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When I was growing up in Southern California, my mother would make a wonderful “beat the heat” meal…Chilled Fruit Soup also known as Kaltschale. This wasn’t dessert… it was the meal. And so refreshing. The past few days we’ve experienced a heat wave in my part of the world, and started craving this cold and satisfying meal. After digging through recipes for a few hours, I discovered that there is not one single Kaltschale Recipe. Everyone makes it slightly different depending on 1) how their Oma made it, and 2) what fruits they have on hand, and 3) whatever thickening agents they had in the pantry. My Mother made it differently depending on the season and what fruits she had. Sometimes there were apricots, sometimes apple, often cherries, and sometimes raisins (I hated the raisins!).
Kaltschale Recipe
I ended up making a Berry and Cherry Fruit Soup by taking bits and pieces from a few different recipes (and because I had berries), and my people really enjoyed it.
One thing about German Fruit Soup or Kaltschale, like German Cakes, it’s not super sweet (in fact, my older daughter suggested that next time I add Rhubarb to give it more bite. I used Lemon Juice, and not too much sugar. It’s not sour, but also not fruit topping sweet.
This recipe uses Tapioca as a thickener... mostly because my younger daughter loves Bubble Tea, and I thought I could convince to try if there were Tapioca balls inside. She ate a whole bowl with gusto. You can thicken with tapioca or corn starch… or even puree half of the fruit with a stick blender.
Fresh fruit is good, frozen fruit works well (I had a bag of frozen berries from Costco, and another bag of frozen pitted cherries from a different project) This is your chance to be creative. Use what fruit you have (except bananas…bananas are yucky).
Cook it up in the morning, then set the soup in the refrigerator to cool all day. Dinner is done.
Serve Chilled Fruit Soup
Serve Chilled fruit soup alone, or with some Vanilla Yogurt or Vanilla Sauce… maybe sprinkle on some toasted nuts. Kaltschale is a light and refreshing meal for those hot summer days.
(OK, yes, I realize that for many people, the thought of a cold fruit soup for dinner just isn’t enough. Maybe serve Schnitten or a Salad along with it… or some cheese and bread. Or just serve it for dessert)
Kaltschale Recipe - Cold Berry Fruit Soup
Prep Time 40 minutes mins
Total Time 40 minutes mins
Course Dessert
Cuisine German
Ingredients
- 8 Cup Water
- 3 Tbl. Tapioca pearls if you like it thicker, go up to 1/3 cup
- 1/2 cup Sugar you may need to add more, depending on how sweet/ripe the fruit is
- 2 tsp Vanilla extract
- 1 Cinnamon Stick
- 7 cups mixed Berries/ Cherries you can add chopped apples, apricot halves, raisins etc (I did notice that frozen berries are less sweet! Taste and add sugar if needed.)
- 1-2 Tbl. Lemon Juice
Instructions
In a soup pot... combine water, sugar, vanilla extract (or split vanilla Bean), cinnamon stick and Tapioca pearls. Bring it to a boil over medium heat.
When it begins to boil, lower the heat to the lowest temperature.
Cook for 20 minutes, while stirring (if you don't stir, it can burn or get stuck to the bottom). The Tapioca will thicken.
(If you choose to work with cornstarch instead of Tapioca... Bring water/sugar/spices to a boil,. Combine 2 TBL corn starch with 1/3 cup cold water... stir into the boiling sugar water. Let cook 20 minutes.)
Add fruit to the simmering liquid.
Raise the heat, and bring back to a boil.
Simmer for another 5 to 10 minutes (longer if your fruit was frozen).
Add lemon juice.
Taste.
Sweeten if needed.
Let the soup cool, then store in the refrigerator until cold.
Notes
You will need to chill the soup for several hours to serve it cold. Best to make it in the morning, and store it in the refrigerator all day.
Keyword Kaltschale Recipe
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More Cold Soups and German Summertime Meals
Keep the kitchen as cool as possible on hot days.
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FAQs
Fruit soup can be easily turned into a fruit sauce for pouring over ice cream. Cook as per instructions, but use about 40 % less water and a little less sugar. You can enjoy this soup either warm or chilled. Keep refrigerated for up to 3 days.
