Cherry Summer Soup (Kissel) Recipe

If you’re looking for the ultimate summer refreshment, the Cherry Summer Soup (Kissel) Recipe is your new best friend. This sweet and vibrant Eastern European classic is all about capturing the essence of cherries at their peak, transforming just a few staple ingredients into a glossy, ruby-red soup that’s velvety, tangy-sweet, and utterly cooling. Whether you prefer yours smooth as silk or studded with juicy whole cherries, Cherry Summer Soup (Kissel) Recipe delights everyone with its simplicity, its refreshing taste, and that unmistakable pop of summertime flavor.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Ingredients You’ll Need

Making the Cherry Summer Soup (Kissel) Recipe is delightfully straightforward—the magic lies in just a handful of fresh, quality ingredients. Each one plays a special role, whether it’s adding color, balancing tart and sweet, or creating that dreamy pudding-like texture.

• Cherries: Fresh or frozen sweet red cherries are the star for natural color and juicy flavor.
• Filtered water: Ensures your soup tastes clean and lets those cherry notes truly shine.
• Sugar: Rounds out the tartness and helps those cherries taste like summer candy.
• Lemon juice: A splash of acid lifts everything with a gentle zing and keeps the color dazzling.
• Potato starch (dissolved in cold water): Gives the soup its signature glossy, delicate thickness.

How to Make Cherry Summer Soup (Kissel) Recipe

Step 1: Prepare the Cherry Base

Start by grabbing a medium-sized pot and combining the 8 cups of filtered water with your pitted cherries. Whether your cherries are fresh from the market or you’ve defrosted a bag of frozen ones, pour them straight in. Bring everything up to a boil over medium heat—you’ll already smell that bright cherry aroma! This is the moment those flavors begin to infuse the water and blossom into a gorgeous soup.

Step 2: Simmer the Cherries

Once your pot is bubbling, reduce the heat to low and partially cover the pot (leave a little gap so nothing overflows). Let the cherries simmer gently for about 12 minutes, giving them an occasional stir. This step softens the cherries and infuses every spoonful with juicy, full-bodied cherry taste, turning your water into a fragrant, pink elixir.

Step 3: Add Sugar and Lemon Juice

Now, sprinkle in the sugar and add the fresh lemon juice. Stir everything together and give it another three minutes to simmer. This is where the soup becomes irresistibly sweet and zingy—think cherry pie in a bowl! The sugar melts right in, and the lemon juice brightens all those flavors while keeping the color vivid.

Step 4: Thicken the Soup

In a separate bowl, dissolve potato starch in cold water until totally smooth—this keeps your soup free of lumps. Slowly pour this mixture into the simmering cherry soup, stirring constantly. Within moments, you’ll see the liquid transform into a glossy, gently thickened soup. Keep stirring until it reaches the consistency you love, then take it off the heat.

Step 5: Cool and Serve

Take the soup off the stove and let it cool slightly. If you prefer a smooth texture, now’s the time to strain out the cherry pieces; if you like bursts of fruit, leave them in! Ladle the soup into bowls or mugs while it’s warm or let it chill completely for an extra cooling treat. The Cherry Summer Soup (Kissel) Recipe is incredibly versatile, so serve it the way you love best.

How to Serve Cherry Summer Soup (Kissel) Recipe

Garnishes

Top each bowl of kissel with a few whole cherries, a sprig of fresh mint, or even a swirl of whipped cream for a pop of luxurious creaminess. For a more traditional touch, a spoonful of sour cream turns every bite extra silky and beautifully tangy.

Side Dishes

Cherry Summer Soup (Kissel) Recipe shines alongside simple tea cakes, crisp butter cookies, or a slice of buttery pound cake. If you want something richer, pair it with a dollop of vanilla ice cream—the creamy chill and bright cherry flavors are a match made in dessert heaven.

Creative Ways to Present

Serve kissel in clear glasses to highlight its vibrant color, layer it parfait-style with vanilla yogurt, or pour it into pretty dessert bowls over cubes of sponge cake. For summer parties, consider chilling it in mini jars for a grab-and-go treat, or freeze it into popsicles for an inspired, fun twist!

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Leftover Cherry Summer Soup (Kissel) Recipe keeps nicely in the fridge for up to three days. Store it in a tightly covered bowl or a jar—just give it a quick stir before serving as the cherry pieces might settle at the bottom, and it’ll taste just as fresh as the day you made it.

Freezing

If you want to make a bigger batch, freeze individual portions in airtight containers. Thawed kissel is still delicious, especially when enjoyed slightly icy on sweltering days. Just be sure to stir well once defrosted to restore its creamy consistency.

Reheating

Warm your leftover soup gently on the stove or in the microwave, stirring frequently to keep the texture glossy and smooth. If it thickens too much after chilling, simply add a splash of water and stir until you reach the perfect texture again.

FAQs

Can I use other berries for this recipe?

Absolutely! While the Cherry Summer Soup (Kissel) Recipe traditionally uses cherries, you can swap in raspberries, strawberries, or even a blend of your favorite sweet-tart berries. Each fruit brings its own unique flavor and beautiful color to the dish.

Is potato starch necessary, or can I use cornstarch?

Potato starch is traditional and gives the kissel its signature silky texture, but cornstarch is a fine substitute if that’s what you have. Just keep in mind cornstarch might make the soup slightly more translucent and less “pudding-like” than potato starch.

Can I serve this Cherry Summer Soup (Kissel) Recipe cold?

Yes! Cherry Summer Soup (Kissel) Recipe is fantastic served either chilled or at room temperature, making it ideal for hot days or as a refreshing finale for a summer dinner. Chilling makes the flavors even more vibrant and the texture extra refreshing.

How sweet is this soup? Can I adjust the sugar?

The sweetness is definitely customizable! If you prefer a more tart, fruit-forward soup, reduce the sugar accordingly. If your cherries are super sweet, you might even want to cut back a little more. Always taste and adjust before you finish.

Is this recipe gluten-free and vegan?

Yes, the Cherry Summer Soup (Kissel) Recipe is both gluten-free and vegan as written—potato starch is naturally gluten-free, and there are no dairy or animal products involved. It’s the perfect treat for nearly anyone at the table.

Final Thoughts

If you want a taste of summer in a bowl, you simply can’t go wrong with the Cherry Summer Soup (Kissel) Recipe. This is the dish everyone remembers long after summer ends, and once you try it, you’ll be looking for any excuse to make it again. Give it a go—you just might discover a new favorite tradition!

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