Cherry Borscht Recipes

COLD CHERRY BORSCHT

Steps:

• Set aside 18 cherries. Pit the remaining cherries, holding them over a bowl to catch the juices. Place the pitted cherries in the bowl with the juices, and place the pits in a small saucepan. Add 1 cup of the water, the rose geranium sprig, the sugar and the lemon zest. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat, cover and simmer 5 minutes. Strain the liquid in the saucepan into the bowl with the pitted cherries. Discard the pits.
• Transfer the cherries and liquid to a large saucepan and bring to a simmer. Simmer uncovered for 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and allow to cool slightly.
• Working in batches and covering the blender top with a kitchen towel to avoid hot splashes, puree the soup, about 1 1/2 cups at a time. Strain through a medium strainer into a bowl, pushing the soup through with the back of a ladle or with a rubber spatula. Stir in the almond extract, a pinch of salt and the lemon juice. Chill the soup by placing the bowl in a larger bowl of ice water, or refrigerate.
• When the soup has chilled, whisk in the yogurt. Taste and add more lemon juice if desired.
• Serve garnished with the cherries you set aside.

CHERRY BORSCHT

Steps:

• In a large saucepan or soup pot, place canned beets with juice, carrots, cherries and broth. Bring to a boil then simmer until carrots are tender. Add vinegar and sugar then cool slightly. Using half at a time, puree in a blender until smooth, then return to saucepan. Bring back up to a boil. In a two cup measure or small bowl, stir together sour cream and flour. Add 1/2 cup hot soup to sour cream and stir until smooth. Add another 1/2 cup and stir again then stir into soup. Continue stirring until well blended. Serve soup hot or cold.