Cooking Method: puréeing

Rangoon Racquet Club Peanut Soup

There was a time in the 70s and 80s when the cognoscenti in Beverly Hills eschewed the Polo Lounge, Bistro, et al, and headed for the real hot spot, the Rangoon Racquet Club, a restaurant reinventing the last days of the Raj with a Rodeo Drive vibe. Anglo-Indian food topped the bill of fare and the favorite starter was Peanut Soup. A silky smooth chilled soup of creamy chicken broth with creamy coconut and peanuts, this dish was served in a small cup nestled in a bed of crushed ice, with a half a lime on the side to squeeze over it before eating. The acidity of the tart lime cuts through the unctuous richness of the cream, coconut and pureed peanut and creates the perfect medley of flavors.

By Leslie Blythe