Chilled Honeydew & Champagne Soup {with Walnuts, Mint & Creme Fraiche}

This Chilled Honeydew & Champagne Soup is cool, refreshing and delicious!  Topped with walnuts, mint and creme fraiche this soup is perfect for summer entertaining!As I put the finishing touches on packing up our life to relocate to North Carolina (the last of the bathroom necessities in its proper box, the final picture frame wrapped in bubble wrap, making sure I didn’t pack ALL my shoes!  Oops!), I can’t help but look around and become flooded with emotions and memories.  Some bad, but mostly good.

The guest room where my father took his final breath and passed on; and the living room floor where my oldest fur child decided my dad needed her company, those top the list of “bad” memories.

But, they are accompanied by a LOT of joyful ones- my dad living with my husband and I for a couple good months and all the cooking we did together; bringing my youngest fur baby home and all the destruction that came with her (sorry carpet- you really need to be replaced); my office where I hit publish on my first No Spoon Necessary blog post; and Boy declaring he needed a man cave and the Christmas-like joy on his face when he got one out of our second spare bedroom.

There are also just random memories and occurrences, things I won’t really miss, like the sound of my neighbors.

Do you unknowingly and accidentally spy on your neighbors?  To be honest, I swear I don’t mean to. I’ll be happily minding my own business, sitting outside on the porch, enjoying the weather (when it’s nice out), working on a blog post, and I will hear an argument break out.  I immediately become intrigued and my ears perk up… is that bad?  I mean, it’s not really my fault that I can hear them!  Right?

I thought I had heard it all in my 5 years of living in this townhouse.  Bickering, little girls singing the Frozen song a million times in a row- at the top of their lungs, very drunk shenanigans, cops arresting a neighbor’s brother for a fight… good times.  Lol.

But, I heard a first yesterday.  A teenage girl complaining to her mother that she needed to have a life and her mom needed to let her have one.  OMG, there was a lot of groaning, moaning and like an hour long argument over this subject.  Finally the teenage girl had enough.  She said, in a very loud, shrieking voice, “ALL the kids talk about me not having a life!  I NEED Chipotle, mom!!!!!!” I couldn’t help but laugh and almost fall out of my chair.  I didn’t know this entire argument revolved around Chipotle Mexican Grill AND I had no idea Chipotle could solve all the world’s problems.  Who knew??!  Shoot, that place is less than a mile away!  I really should get out more!!!  Well, crap.  It’s not going to be only a mile away in North Carolina… google just told me its 29.8 miles away.  🙁  Guess I’m stuck having problems in my life.  (<– Sorry for the digression and my rambling!)

But, on the flip side, I will no longer have to hear my neighbors and their quirky antics.  You see our house is on a good amount of land, and there are big berms between the homes.  This equals peace and quiet for me!  The very first thing I am going to do is enjoy a delicious meal outside on our deck with Boy and a nice glass of white wine.  Or I could combine the meal and the wine into a two-fer of deliciousness by whipping together this – Chilled Honeydew and Champagne Soup with Mint, Walnuts and Crème Fraiche.

This soup is quintessential summertime scrumptiousness in a bowl.  It’s cool, refreshing, effervescent, slightly sweet and all around very simple and ‘clean’ tasting.  The toppings of walnuts and crème fraiche add a touch of crunch and rich creaminess.  They enhance and compliment the soup, so I don’t skip them!

This chilled soup is also like the easiest thing on the planet to whip together and it requires NO cooking!  Roughly chop up some honeydew, throw everything into your best friend, Mr. Food Processor, and blitz together.  This chilled soup is great for lunch, as an appetizer, or paired with a salad or grilled chicken for a light and healthy dinner.  You could also serve the soup in chilled shot glasses as an aperitif.  Essentially, this soup is perfect to enjoy anytime of the day… preferably without the sound of your neighbors in the background.  🙂

Oh, I almost forgot!  You can also substitute the honeydew for cantaloupe or watermelon and the champagne for a sparkling wine, Moscato or Rose.  Regardless of the fruit or wine you utilize, I know you are going to love this invigoratingly delicious chilled honeydew and champagne soup!  Until next time, Cheers to peace n’ quiet and happy soup slurping!

-xoxo-

Cheyanne

5 from 5 votes

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Chilled Honeydew & Champagne Soup {with Walnuts, Mint & Creme Fraiche}

Prep Time

15 mins

Total Time

15 mins

 

This Chilled Honeydew & Champagne Soup is cool, refreshing and delicious! Topped with walnuts, mint and creme fraiche this soup is perfect for summer entertaining!

Course: Soup, starter

Cuisine: American

Servings: 4

Calories: 40 kcal

Author: Cheyanne Holzworth

Ingredients

• 1 (3-4 pound) Ripe Honeydew Melon – skin and seeds removed and flesh roughly cubed (should yield about 5 Cups)
• 1 TBS Lime (about ½ lime)
• ¼ Cup Sweet Cuvee Champagne (can substitute sparkling wine)
• 1/8 tsp Vanilla Extract
• ¾ tsp Fresh Ginger - grated
• 2 TBS Fresh Mint leaves – roughly chopped
• 1/8 tsp Kosher Salt
• 2 TBS Honey (can substitute pure maple syrup)
• Optional Garnishes:
• Walnuts – roughly chopped
• Crème Fraiche
• Mint Leaves
• Lime or Lemon zest
• Honey

Instructions

1. In the bowl of a food processor, or blender, fitted with metal blade add the honeydew, lime, champagne, vanilla, ginger, mint and salt. Pulse mixture until smooth. Process mixture (let the processor run) for 1-2 minutes until soup is light and airy.
2. Taste and adjust for salt; adjust for sweetness with additional honey. Transfer mixture to a bowl or large container. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, up to 6, to allow flavors to marry.
3. Pour into bowls and garnish as desired.

Recipe Notes

*Yield: Approximately 4 1/2 Cups
*Chill soup bowls for a few hours in the refrigerator for a more pleasant presentation and taste
*-Or- Reserve the hollowed out honeydew rind and use it as serving bowl for a fun presentation
*You can substitute cantaloupe for watermelon or honeydew.
*Can substitute Lemon Juice for Lime Juice
*Soup will keep, covered and stored in the refrigerator, for up to 2 days. You will need to whisk or process soup again before serving.

*Nutritional Information doesn't include optional garnishes.

Nutrition Facts

Chilled Honeydew & Champagne Soup {with Walnuts, Mint & Creme Fraiche}

Amount Per Serving

Calories 40

% Daily Value*

Sodium 74mg 3%

Potassium 13mg 0%

Total Carbohydrates 9g 3%

Sugars 8g

Vitamin A 0.7%

Vitamin C 0.8%

Iron 0.3%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.