Tropical Fruit Soup
Photo: James Carrier
Notes: Use a combination of 3 or more kinds of tropical fruit: peeled and diced pineapple, mango, papaya, kiwi, or banana; fresh or canned litchis; sliced kumquats or strawberries; passion fruit pulp; orange segments.
How to Make It
Step 1
1
Put cinnamon, star anise, cloves, and peppercorns in a heavy plastic food bag; coarsely crush with a rolling pin.
Step 2
2
Trim and discard root ends and coarse outer leaves from lemon grass. Chop tender white part of stalks.
Step 3
3
In a 1- to 1 1/2-quart pan over high heat, combine 2 cups water, crushed spices, lemon grass, 2/3 cup sugar, orange peel, and ginger. Slit vanilla bean lengthwise; scrape seeds into pan and add pod. Bring to a boil, remove from heat, cover, and let stand at least 1 hour.
Step 4
4
Pour spice syrup through a fine strainer into a bowl; discard residue. Add rum, cover, and chill until cold, at least 2 hours or up to 2 days.
Step 5
5
Meanwhile, in a bowl with a mixer on high speed, whip egg white until it holds soft peaks. Gradually add remaining 1/3 cup sugar, and continue to beat until white holds distinct peaks. Fold in coconut.
Step 6
6
Line a 12- by 15-inch baking sheet with cooking paper or parchment. With a narrow spatula, spread egg white mixture in a 10- by 13-inch rectangle.
Step 7
7
Bake in a 350° oven until meringue is deep golden brown, about 10 minutes. Let cool on sheet to room temperature. Gently pull off paper, then break meringue into 4 or 8 equal pieces.
Step 8
8
Spoon fruit equally into wide soup bowls and fill equally with spice syrup. Scoop sorbet into balls and add equally to bowls; insert meringue pieces into sorbet, and garnish with mint sprigs.
Ingredients
1 cinnamon stick (2 in.)
1 star anise
8 whole cloves
8 black peppercorns
2 stalks (about 2 oz.) fresh lemon grass
1 cup sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons grated orange peel
4 thin, quarter-size slices peeled fresh ginger
1 piece vanilla bean (2 in.)
1 tablespoon rum
1 large egg white
1/2 cup unsweetened shredded dried coconut
About 2 cups fruit (see notes)
1 pint coconut or tropical fruit sorbet
Mint sprigs, rinsed
Directions
Step 1
1
Put cinnamon, star anise, cloves, and peppercorns in a heavy plastic food bag; coarsely crush with a rolling pin.
Step 2
2
Trim and discard root ends and coarse outer leaves from lemon grass. Chop tender white part of stalks.
Step 3
3
In a 1- to 1 1/2-quart pan over high heat, combine 2 cups water, crushed spices, lemon grass, 2/3 cup sugar, orange peel, and ginger. Slit vanilla bean lengthwise; scrape seeds into pan and add pod. Bring to a boil, remove from heat, cover, and let stand at least 1 hour.
Step 4
4
Pour spice syrup through a fine strainer into a bowl; discard residue. Add rum, cover, and chill until cold, at least 2 hours or up to 2 days.
Step 5
5
Meanwhile, in a bowl with a mixer on high speed, whip egg white until it holds soft peaks. Gradually add remaining 1/3 cup sugar, and continue to beat until white holds distinct peaks. Fold in coconut.
Step 6
6
Line a 12- by 15-inch baking sheet with cooking paper or parchment. With a narrow spatula, spread egg white mixture in a 10- by 13-inch rectangle.
Step 7
7
Bake in a 350° oven until meringue is deep golden brown, about 10 minutes. Let cool on sheet to room temperature. Gently pull off paper, then break meringue into 4 or 8 equal pieces.
Step 8
8
Spoon fruit equally into wide soup bowls and fill equally with spice syrup. Scoop sorbet into balls and add equally to bowls; insert meringue pieces into sorbet, and garnish with mint sprigs.
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