What are cold soups called? ›
Cold soups
| Name | Origin country |
|---|
| Gazpacho | Spain |
| Naengmyeon | Korea |
| Naengguk | Korea |
| Okroshka | Russia |
9 more rowsSwedish fruit soup is a food staple in Scandinavian countries, and has been prepared from dried fruit during winter months. Consumption of cold fruit soups is also a tradition in the cuisine of Scandinavia.
What is the meaning of fruit soup? ›
Fruit soups are prepared using fruit as a primary ingredient, and may be served warm or cold depending on the recipe. Many varieties of fruit soups exist, and they may be prepared based upon the availability of seasonal fruit.
Can I eat soup that has been in the fridge for 5 days? ›
Answer From Katherine Zeratsky, R.D., L.D. Leftovers can be kept for 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator. After that, the risk of food poisoning goes up. If you don't think you'll be able to eat leftovers within four days, freeze them right away.
Can you eat homemade soup after 7 days? ›
Most soups stay fresh and retain their flavour in the fridge for three or four days. You should aim to consume refrigerated soup within this timeframe for maximum safety, taste, and quality.
What is the best cold soup in the world? ›
Just in time for the festival, the Lithuanian pink soup was voted the best cold soup in the world by the Taste Atlas. The Lithuanian summertime treat triumphed over renowned contenders from other countries, like the Spanish gazpacho and porra antequerana, or the Bulgarian tarator.
What type of soup can be served either hot or cold answer? ›
Expert-Verified Answer
Fruit soup is a kind of soup that can be served either hot or cold.
Is cold soup OK to eat? ›
“The primary reason to heat up canned soup is to enhance its flavors and to help keep you warm when it's cold,” that article said. “There's nothing unhealthy about eating cold canned soup.” Even if it's not unsafe, the notion of enhancing the soup's flavors is a worthwhile consideration.
What is the national soup of China? ›
Patriotic soup (simplified Chinese: 护国菜; traditional Chinese: 護國菜; pinyin: hùguó cài; lit. 'protect the country dish', Teochew :hu gog chai) is a vegetable soup originated by Teochew people. It was developed during the final year of China's Song dynasty as an improvisational dish.
Who boiled the first soup? The exact time period that soup was invented remains debatable. However according to archaeologist John Speth, our ancient Neanderthal relatives were likely to have begun boiling meat to render fat from animal bones – resulting in a meat broth that they would have drunk as soup.
How to thicken fruit soup? ›
Method 1: Whisk in a slurry of cornstarch or flour
To thicken soup using flour or cornstarch, measure out the flour or cornstarch in a separate bowl — start with 1 tablespoon per cup of soup. Add equal parts water or soup liquid to the flour or cornstarch and whisk until they're completely combined in a slurry.
Can you freeze fruit soup? ›
According to the authors, the fruit quantities are irrelevant and the soup freezes well. You can also freeze some of the soup in ice cube trays or ice molds and give them to your grandchildren as frozen fruit pops!
Where does cold fruit soup come from? ›
Kaltschale, also known as “Kaltschale Suppe” or “Cold Soup,” is a traditional German dish that is particularly popular during the summer months. It is a refreshing chilled fruit soup that is perfect for hot weather, offering a delightful combination of sweet and tangy flavors.
Can soup last 7 days in fridge? ›
A general rule of thumb is that soup can be stored in the refrigerator for about three days, but you should always taste your dish before deciding to reheat. A clear, vegetable-based soup with some acidity, such as tomatoes, may last longer. Chicken soup usually lasts three to five days.
Can you eat soup after a week in the fridge? ›
According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), soups and stews containing meat and vegetables will be safe to eat for three to four days if refrigerated. The Hong Kong Centre for Food Safety (CFS) recommends setting your fridge temperature at 4 degrees Celsius (39 degrees Fahrenheit) or below.
Is soup OK after a week in the fridge? ›
Like other leftover foods, homemade soup can safely be stored in the fridge for three to four days, per standard guidance from the USDA. This includes soups and stews that contain fish, meat, and poultry.
How long does homemade split pea soup last in the fridge? ›
Split pea soup can be kept refrigerated for about a week, or frozen for up to three months. To freeze, cool the soup completely, then transfer to freezer containers or bags.
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