Market Radish Soup with Balsamic Cherries

Ingredients

• 12 sour or sweet cherries
• pitted and halved
• 1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
• 2 garlic cloves
• thinly sliced
• 1 small onion
• finely chopped
• Salt and freshly ground pepper
• 1 pound radishes (preferably White Icicle) with fresh greens
• radishes thinly sliced
• 1 teaspoon thyme leaves
• 1 quart chicken stock or low-sodium broth

Instructions

1. In a shallow dish, sprinkle the cherries with the balsamic vinegar.
2. In a large saucepan, melt the butter.
3. Add the garlic and onion, season with salt and pepper and cook over moderately high heat, stirring frequently, until the onion is softened, about 3 minutes.
4. Stir in the radishes, radish greens and thyme.
5. Add the chicken stock and bring to a boil.
6. Simmer the soup over moderate heat until the radishes are tender, about 10 minutes.
7. Working in batches, puree the radish soup in a blender and pour it into a saucepan.
8. Reheat the soup and season it with salt and pepper.
9. Ladle the radish soup into bowls, top with the balsamic cherries and serve.