Chilled Spice-Plum Soup (Starter)

Recipe created by Heidi Johansen

This versatile summer soup, spiced with a dreamy mixture of cardamom and anise, is a refreshing way to begin or end a meal—a part of the summer fruit menu.

Servings: Serves 4

Ingredients:
•1 1/2 cups sugar , divided
•1 tsp. ground cardamom , plus more for garnish
•1/2 tsp. ground anise
•Zest of 1 lime (about 1 Tbsp.)
•Juice of 1 lime (about 2 Tbsp.)
•7 ripe red plums , quartered
•3/4 cup Greek yogurt
•1/4 cup rose water or syrup (optional)

Directions:

Whisk together 1 1/4 cups sugar, cardamom, anise, and lime zest in a medium bowl. Add lime juice and plums; mix well to combine. Let marinate 15 minutes.

In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, cook plum mixture and 1/2 cup water, uncovered, until plums are soft, about 18 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool slightly, about 10 minutes. Transfer a third of the soup to a blender and puree until smooth; return to pot. Cover and refrigerate until chilled, about 1 hour.

To serve: Stir together remaining 1/4 cup sugar and yogurt. Place a dollop of yogurt in 4 bowls. Spoon soup over yogurt and drizzle each serving with 1 tablespoon rose water or syrup. Garnish with cardamom.

From Oprah.Com