Wednesday, May 25, 2016

Strawberry-Chipotle Soup with Mint

Strawberry-Chipotle Soup with Mint

Fresh OJ adds brightness to this chilled starter

Soup is cool. And in this case, chilled. Which is perfect for the warm weather we’re having in our part of the world.

We particularly like this dish because it allows us to use some of the fresh, ripe strawberries that are showing up in our market. Fruit is inherently sweet, of course. But add a bit of sourness (balsamic vinegar) and spicy heat (chipotle), and you have a savory starter.

Best of all, you can make this dish a day ahead. So any time you’re ready, soup is on.



Strawberry-Chipotle Soup with Mint

Recipe: Strawberry-Chipotle Soup with Mint

We got the idea for this soup when we were working on our recipe for Strawberry-Chipotle Salsa with Jalapeño. But for soup, we wanted something with less kick and richer flavor.

So we dropped the onion and jalapeño, and added OJ, sour cream, and mint. The result is a smooth starter that will wake up your taste buds for the meal to come.

Prep time for this dish is about 15 minutes. You’ll also want to let the soup chill for at least an hour before serving. Or even chill it overnight.

Leftovers will keep for a couple of days if refrigerated in an airtight container (the soup will be “good” for longer than that, but its flavor will deteriorate).

This recipe yields 4 servings.

Ingredients
  • 2 pounds fresh strawberries (reserve some for garnish)
  • 1 to 2 chipotle peppers (from a can of chipotles in adobo sauce; to taste — see Notes)
  • 1 teaspoon of adobo sauce (from the chipotle can)
  • 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar (or to taste; vanilla-flavored balsamic is ideal if you can find it, but regular balsamic is splendid too)
  • 1 cup orange juice, preferably fresh-squeezed (increase this amount if you want a more liquid soup; see Notes)
  • 1 tablespoon sugar (or to taste; optional — see Notes)
  • 1 cup sour cream, yogurt, or crème fraîche
  • 3 to 4 tablespoons fresh mint, minced (to taste)
  • garnish of mint and/or fresh strawberries (optional)
Procedure
  1. Wash and hull the strawberries. Set the berries aside, reserving a few for garnish.
  2. Add the chipotle pepper(s) to the bowl of a food processor. Add the adobo sauce, balsamic vinegar, and orange juice. Process for a few seconds until the chipotle pepper is well blended. Add the sugar (if using) and the strawberries. Process but don’t liquefy the strawberries – you want them to retain considerable texture.
  3. Using a spatula, scrape the mixture into a storage container that can be made airtight. Stir in the sour cream, yogurt, or crème fraiche (but see Notes; you may want to do this later). Cover the container tightly and let the soup chill in the refrigerator for at least an hour.
  4. Right before serving, wash the mint and chop it finely. Stir it into the soup. 
  5. Dish the soup into serving bowls. Garnish with mint (chopped or whole) and/or chopped or sliced strawberries.
Strawberry-Chipotle Soup with Mint

