Cold Calanda Peach Soup - Sopa Fria De Melocotón De Calan

Shamelessly swiped from the 'net for ZWT8 from a Spanish website who reposted it from Spain GourmeTour magazine. This looks really good especially in the heat we've been having! Vegetable stock is easily substituted for the chicken stock to make it vegetarian (and leave off the ham garnish). If Calanda peaches are unavailable, substitute a sweet fleshy variety.

• Ready In: 1 hr 5 mins
• Serves: 4

Ingredients

• 2 1⁄4 lbs  fresh calanda  peaches
• 1  leek
• 1⁄2 onion
• 3 1⁄4 cups  chicken stock (or vegetable)
• 1⁄2 cup  light cream
• 3  tablespoons  oil
• 2  tablespoons butter
•  salt
•  pepper
•  nutmeg
•  cinnamon
• 3  whole cloves

• Garnish

• 2  peaches
• 5  ounces  iberico ham (Spanish)
•  of fresh mint

Directions

1. Chop the onion and the white part of the leek and sauté gently in the hot oil in a saucepan.
2. Wash the peaches, cut in half and remove the pits. Cut into pieces, add to the onion and leek mixture, and fry gently together.
3. Cover with the stock, season with salt, pepper a little grated nutmeg, a pinch of cinnamon and the cloves stuck into a piece of onion (this makes it easier to remove them later). Cover and simmer for 10 minutes or until the peaches are soft.
4. Remove the onion with the cloves, blend the soup, add the cream and bring to a boil. Check the seasoning, add the butter and leave to cool.
5. At the last minute, sprinkle with mint and serve with peaches and ham.
6. Garnish: Blanch and peel the peaches. Cut into thin slices. Cut the iberico ham into strips.