From Salsa To Salad, How To Use

Fresh Cherries

In Savoury Dishes This Monsoon Season

Tiny, sweet, and impossible to stop at just one - that’s cherries for you, especially when they’re fresh and bursting with flavour. In India, the cherry harvest peaks during early spring and summer but extends right into the monsoon months in select regions. These sweet-tart fruits contain Vitamin C, natural melatonin, and antioxidants. And while sweet dishes are their most common application, there’s a lot more to try with this little fruit. Here are savoury cherry dishes to try. 

With that many c’s in its name, Focaccia could do well with dedicating one of them to cherries! Kidding? Not really. Because cherry focaccia bread is the kind of savoury flatbread with a touch of sweetness that makes for an excellent side to most meals — and also makes a great tea-time snack! If you’re familiar with a focaccia recipe, then this is an easy twist. Once you’ve mixed and kneaded the dough, press pitted and halved cherries deep into the dough's dimples. Sprinkle rosemary and flaky sea salt over the top for a delicious contrast. Drizzle with olive oil and bake as usual. 

You know the kind of food that works best during rainy weather? Something easy and quick to put together, so you can actually enjoy looking at the view while enjoying the meal and not spend all your time just cooking. If you agree, then try this quick cherry quinoa salad recipe. Ready in just 30 minutes, with most time spent cooking the quinoa, it has crunch and flavour! Once your quinoa is ready and cooled down, toss it with quartered cherries, fresh rosemary, chopped walnuts, lemon juice, shallot, and salt. You can customise it further to suit your taste. Like drizzling honey for a sweeter touch or crumbled feta for texture and protein. 

Salsa is undoubtedly one of the most adaptable condiments, with every change in the weather giving rise to seasonal variations. But while mango salsa in the summer is easily available, a cherry salsa recipe in the monsoon remains an underrated treat. If you want to change that, you can make this delectable topping at home as well. Simply mix diced fresh cherries with finely chopped red onion, fresh basil or mint, diced jalapeño, and a squeeze of lime juice. This is an amazing topping for grilled fish, chicken, or taco chips.

The Waldorf Salad recipe has been around for well over a century, but that doesn't mean it can't benefit from a seasonal upgrade. Traditionally made with apples, celery, walnuts, and a creamy dressing, this version adds fresh cherries for bursts of sweetness and colour. Simply combine halved cherries, diced apples, sliced celery, and toasted walnuts. Toss everything in a light dressing made with yoghurt, mayonnaise, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. The result is crunchy, creamy, sweet, and savoury all at once.

Toast is really the empty canvas of the kitchen world, which can be enjoyed with a simple smear of butter and jam or elevated into a gourmet snack with a seasonal treat. Like roasted cherries! All you need to do here is toss pitted, halved cherries with olive oil, a dash of balsamic vinegar, and fresh thyme. Now, roast them in an oven or in a pan until they are soft and juicy. Pile them over mild curd cheese (like ricotta or cottage cheese) on a slice of crisp toast and serve immediately. 

Barbeque sauce is known for its sweet, smoky, and tangy flavour profile, which is exactly why cherries fit into it so naturally. To make a cherry barbeque sauce, cook pitted cherries with onion, garlic, vinegar, tomato paste, brown sugar, and a pinch of smoked paprika until softened. Blend until smooth and simmer until thick. The cherries add fruity sweetness and acidity, creating a sauce that pairs beautifully with grilled vegetables, paneer, chicken, or burgers.

If toasts are Mr Adaptable in the world of breads, Rasam takes on the title in the category of Indian soup-style dishes. While rasam is usually served with steamed rice, its popularity means it is often consumed before a meal as well. And on rainy days? It may even replace the evening tea. For such days, add a seasonal twist by mixing halved cherries into the spiced, tamarind-infused lentil soup. The cherries add a lovely sweet note that perfectly cuts through the peppery spice.  

This list is only the start. Once you start adding this little fruit into your savoury dishes, there’s a lot more to explore - be it pickles, chutneys, lemonades, or even crumble bars. Just make sure to buy fresh, plump cherries, wash them thoroughly before using, and if storing, rinse them only before use. It’s time to pluck the green stems (brown means they’ve been sitting too long), pit the little fruits, and get cooking savoury delights.