It’s HOT.
So hot that I almost want to stay far, far away from my kitchen.
But, alas, that would be impossible.
So we forge on. After my last recipe I know I promised you healthy and I promised you tomatoes and celery. Now, I shall deliver.
Gaaaaaaaaazpacho!
Now before the other day, I had never actually made gazpacho before but I figured how hard could it be? Just throw a ton of veggies in the blender and bam! You got your soup. Cold soup on a hot day….that’s what I like to eat. So, I picked up a bunch of fresh veggies at my local farm stand and went to the drawing board. I sweat, I peeled, I chopped….but my reward was deliciously cool and creamy vegetable soup with just a little added heat from the spicy tomato juice I used. A lot of gazpacho recipes don’t have any oil in them at all, but I used a little extra virgin olive oil in mine and I was very happy with the final outcome. The olive oil just seemed to just smooth everything down and made the soup’s texture like liquid velvet.
The vegetables I used are really only a recommendation—you could use a green bell pepper instead of red, a shallot instead of an onion, or even skip the celery if you’re feeling frisky.
Here’s what you need for success:
First, chop your vegetables. If you’re like me and you much prefer adding ice water to crisco to make flaky pie dough, forge on. The end result is very worth the potential loss of digits. Sorry, I didn’t really mean that!!
Okay, cucumber first.
Peel, slice and dice.
Now, celery.
A wee red onion–
Red bell pepper (or green, or yellow!)
Two big ol’ juicy tomatoes
And finally, two cloves of garlic….minced
A handful of fresh parsley
And finally, another handful of basil.
Chiffonade, baby.
Throw all that goodness into a large bowl and pour in one can of tomato juice (I picked spicy ’cause I like it hot!)
Squeeze a lemon over everything
Add a quarter cup of extra virgin olive oil and a quarter cup of balsamic vinegar (you could use red wine vinegar, too)
And give everything a big ol’ stir!
Now we can finally get to the fun part!!
Some people like fast cars. I like fast kitchen appliances. They really float my boat if ya know what I mean.
Puree HALF of the salad until it resembles this delightful concoction
Okay so that looks gross. But it tastes good—I promise! Add the liquid veggies back to the bowl and stir really well.
Season with some salt and pepper and then pop it into the fridge to chill waaaay down—about three hours. No one likes to sip on lukewarm vegetables now do they?
Farmstand Gazpacho
Makes about four cups
1 cucumber, diced
2 large tomatoes, chopped
2 stalks celery, chopped
1 small red onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
1/4 cup fresh basil, chiffonaded
1 can tomato juice (I use the spicy kind for an added kick!)
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
1 red bell pepper, chopped
1 lemon, juiced
pinch of sea salt
pinch of ground black pepper
Combine everything in a large bowl. Puree half in a Vita-Mix or blender and add the remaining vegetables to the puree. Season with sea salt to taste and chill for about three hours before serving.
Maria
August 25, 2010 at 8:22 amGreat summer meal! Fresh and delicious!
Courtney @ Ice Cream & Wine
August 25, 2010 at 8:25 amYUM!!!!
Jessica @ How Sweet
August 25, 2010 at 8:25 amThe only gazpacho I ever made was watermelon! This looks too good for me NOT to make tho. So I must try… veggie hatred and all.
R @ Learning As I Chop
August 25, 2010 at 8:31 amGazpacho in the summer is the best
Heather (Heather's Dish)
August 25, 2010 at 8:31 ammy mouth is watering, this sounds perfect for the hot day we have here now! i miss really great mexican food…
Mastering Public Health (@MasPublicHealth)
August 25, 2010 at 8:33 amAh, the first picture is so summery and the recipe is so autumn (to me, at least). Sigh!
leslie
August 25, 2010 at 8:37 ami always think of gazpacho as the kitchen sink of summer recipes – it’s a fun canvas to play with. i made a watermelon basil version earlier this summer, which looked hideous but tasted awesome.
and i always always use olive oil in gazpacho too! i think the oil is really essential for good texture in raw soups (and it helps when you don’t have fancy blending equipment, which i don’t).
Cynthia (It All Changes)
August 25, 2010 at 8:37 amGazpacho was the one food I detested in Spain. The rest I devoured. Bad Spanish student 🙂
Rachel @ Suburban Yogini
August 25, 2010 at 8:38 amI found olive oil made a huge difference to the gazpacho.
In some parts of Spain they put two slices of stale bread in the mix as well. Have you ever tried that? It gives a slightly different texture and flavour although I prefer it sans bread to be honest.
Michelle @ Turning Over a New Leaf
August 25, 2010 at 8:38 amI’ve never had gazpacho. Only sad attempts at salsa.
I think the thought of a cold soup freaks me out a little because I’m not a fan of raw tomatoes or cucumbers as it is. Maybe I’ll learn though, like I learned to like mushrooms, wine, and dark chocolate.
