- Remove from heat and let cool.
- Transfer fennel mixture to a blender and add remaining ingredients.
- Blend until smooth, transfer to a bowl and refrigerate until chilled.
- Serve cold.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
*This post is sponsored by Mightynest. All opinions, content and photography are my own. Thanks for supporting the companies I choose to work with!
Gina Matsoukas is an AP syndicated writer. She is the founder, photographer and recipe developer of Running to the Kitchen — a food website focused on providing healthy, wholesome recipes using fresh and seasonal ingredients. Her work has been featured in numerous media outlets both digital and print, including MSN, Huffington post, Buzzfeed, Women’s Health and Food Network.
How perfect for summer! Cherries have been great this season too
Looks delicious and the colour is gorgeous Gina!
https://youtube.com/addalittlefood
What a brilliant flavor combination! I may have to try this in salad form, with shredded fennel, halved cherries, and a buttermilk dressing. So good!
Love this flavor combination, it’s so interesting! And the chilled soup is SO perfect for those hot as heck days we’ve been getting. So refreshing.
I feel you on the cherry front. I have a pitter and still get anxious at the very thought of sitting still while pitting. This soup looks amazing. Perfect for summer.