Notes
  • You may not need to add sugar to this soup if your strawberries are ripe and sweet. Or you may need to add more than we specify. If in doubt, skip the sugar. Taste the soup after it’s been chilled, then add sugar if necessary.
  • BTW, honey makes a good substitute for sugar in this recipe.
  • We generally use two canned chipotle peppers in this soup. We like spice, so that suits our taste. We notice the ping, but it’s not overwhelming. To us. If in doubt, start with one chipotle pepper. Do note that the longer the chile steeps in the soup, the stronger it becomes. So if you make this a day ahead, the soup will be spicier than if you make it, chill it for an hour or two, then serve it.
  • In the US, canned chipotle chilies tend to be sold in 7-ounce containers. The adobo sauce they’re packed in has a tangy vinegar flavor. 
  • What to do with the leftover chipotle peppers (you’ll only be using part of the can in this recipe)? We place the rest of them in a small airtight container and store them in the refrigerator until we have another use for them. They’ll keep for weeks.
  • Fresh-squeezed OJ is wonderful in this soup. But bottled “fresh” OJ works too. If you want a more liquidy soup, you can increase the amount to 1½ (or even 2) cups. If you do that, you probably won’t need to add sugar. And you may want to use a touch more vinegar.
  • If you want to intensify the orange flavor of this soup, you could float a teaspoon or two of Grand Marnier liqueur on top of each bowl right before serving (apply the liqueur before you add the garnish). Or stir a couple tablespoons of liqueur into the soup just before you ladle it up.
  • We love to combine strawberries with balsamic vinegar. And vanilla-flavored balsamic is particularly luscious in this dish (the one we used adds fig to the mix – which makes for a fun flavor). 
  • You can increase the amount of balsamic vinegar to 2 tablespoons – it won’t be too much. At least we don’t think so. But let your taste buds rule.
  • We haven’t tried it, but you could probably substitute lemon juice for vinegar if you prefer.
  • The fruit/vinegar combo is an old one. It was popular during the 17th and 18th centuries in both Britain and colonial America. Vinegar also was sometimes used to preserve fruit. 
  • In America, cooks often made syrups from vinegar and fruit. There is a whole class of cocktails called “shrubs” that use vinegar/fruit syrup as an ingredient.
  • We like to add the sour cream, yogurt, or crème fraiche to this soup in Step 3 (so its flavor has time to mingle with the strawberry mixture). Do be aware, though, that the addition will turn the intense red of the strawberries into a more muted, orangish color. If you want the strawberry red to be more apparent, you could add ¼ cup of sour cream, yogurt, or crème fraiche to the top of each bowl (as a garnish), and then let your guests stir it in with their soup spoons.
  • We haven’t tried it, but we think that savory whipped cream could make an interesting substitute for sour cream. You can find instructions for making it in our recipe for Asparagus with Savory Whipped Cream.
Strawberry-Chipotle Soup with Mint

The Big Chill

“Mmmm,” said Mrs. Kitchen Riffs. “This soup really makes a strawberry statement.”

“Careful,” I said. “You’re showing your age there.”

“Yeah, I better chill on the 1960s references,” said Mrs K R.

“Don’t wanna sound cold and old,” I said.

“Fortunately, this soup is cold and bold,” said Mrs K R.

“Yup,” I said. “Even an old guy like me can soup things up once in a while. Heh, heh.”

“Take a chill pill, dude,” said Mrs K R. “Gray guys shouldn’t get overexcited.”

 “Hey, you’re only as old as you feel,” I said. “That’s my new motto!”

“Really?” said Mrs K R. “I was thinking of a different motto.”

“What’s that, chill girl?” I said.

“Don’t trust anyone over 130.”

You may also enjoy reading about:
Chipotle Cherry Salsa
Hungarian-Style Cold Cherry Soup
Summer Pea Soup with Mint
Quick & Easy Gazpacho
Chilled Cucumber Soup with Yogurt and Dill
Roast Strawberry Salad
Or check out the index for more recipes

98 comments:

Karen Harris said...

This soup is just beautiful! I love the idea of a cold strawberry soup.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Karen, this is wonderful! My new favorite recipe. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Claudia said...

Now this is beautifully original. The Minnesota strawberries come in during June and I will be making this. I haven't cooked much lately and am actually looking forward to getting back to the grind. Love berries and vinegar. Really love the chipotle flavor.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Claudia, berries and vinegar are an awesome combo, aren't they? And with chipotle? Swoon! :-) Thanks for the comment.

Shashi at SavorySpin said...

What a unique and lovely pairing of fresh strawberries, chipotle peppers, adobo sauce, balsamic vinegar, OJ, and mint! Delicious and so delightful! Loving the color too!

mjskit said...

Well, that was mighty creative turning a salsa into a soup. :) I love it! I think mint is such an underrated herb and I love seeing it used in abundance here. And to pair it with chipotle sounds very interesting!! Hopefully it will get warm enough soon to actually want cold soup. I'd love to try this because the flavor profile is so unique. Great job John!!

Mae Travels said...

