SUMMER FRUIT SOUP (serves 6 to 8)

½ cup dry white wine, such as Sauvignon Blanc          

 ½ cup crème de cassis (black currant liqueur)

¼ cup pomegranate juice

2 tablespoons strawberry preserves

1 teaspoon orange zest (finely grated)

½ pound red plums (small, halved, pitted and cut into ½ inch wedges)

½ pound bing cherries (pitted)

2 sprigs basil

½ pound seedless red grapes

½ pound strawberries (hulled and quartered)

6 ounces blueberries

1 cup sour cream

1 tablespoon sugar

mint leaves (for garnish)

toasted brioche slices (optional, for serving)

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1.   In a medium saucepan, combine the white wine with the crème de cassis, pomegranate juice, strawberry preserves and orange zest and bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve the preserves.

2.   Add the plums, cherries and basil to the saucepan and return to a boil, then simmer over moderately high heat for 1 minute.  Using a slotted spoon, transfer the fruit to a large glass or ceramic bowl.  Add the grapes to the saucepan and simmer for 30 seconds;  transfer the grapes to the bowl.  Add the strawberries and blueberries to the saucepan and simmer for 2 minutes.  Transfer the berries and cooking juices to the bowl and let cool completely; discard the basil sprigs.  Cover and refrigerate until the fruit soup is chilled, about 45 minutes.

3.   In a small bowl, whisk the sour cream with the sugar.  Spoon the fruit soup into shallow bowls and dollop the sweetened sour cream on top.  Garnish the fruit soup with mint leaves and serve with toasted brioche, if you like.

NOTE: The fruit soup can be refrigerated overnight.

from Jacques Pepin, Food and Wine Magazine, updated July 1, 2014