Plum Soup Recipes

THE WILD PLUM CAFE'S OXTAIL SOUP

Steps:

• Heat 1/2 cup of the oil in a heavy-bottomed soup pot or cast-iron skillet. Place the flour in a shallow bowl. Sprinkle the oxtails with salt and pepper and toss them in the flour. Shake off the excess flour and, working in batches, brown on all sides. Remove to a platter as done.
• Add a little more oil to the pot if needed and add half the onions and celery. Let cook until beginning to soften, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the garlic and cook 2 minutes more. Add the tomato paste and let simmer for 2 minutes. Add 2 cups of the beef stock, scrape the bottom, stir, and return the oxtails to the pot. Bring to a simmer and add the wine. Simmer on low for 15 minutes.
• Add the bay leaves, thyme, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 cup of the carrots and the remaining 2 cups beef stock, 1/2 cup celery and 1/2 cup onions and stir. Simmer for 30 minutes. Add the remaining 1/2 cup carrots and simmer for 2 hours. Add the tomatoes; simmer until the broth begins to thicken and the meat falls easily away from the bone, 30 to 45 minutes more. Remove the thyme and bay leaves and adjust seasoning to taste. Put two or so oxtails in each bowl and ladle the soup over them. Serve with the bread.

PLUM SOUP

Steps:

• Dumplings:.
• Put some water on to boil.
• Mix ingredients together gently, until all are mixed.
• Drop by tablespoonful into boiling water (you want small dumplings).
• Cover and cook for about 15 minutes.
• While this is cooking, get your soup going.
• When these are done, remove and place in your soup.
• Soup:.
• Process your plums (or other fruit) through a sieve, pulse briefly in a food processor or chop until fine.
• Mix all ingredients in a pot and cook over low heat.
• Add your dumplings when they're ready.
• Stir often so the dumplings don't stick to the bottom.
• Eat warm and enjoy!

COLD PLUM SOUP

Steps:

• Drain plums, reserving juice. Pit plums; puree in a blender with juice. Transfer to a Dutch oven. Stir in the water, 1/4 cup sugar, cinnamon stick, pepper and salt. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 10 minutes., In a small bowl, combine cornstarch and remaining sugar; stir in cream and wine or grape juice until smooth. Gradually add to plum mixture until blended. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened, stirring constantly. Remove from the heat; discard cinnamon stick. Stir in the sour cream, creme de cassis or cranberry-raspberry juice and lemon juice. , Strain half of the soup through a fine mesh strainer over a 1-1/2-qt. bowl. Repeat. Stir in lemon zest. Cover and refrigerate overnight. Garnish with sour cream if desired.

PLUM AND RED WINE SOUP

Steps:

• Cut the plums in half, cutting around the sides of the pits. You will remove the pits after the plums have simmered.
• Combine the plums with the honey, vanilla extract, cinnamon stick, nutmeg, orange zest, rose geranium, wine and 1/2 cup of the orange juice in a heavy, medium saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat, cover and simmer for 30 minutes. Remove from the heat. Remove the cinnamon stick, rose geranium sprig and orange zest.
• Allow to cool, then remove the pits from the plums and transfer to a food mill fitted with the medium blade. Press the plums through the food mill into a bowl. Whisk the mixture to amalgamate. Cover and chill for at least an hour and for up to a day.
• Just before serving, whisk in the remaining orange juice. Ladle into bowls. Garnish with thin slices of lighter-fleshed plums and serve.

CHILLED PLUM AND BERRY SOUP

Steps:

• Set a large skillet over medium heat. Add 5 plums, cut side down; sear until plums start to blister, 8 to 10 minutes. Stir plums on skin side with a wooden spoon. Sprinkle with sugar, and add one-third of the blackberries and one-third of the raspberries to the skillet.
• Cook until fruit begins to release juice, about 10 minutes more. Add Sauternes wine, 2 cups cold water, and salt to skillet. Mix well. Bring mixture to a boil, reduce heat to medium low; let simmer until fruit begins to break down and liquid is very flavorful, 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from heat. Puree mixture through a food mill set over a bowl; discard solids. Pass puree through a fine mesh sieve set over a bowl. Discard solids.
• Slice remaining plum into thin slivers, and add to soup. Add another third of the blackberries and another third of the raspberries to soup. Transfer to refrigerator until chilled.
• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Slice mini brioche in half (if using loaf, slice into 1/2-inch-thick slices). Place brioche on a baking sheet; toast until golden, 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from oven, and set aside.
• Combine mascarpone and heavy cream in a small mixing bowl. Fold together by hand. Spoon mixture over toasted brioche. Arrange remaining third of berries over mascarpone, and place two toasts into each bowl. Pour chilled soup in bowls, and serve.

PLUM SOUP WITH HONEYDEW TARRAGON ICE

Steps:

• Make honeydew ice:
• Bring water and sugar to a simmer, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Transfer 1/2 cup hot syrup to a bowl and stir in tarragon, then cool. Chill remaining syrup.
• Pour tarragon syrup through a very fine sieve into a metal bowl, discarding solids. Purée honeydew in a blender and stir into strained tarragon syrup. Freeze in ice cream maker, then transfer to an airtight container and put in freezer to harden.
• Make plum soup:
• Dice enough of plums to measure 1/2 cup and reserve. Coarsely chop remaining plums and purée in 2 batches with 1 cup chilled syrup (total) in a blender. Pour purée through very fine sieve into a bowl, pressing on and discarding solids.
• Stir in diced plums, lime juice, and chilled syrup to taste.
• Serve soup immediately, topped with scoops of honeydew ice.