Bing Cherry Soup

Step 1

Put whole, unpitted cherries into a deep, wide, heavy pan. (No need to remove stems.) Add vanilla bean, candied orange, and wine or wine and water. Bring to a boil, lower heat and simmer 30 to 40 minutes, until thickened and reduced by half.

Step 2

Let cool for a few minutes, then transfer to a food processor in batches and pulse briefly, just until fruit is in very small pieces. Transfer fruit, pits, stems and liquid to a fine-meshed sieve placed over a large bowl. Press hard with a wooden spoon to extract all the liquid. Cover, and chill 4 hours or overnight.

Step 3

To serve, ladle into shallow bowls. Put a scoop of sorbet or ice cream or a spoonful of sliced fruit in the center. Garnish with candied orange peel or a biscotti, if desired.