Creamy Apple-Anise Soup and Pumpkinseed Cheese

Recipe by
Plant-Based Recipe Developers

Masha and Anya are the plant-based cooking duo behind Golubka Kitchen. They believe that the most nourishing meals come from fresh, whole ingredients prepared with love and intention.

Creamy Apple-Anise Soup and Pumpkinseed Cheese

Some foods have a distinct seasonal disposition. Ice cream for summertime, apple pie in the autumn, hot soup during winter, and roasted artichoke in the spring. Well, I have a feeling that this soup surpasses seasons. It’s both light and hearty and is just as delicious chilled as it is warm.

I often daydream about food and make up different recipes while doing things unrelated to cooking. Well recently, in the middle of a daydream, I got an idea for making a soup that would have nut milk for its base. I imagined a bowl full of soup that is “blond” and creamy, and became excited about the possibilities of the milk’s earthy flavour.


It took quite a bit of experimentation until I was able to minimize the ingredients to two simple companions to almond milk – apple and fennel. Combined with the milk’s nutty taste, the two bring a sweet and fresh presence to the bowl. The spice of chili and coriander deepens the flavour and ties the whole thing together with a slight kick. The use of nut milk instead of whole nuts makes for a much lighter soup.

Pumpkinseed cheese is a fairly recent discovery. The first time I made it, I could not believe what a wonderful result I got with so few ingredients. It’s a bit like a cracker. A cheesy, healthy, and delicious one. I’ve made it very frequently over the past couple of months. It’s simple, and works as a wonderful snack or part of a meal. I like to serve the soup with this “cheese,” but it’s very possible to pair it with any crackers of your choice.

Almond Milk


1 cup almonds – soaked overnight
3 cups water
3 dates

In a high speed blender, thoroughly combine all the ingredients.
Strain through a nut bag or double lined cheesecloth, carefully squeezing all the liquid out. Use 2 cups of the milk for soup, and if you have some left over, enjoy it with your breakfast or cookies. You can make these cookies out of the left-over almond pulp.

Creamy Apple-Anise Soup


2 cups almond milk
1 fennel bulb – roughly chopped
1 large apple (any kind) – cored and roughly chopped, reserve 1/4 for garnish
1 handful fresh cilantro leaves
1/2 small chili pepper – seeded
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
freshly ground black pepper and salt to taste

Garnish
the reserved 1/4 of apple – cut in small cubes
pumpkin seeds – optionally soaked and dehydrated for extra crunch
drizzle of chili olive oil (optional) – olive oil mixed with chili powder
fresh mint or cilantro leaves

In a high speed blender, combine all the ingredients until smooth. Adjust the salt and spices. Garnish with the cubed apple, pumpkin seeds, and a drizzle of chili olive oil. Before serving, heat up in the dehydrator or serve chilled.

Pumpkinseed Cheese


1 cup pumpkin seeds – soaked overnight
1/4 cup purified water
1/8 cup lemon or lime juice
1 tablespoon nutritional yeast
1/4 teaspoon sea salt

In a food processor, blend all the ingredients until smooth. Thinly spread onto Teflex sheets and dehydrate at 115F for 6 hours. Flip and remove the Teflex. Break into pieces and dehydrate for another 2 hours.

About Golubka Kitchen

Welcome to Golubka Kitchen, where plant-based cooking meets seasonal inspiration. We're Masha and Anya, and we believe that the most nourishing meals come from fresh, whole ingredients prepared with love and intention.

Our journey began with a shared passion for cooking that celebrates the natural flavors of fruits, vegetables, grains, and legumes. What started as casual conversations about seasonal ingredients has grown into a platform where we share recipes that honor both tradition and innovation in plant-based cuisine.

Reader Comments (19)

See what other home cooks are saying about this recipe

M

MMom

yes – screw seasons, I want to eat this every day – OMG it’s SO delicious – SO delicious. I want to have it for breakfast every single day.

E

Elena

Божественно! Спасибо, дорогая. Я добавила немного розмарина в крекеры – посмотрим что получится! ;)

A

Ally Hodges

So, I just made the soup with a few alternatives. Instead of almond milk I used pumpkin seed milk, and I used half a cup less because I didn’t make enough beforehand. I also used red chili pepper flakes instead of a chili. This is so good. My goodness! I think I have a new favorite raw food recipe. I have a problem with a lot of raw food recipes in general because they either don’t taste good (maybe I’m too fickle) or they are way too complicated and expensive and time consuming. I’ve made a few of your other recipes and everything I’ve made that you have posted has been really good! Thank you so much for this beautiful blog, I check it all the time. Also, I’m dehydrating the pumpkin seed cheese right now, it tastes great right now, can’t wait till it’s dry.

D

Delphine

I made this over the weekend and wow, it is so good! I did it with pear instead of apple. You are so talented!

G

Golubka

Sn, the recipe makes about 3 cups, which is about 4 portions, depending on the portion size. Hope this helps!

S

sn

Yum! How much does this make? (Thank you :))

G

Golubka

Kasi and Karen, thanks so much for your support! We always love hearing from you! Trudy, thanks so much!

T

Trudy ~ veggie num num

A creamy apple soup, Yum!! What a delicious creation, also I think your recipe for pumpkinseed cheese will soon become a firm favourite here too!! Oh, and, your blog is just beautiful!!

K

Karen Fowler

I second what Kasi said!! YOU are a culinary genius!!

K

Kasi Bern

Golubka, YOU are a culinary genius :)

G

Golubka

Sean: I definitely have a favourite soup to cook for all four seasons :) Working on holiday right now! Thanks for your comment! Jennifurla: Thank you! Sweet Faery: Thanks so much for your comment :) AlaskaSmiles: Thank you, hope you enjoy it. Viviane: Thank you! Jacqui: I can’t say enough about the pumpkinseed cheese. It’s so simple but turns out so tasty! Sue: Thanks for your alway-sweet comments! Coco: Hope you like it :)

C

Coco

What a unique recipe!! I would have never thought to incorporate nut milk into soup….I have some fennel left over from our CSA box so I will definitely have to try this out this week. thank you!

S

Sue

You are a culinary genius, Anya!!! This, too, is another scrumptious looking creation!!!!

J

jacqui

Oh, this sound so delish! I’m really curious to try the pumpkin seed cheese.

V

Viviane Bauquet Farre / Food and Style

Very original and beautiful soup… I love the hint of spice!

A

AlaskaSmiles

The pictures are beautiful! I’ll have to try the soup this weekend! Thank you for sharing.

S

Sweet Faery

Again a very original recipe and beautiful pics (I’m starting to repaet myself…). I love the idea of a fresh fennel soup. Thank you!

J

Jennifurla

THis is a breathaking bowl, gorgeous

S

Sous Chef Sean

Sounds like you have a soup for each season, and then some. Great flavor combos and the nut milk… you can just about taste it from your pix and descriptions. Can’t wait to see your fall and holiday creations!