I grew up in U.City. Tell me more about where you live!

best... mae at maefood.blogspot.com

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Shashi, isn't this a fun dish? Really good flavor, and something a bit different. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi MJ, mint grows like a weed in our yard, so we're always looking for a new way to use it! Love its flavor. Bet you'll like this soup. And you may want to add 3 chipotle peppers. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Mae, really small world! I just replied to your email. :-)

GiGi Eats Celebrities said...

Spicy Strawberries?!?!?!?! What in the what?!

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi GiGi, :-) Spicy = good! Thanks for the comment.

Tricia @ Saving room for dessert said...

I think yes on the Grand Marnier and the soup! I love strawberry soup and am very intrigued with your chipotle version. What a great combination! Have a Happy Memorial Day!

Lea Ann (Cooking On The Ranch) said...

Yay for strawberry season. We just attended a party this past Sunday where one of our friends brought a strawberry jalapeno fennel salsa. It was really an interesting combo, in a delicious way.

Robyn said...

LOL, I always enjoy your conversations with Mrs.Riffs! And I love this soup! I make a very simple strawberry soup with mint but you have taken it to a whole new dimension. This must taste so darn good! A definitely must try. Thanks for a great recipe :)

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Tricia, we'll almost never say no to Grand Mariner. :-) Happy Memorial Day, and thanks for the comment.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Lea Ann, love the idea of fennel in a spicy strawberry salsa! Going to have to try that. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Robyn, strawberry soup without the heat is awfully good, but trust me, this is better. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Unknown said...

The weather here feels like July! This soup would be a delightful summer meal! Hope you and Mrs. KR have a lovely holiday weekend.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Liz, it does feel like July! Hence, this soup. :-) Thanks for the comment, and have a wonderful Memorial Day!

Fran @ Gday Souffle said...

Yes, I'll go for adding the splash of Cointreau on top of the soup. I remember when Dustin Hoffman referred to the phrase "you can't trust anyone over 30" after his movie, The Graduate" came out in 1968. He was 30 then, now he's pushing 80- time sure does fly!

Bizzy Lizzy's Good Things said...

How exquisite as a summer soup, John.

Gerlinde de Broekert said...

What a great soup, I have to try it. I always freeze my leftover chipotle pepper . I put each one with some of the juice in a plastic sandwich bag. Have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend.
PS: I love the soundtrack to the Big Chill!

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Fran, time does fly, doesn't it? 30? That's a mere babe! :-) Thanks for the comment.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Lizzy, it is, it is! :-) Thanks for the comment.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Gerlinde, that really is a great soundtrack, isn't it? Freezing leftover chipotle is a good idea -- I'll have to try it. Although I go through it so quickly! Thanks for the comment.

Cheri Savory Spoon said...

Hi John, I am loving everything strawberry right now, this looks like a great soup, chilled and flavorful.

~~louise~~ said...

HI John,
I have to tell you, it's a good thing I wasn't enjoying this soup while I was a fly on the wall listening to yours and the Mrs. 60s banter, lol...I'm liking your "new" motto, especially since birthdays are on the horizon:)

Definitely need to try this refreshing strawberry soup with a sprinkling of Grand Marnier! I love the addition of OJ and of course the mint. All the goodness of Summer's promises is in this soup, John. GREAT job! (thank goodness I finally got my hands on some fresh picked strawberries today:)

Thank you so much for sharing, John, you two have a safe and fun Memorial Day weekend...

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Cheri, we're really feasting on strawberries too! SO good this year! Thanks for the comment.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Louise, birthdays are indeed on the horizon! So that new motto makes sense. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Dottie said...

Hi John,
Wow! Very COOL recipe...Love the strawberries mixed with the mint as well as all of the other flavors. I have never had cold strawberry soup before so this will be a try for sure. I like the savory, spicy, and sweet all at the same time. This is perfect for this time of the year as well as a delicious cold soup. Thanks for sharing ..enjoy the weekend with Mrs. KR...
Dottie :)

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Dottie, cool indeed. :-) And this is so worth trying -- a bit spicy, but really tasty. Hope your weekend is great, and thanks for the comment.

