This smooth or chunky gazpacho recipe–a chilled, no-cook tomato soup–is a light and fresh appetizer or starter for the hot summer months.
It may be cooling off significantly where you are, but here in the Los Angeles area, it’s still hovering around 100ºF (almost 40ºC).
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I’m simply not turning on my oven or cooking long, hot meals over the cooktop. Instead, I decided to try a recipe for gazpacho, which my friend, Joyce, recently sent me.
What is Gazpacho?
A couple of weeks ago, Joyce and my friend, Gail, were both astonished when they found out I’d never tasted gazpacho. Gazpacho originates from southern Spain and Portugal, where they have similarly hot weather to our California summers. Sometimes, bread is added to the fresh vegetables and tomatoes to thicken it when the soup is blended (I learned this later, as you’ll see below).
Enjoy some Spanish tapas after your gazpacho: patatas bravas, chorizo and potato with cheese,
or these leek croquettes.
Updated to add that I have made gazpacho countless times since I was served a beautiful gazpacho in Spain after writing this post! You can read about my visit to Montserrat, just outside of Barcelona, and the lunch which followed. -2017
It’s extremely simple, and so healthy, that it will definitely be on the rotation of summer meals while this weather continues.
I slightly altered Joyce’s recipe because I had fresh, homegrown tomatoes on hand, and didn’t want to buy canned tomato juice, and I also added salt.
This is not a recipe which needs to be followed strictly, but it is the basic Spanish version of the chilled soup.
Smooth or Chunky Gazpacho Recipe
(Chilled Tomato Soup)
slightly adapted from Joyce Hughes’ recipe serves 4 to 6
FULL PRINTABLE RECIPE BELOW
Chop the tomato, cucumber, green pepper, and onion by hand or in a food processor.
Place the chopped veggies in a bowl, with the minced garlic, then add the tomato juice, vinegar, olive oil, salt, tabasco, and black pepper to taste.
Stir well, cover and refrigerate for about an hour to chill. Serve with any of the desired suggested toppings, or simply a slice or two of green pepper.
If you prefer a smooth version, simply purée all of the ingredients in a blender until smooth, then chill.
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Chunky Gazpacho (Chilled Tomato Soup)
Ingredients
- 32 oz chilled tomato juice (I blended tomatoes and added some water)
- 2 medium tomatoes (or 1 large tomato)
- 1 large cucumber (or 3 or 4 small Persian cucumbers)
- ¾ green pepper
- 1 white onion (I used a sweet Vidalia)
- 3 cloves garlic (large, minced)
- 1 Tbsp red wine vinegar (I love vinegar, so I added more)
- 3 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tsp Kosher salt
- ⅛ tsp Tabasco sauce (to taste)
- ⅛ tsp black pepper (to taste)
- 1 slice avocado (optional to serve, as well as: sour cream, garlic croutons, or cooked shrimp)
Instructions
- Chop the tomato, cucumber, green pepper, and onion by hand or in a food processor.
- Place the chopped veggies in a bowl, with the minced garlic, then add the vinegar, olive oil, salt, tabasco, and black pepper to taste.
- Stir well, cover and refrigerate for about an hour to chill.
- Serve with any of the desired suggested toppings, or simply a slice or two of green pepper.
Notes
- Choose it chunky or smooth, gazpacho is delicious both ways.
Nutrition
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What kindof tomatoes do you use?
Hi Karen, I used homegrown tomatoes for this actual gazpacho (the photos) which is why they look so good. I don’t remember the exact type, but any good tasting, fresh tomato would work. The flavor is the most important thing, so I wouldn’t use those bland store-bought ones out of season (if you’re in the US).
I’m craving this for dinner. I should’t complain about the heat b/c I’m near the beach, but it’s HOT! Gazpacho is lovely on a warm day and the best with garden tomatoes!
Oh I know, Valentina! It’s hot everywhere in SoCal :( The absurdly hot day we got killed my tomatoes (cooked the ones on the plant) even though they’re in partial shade, too! I wish I could make this with garden tomatoes! Hope you can!
[…] GAZPACHO is the perfect summer soup for hot days because it’s served COLD. So nutritious and tasty, […]
Love a great gazpacho. I made some the first time last summer and had so much I was able to share it. Wish my kids would eat it! Great recipe and pictures!
Oh that’s too bad that your kids don’t like it. I read that you should just keep putting it in front of them, but that’s it, no making them try it, but the food has to sit on their plate (bowl). Apparently, after a while they get curious and try it and often like the “offending” food! Saw it on 20/20 years ago, but my kids were already too old to experiment! :(
Hi Christina,
I can’t believe that it is still 40ºC at LA!!! I can imagine that it can be quite unbearable in this heat… Eating soup with this heat??? I guess the tangy taste of this tomato soup helps!
Zoe
The reason I made this soup is that it is chilled, so it’s actually very refreshing in the heat. :)
Lovely soup! I could go for a big bowl right about now :)
Thank you, Natalie!
Oh Christina you poor thing!! SOOOOOOOOOO hot! but what a wonderful way to cool off – so delicious and healthy and such lovely photos!!
mary x
Thank you, Mary, it’s finally cooling off a little bit. :)
I have to admit that I have never had gazpacho myself.. :)
Then I was in good company!;)