pineapples
As their spiky silhouette stands for a laid-back tropical life, pineapples themselves are easy-breezy when it comes to growing. (If you've never tried it, plant a crown in a potter, wait two years and voilà.) Our Southwest Florida farmers are able to raise fields of them, and they're being plucked right now. Chef Kristina San Filippo of Purple Spoon Culinary, a Bonita Springs center featuring cooking classes and more that opened in September, shares a favorite recipe incorporating the golden fruit.
Chilled Pineapple Soup with Spiced Shrimp
Makes 6 to 8 servings.
Soup:
1 pineapple, skin and core removed, cut into 1-inch dice
1 cup diced sweet onion
1 cup peeled, diced cucumber
2 cups vegetable stock, chilled
2 tsp. kosher salt
Spiced shrimp:
1 Tbsp. ground coriander
1 Tbsp. ground cumin
1 Tbsp. chili powder
1 tsp. cayenne pepper
1 tsp. kosher salt
1/2 pound shrimp, shelled and deveined, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
Olive oil
Basil oil and fresh basil, for garnish (optional)
1. To make soup: Place pineapple, onion and cucumber in the freezer for at least 1 hour or until icy. Puree frozen ingredients in a blender with 1 cup of the chilled vegetable stock and salt. Strain soup through a medium mesh strainer, pressing as much liquid as possible from the solids; discard solids. If soup is too thick, add more chilled vegetable stock. Keep soup chilled until ready to serve.
2. To make shrimp: Mix coriander, cumin, chili, cayenne and salt together. Toss shrimp with enough spice mixture to coat well (all of spice mixture may not be needed; reserve for another use). Heat a sauté pan over medium-high heat, pour in 1 to 2 Tbsp. of olive oil, sauté spice-coated shrimp until just cooked through, about 1 minute.
3. Portion pineapple soup into 6 to 8 small bowls or martini glasses; top soup with hot shrimp. If using, drizzle basil oil and garnish with fresh basil.
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