Basil raspberry soup??? I know, it sounds weird but chilled fruit soups are a thing in Hungary. People sometimes try to convince me that it is fruit salad or dessert. We make soup from sour cherries, apples, berries. My mom prepares cold orange soup for Christmas. But believe me, a berry soup is just the perfect cooler in the summer heat.
We make sour cherry sauce also which is served usually with some meat, boiled potatoes or roasted semolina. I’m not big fan of boiled potatoes and I haven’t had meat in years but the sauce was always my big favourite.
Some of you might know that I had bone cancer when I was 17. Chemotherapy is a weird thing as it gives you sometimes strong cravings just like pregnancy (which I’m yet to experience). I had two big craving waves. One was a Hungarian spinach dish which I was crazy about in my childhood. The other was the sour cherry sauce. I’m not joking but I was having it for 2 weeks constantly. What is it if it’s not true love?
Normally these fruit soups are cooked first but served chilled. I choose to make it more raw because I like when the colour is bright, vivid and the nutritions are not killed in the process. I spiced up with some fresh basil. You can use any type. i had Greek basil at home but will be delicious with Thai, Italian or Tulsi too. Alternatively you can replace the basil with mint. I added a cooked beetroot for a bit volume.
As I mentioned it is cooked so it actually qualify as a soup . My version is technically a smoothie but I am Hungarian and I ate it with spoon so it is a soup. However it is called it is refreshing, hydrating and cooling in the hot summer days.
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