Australian Natural Health Magazine - Nourish

It’s a light and refreshing soup, perfect for a starter. The consistency of the soup will be thin, so serve it in shallow bowls to showcase the grape and almond garnish.

Ingredients (serves 2 to 3)

• 1 English cucumber, peeled and coarsely chopped
• 1 cup (180g) seedless green grapes, plus 8 for garnish
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1 cup (225g) Greek-style whole-milk yoghurt
• ¼ cup (60 ml) fresh lemon juice
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp red wine vinegar
• ¼ tsp Tabasco sauce
• ¼ cup (30g) raw almonds, toasted and chopped
• Extra-virgin olive oil, for drizzling

Method

Puree the cucumber in a blender or food processor. Push through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl. Puree one cup of grapes and the garlic in the blender or food processor. Push through a fine-mesh sieve into the bowl with the cucumber.

Whisk the yoghurt, lemon juice, salt, vinegar and Tabasco into the soup.

Taste and adjust the seasoning. Cover and refrigerate for at least two hours or overnight before serving.

To serve, slice the eight grapes in half crosswise and scatter over the soup.

Tip: Blanched almonds have been skinned. To blanch, immerse whole raw almonds in boiling water for 30 seconds, remove one, and test to see if the skin can be easily pinched off. If not, continue blanching for another 30 seconds or more, repeating the test. Drain and dry the nuts before using.

Did you know: Almond extracts are labeled ‘pure’, ‘natural’, or ‘imitation’: all rely on some form of benzaldehyde for their flavour. Pure extract has benzaldehyde derived from bitter almonds; natural extract uses benzaldehyde derived from cassia bark, and imitation flavouring contains synthetic benzaldehyde.for frying, while cold-pressed almond oil adds a pleasantly strong flavour to a vinaigrette.

Recipes from Almonds Recipes, History, Culture by Barbara Bryant and Betsy Fentress