Abbe@This is How I Cook said...

I think I need to come to your party! Hot chipotle, chill soup, cool vibes. Just wish the chill in our air would disappear so I can sit outside and sip on this. Now that would be chillin'!

Anu - My Ginger Garlic Kitchen said...

Just love the sound of this delicious cold soup. This looks so vibrant, filler and refreshing. A prefect treat for this slightly warm weather we have here.

beyondkimchee said...

Wow, what a beautiful looking soup! I never thought of adding strawberries in the savory and spicy dish but I can imagine it will be so refreshing.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Abbe, we specialize in cool vibes! :-) You've had a really chilly spring, haven't you? More chili weather than strawberry soup weather. Thanks for the comment.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Anu, isn't this a fun soup? So full of flavor! Thanks for the comment.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Holly, strawberries and savory really are nice together. So many different things you can do with them! Thanks for the comment.

Denise Browning said...

What a perfect starter for a hot summer day...

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Denise, this really is a wonderful dish! We finished off the leftovers last night. They were a few days old, but still tasted great! Thanks for the comment.

Pam said...

Lots of good things going on here, John! This is one delicious looking soup to try, and it's pretty too. Another great use of strawberries!

Rosa said...

That's an interesting soup. Never seen anything like this. A wonderful combination of flavours and ingredients.

Cheers,

Rosa

Kushigalu said...

Your recipes are always so innovative and delicious. Love the color and how beautiful it looks. Can't wait to try this out. Thank for another lovely share !

Sippity Sup said...

Get outta here! That is so creatively delicious. GREG

Laura Dembowski said...

This is a super cool and unique recipe. I love cooking with fruit. It is far more versatile than people realize.

Pam said...

Sounds refreshing and delicious... perfect for strawberry season!

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Pam, one can never have too many uses for strawberries! Thanks for the comment.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Rosa, it has a really interesting flavor -- SO good. We love it! Thanks for the comment.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Kushi, this is fun stuff! And tasty, too -- always the most important thing. Thanks for the comment.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Greg, you can do so much with strawberries, can't they? They take so well to so many different flavors! Thanks for the comment.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Laura, agree that fruit is so versatile. It's fun in sweets, but even better in savory dishes. IMO. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Pam, we've got tons of great strawberries available at the moment, so we have to do something with them! :-) Thanks for the comment.

Marcelle said...

John, this strawberry soup looks AH-mazing! I had chilled fruit soups when I lived in Sweden (a really, long time ago) and they were so good. I will have to try this, it really seems like a perfect summer starter :)

Peachy @ The Peach Kitchen said...

This soup is right up my alley and it looks so tasty!

Debra Eliotseats said...

Strawberry salsa and now this? I bet the sweet strawberries marry perfectly with the chipotle heat and the sweet-savory-umami balsamic.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Marcelle, chilled fruit soups are wonderful, aren't they? Love the combo of sweet and spice in this one! Thanks for the comment.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Peachy, you'll like this! Really good stuff. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Debra, can't resist the strawberry/chipotle/balsamic trinity. As you can see. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Beth said...

1960s references? How about Strawberry Alarm Clock, or Strawberry Fields Forever?
Guess I'm showing my age, too....

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Beth, the more 60s reference the better! :-) Thanks for the comment.

Ala said...

I could definitely use this soup as a wake-me-up right now! :) love the strawberry and mint combo, so cooling (and cool!)

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Ala, strawberry and mint really are cooling, aren't they? Much needed with the chipotle! Thanks for the comment.

Anne@ASaladForAllSeasons said...

Oh what a gorgeous soup, John! And so unique. I'm a big fan of chilled soups, both fruit and vegetable. Perfect for the dog days to come. And I love the idea of a little splash of grand marnier! Lovely recipe and thanks so much for sharing it! : )

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Anne, we're definitely into cold soup season! Really hot here today -- summer has arrived. Nice, though. Thanks for the comment.

Unknown said...

