Classic Gazpacho: The Ultimate Summer Refreshment
This vibrant Spanish chilled soup perfectly balances ripe tomatoes, crisp cucumbers, and colorful peppers in a symphony of summer flavors that requires zero cooking time. Originally created as a peasant dish in Andalusia, Spain, gazpacho has evolved into a sophisticated culinary delight that's both incredibly nutritious and surprisingly simple to prepare.
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Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 115kcal
Equipment
- Food Processor or Blender
- Fine-Mesh Sieve
Ingredients
- 2 pounds ripe tomatoes preferably Roma or vine-ripened (about 6-7)
- 1 medium cucumber peeled and roughly chopped
- 1 red bell pepper deseeded and roughly chopped
- 1 small red onion roughly chopped
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil Spanish varieties like Picual preferred
- 2 tbsp sherry vinegar or apple cider vinegar as substitute
- 1 slice day-old bread crust removed and soaked in water
- 1 tsp sea salt
- 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
Optional Garnishes
- diced cucumber
- diced bell pepper
- croutons
- hard-boiled egg chopped
- drizzle of olive oil
Instructions
- Wash all vegetables thoroughly. Roughly chop the tomatoes, cucumber, bell pepper, and red onion. If desired, reserve about 1/4 cup of diced vegetables for garnish.
- Place all chopped vegetables into a food processor or blender along with the garlic, salt, and pepper. Pulse several times to break down the vegetables before blending continuously for about 30 seconds. The mixture should be coarsely pureed but not completely smooth.
- Squeeze excess water from the soaked bread and add it to the vegetable mixture along with the olive oil and sherry vinegar.
- Blend again for another 1-2 minutes until the soup reaches your desired consistency. Add a few tablespoons of cold water if needed to thin the mixture.
- Optional: Strain the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve, pressing gently with a spatula to extract all the liquid for a silkier texture.
- Transfer to a covered container and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, though overnight chilling will develop even deeper flavors.
- Serve in chilled bowls topped with your choice of garnishes.
Notes
For best results, use the ripest tomatoes you can find as they provide the foundation of flavor. The soup actually improves with time, developing deeper flavors over 1-2 days. Store in an airtight glass container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. The soup may separate slightly during storage – simply stir before serving to recombine.
Nutrition
Calories: 115kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 680mg | Potassium: 485mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 1600IU | Vitamin C: 72mg | Calcium: 22mg | Iron: 1mg
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