This is a beautiful soup and would be perfect for a dinner party!

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Chris, isn't this nice? Pretty and really tasty! Winner. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Evelyne CulturEatz said...

Oh I want a bowl RIGHT NOW, actually a bath cause we are in a heat wave in my part of the world. Love summer berries and love to try cold soups. A little heat here is perfect too. Great recipe John.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Evelyne, heat wave here, too. So this is MOST welcome. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Velva said...

Love, love fruit soups. I never thought to add chipotle to add a bit of smoky heat to something sweet. Your soup is beautiful. Plenty of strawberries in season here...I may need to take a crack at this soup.

As always, thanks for sharing.

Velva

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Velva, tons of strawberries here, too. More soup needed! :-) Thanks for the comment.

Lux G. said...

Gosh, this soup looks so pretty! Pink!
And I love soups especially on a gloomy day. Love!

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Lux, this definitely is a soup you can love! SO much flavor. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Raymund said...

Now this is an interesting soup! Looks really pretty in that colour.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Raymund, isn't this fun? And loaded with flavor! Thanks for the comment.

Juliana said...

Wow John, this is the most beautiful soup I have ever seen...I love the idea of sweet soup...the first time I had a soup like this was in one of our cruises...and I totally forgot about it, until I saw your recipe...thank you so much for this post...especially that there are all kind of strawberries in the market.
Have a great week :)

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Juliana, isn't this a wonderful soup? Really terrific flavor! Thanks for the comment.

Food Gal said...

This would be awesome on a scorching summer day. Refreshing, palate-tingling and so very satisfying without making you feel weighed down. Plus, it's gorgeous to boot.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Carolyn, isn't this pretty? And tastes better than it looks! Thanks for the comment.

Zoe said...

Hi John,

I was like Gosh! when I first saw your soup... This combo is so unique, bold and cool!!! I love it!!!

Zoe

Katerina said...

What a beautiful sweet soup! I love the idea!

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Zoe, isn't this a fun dish? Really interesting flavor! Thanks for the comment.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Katerina, you'll love eating it, too! :-) Thanks for the comment.

Unknown said...

What a great idea for a soup! Strawberries always get used in the same old things but this is quite creative and beautiful too. Love the bold flavours!

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Nazneen, the flavors in this are incredible! Really good stuff. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Nami | Just One Cookbook said...

This must be so refreshing! I'm really impressed by this creative soup - strawberry and salsa into soup! We can get really good strawberries now and such a wonderful recipe to enjoy them!

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Nami, isn't this a fun soup? And so tasty! We're loving all the strawberries this season! Thanks for the comment.

Mary Frances said...

Yummy! The soup looks delicious! I have never heard of strawberry soup before. This sounds so, so good. I love it and can't wait to try it.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Mary, this is such fun soup! Tons of flavor, and so seasonal. Plus it looks great! Thanks for the comment.

Amira said...

Wow strawberries in a soup!! you are really playing with your food John :), but I like that. This shows how creative you are my friends. Thanks for sharing your adventure.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Amira, we do like to play with our food. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Kiran @ KiranTarun.com said...

Yummy! This looks like the gazpacho we usually have during summers. But I love your version even more so, because of all the spices! Yum :)

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Kiran, basically this IS a fruit gazpacho! Thanks for the comment.

Amelia said...

Hi John, very unique strawberry soup, something new to me.But it look very inviting and the colour look lovely too. Thanks for sharing this impressive recipe.

Best regards,
Amelia

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Amelia, this is SO worth trying! Really good flavor. We're having it again this weekend! Thanks for the comment.

Nancy said...

Yes, yes, and yes! Everything about this soup is spot on. What a fantastic combination of flavours and what a great way to cool down this summer. Thanks for sharing this great recipe John!

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Nancy, isn't this a fun soup? We had it again for dinner this past Saturday night -- really good! Thanks for the comment.

rosita vargas said...

Genial una excelente combinaciòn y lindo color,saludos y abrazos

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Rosita, the color of this is really great, isn't it? As is its flavor! Thanks for the comment.