Beth @ Beth's Journey to Thin
August 25, 2010 at 8:38 amWow that looks incredible. I have to make some gazpacho before summer tomatoes are gone!
Jasmine @ Eat Move Write
August 25, 2010 at 8:38 amCold soup is exactly what we need in California right now. It’s hot out there!
I’m not sure how hubby will feel about it, but I may try it just to keep him on his toes. :p
Jen (Running With Cake)
August 25, 2010 at 8:39 amAmazingly beautiful photos Jenna! I love the blue/yellow and blue/red contrasts – nice job! Lemons always make for nice pictures too 🙂
Scargosun
August 25, 2010 at 8:40 amI am making this tonite! Will go well with my planned fajitas!
Brooke (Baking with Basil)
August 25, 2010 at 8:41 amI love that you added Spicy Tomato juice! The spicier the better! Last summer my mom and I found a recipe for gazpacho and it took us forever to make it, which would have been fine if the end result was good….but sadly it wasn’t. This recipe is so quick and easy!!!
amber's notebook
August 25, 2010 at 8:42 amOh so glad you posted! I absolutely love chilled soups. I am making a chilled cucumber soup today because this heat is Out of control!
Chelsea (Chelsea's Chew and Run Fun)
August 25, 2010 at 8:42 amI hear you on the excruciating heat. That chilled soup looks like the perfect light and fresh antidote to a day of sweat and misery under the burning sun.
Elli @ 16 and Losing It
August 25, 2010 at 8:43 amOoooh that looks so refreshing! I have to make this for those nights when I want something cool, fresh and veggie filled thats not salad. Love it!!
Staceyhttp://stacey-healthylife.blogspot.com/
August 25, 2010 at 8:44 amThat looks perfect and I love that bowl it’s so cute.
Rachel (Two Healthy Plates)
August 25, 2010 at 8:50 amI love gazpacho, this looks great! Now that I’m thinking about it, I haven’t had ANY this summer – better make it before it’s too cold outside!
The Wife of a Dairyman
August 25, 2010 at 8:51 amHow very refreshing! And with a side of bread and butter…nothing’s better on a hot indian summer day:)
Amber K
August 25, 2010 at 8:56 amI’m not a fan of soup and can’t imagine eating it cold, but it looks good!
Mandy A
August 25, 2010 at 9:02 amBeautiful pictures, Jenna!
Erin
August 25, 2010 at 9:05 amI’ve never been brave enough to make my own gazpacho but my grandmother has a recipe handed down for her grandmother that I need to get and try on my own.
Andrea
August 25, 2010 at 9:05 amDid you see my Green Gazpacho post the other day? Have you had this from Whole Foods yet? I’d be curious to hear if you like it. Yum..I love regular red gazpacho….it was one of the first things I made in my nutrition class in college.
Lisa
August 25, 2010 at 9:05 amI love the first picture of the drink and water. Great framing. 🙂
Coley
August 25, 2010 at 9:07 amLooks awesome! I’m going to pick up these veggies at the farmers market on Saturday and make myself a batch:) LOVE the bowl… where is it from?!
Camille
August 25, 2010 at 9:12 amAhh, cooking without heat? Score. It is hotter than hell here in SoCal too 🙁
Caitlin
August 25, 2010 at 9:15 amloving your “new” blog Jenna.
Maren
August 25, 2010 at 9:28 amit looks delicious! without this post I would have never known how simple and easy making gazpacho was!
Gennin
August 25, 2010 at 9:32 amLooks delish! If only I can get my husband and kids to eat it. Oh well, more for me!
Lisa D
August 25, 2010 at 9:36 amI love gazpacho and this totally the kind of recipe I love getting from you.
I’m happy that you’ve found a new voice and a new direction for your blog, I think you just threw some of your readers for a loop with all those fatty and meaty meals (so much pork!) – I started reading here because I was a vegetarian looking for inventive and different ways to get protein and eat interesting meals. I’ll still be reading – but I probably won’t be taking as much food advice from you as I used to.
Paige @Running Around Normal
August 25, 2010 at 9:36 amHmm.. I’ve never had cold soup! I know a lot of people love it though. I’ll have to try it before we run out of hot summer days!
Christie {Honoring Health}
August 25, 2010 at 9:42 amI have never eaten nor made it but the idea does kind of appeal to me. I feel like I would just eat it like salsa, though.
Stacey (The Habit of Healthy)
August 25, 2010 at 9:51 amDon’t tease me with pictures of the sun. I swear I haven’t seen it for weeks! Looks like a fab meal. Oh, and I like the new header. 🙂
Tracey @ I'm Not Superhuman
August 25, 2010 at 9:59 amI’m not a gazpacho fan, but the pre-blended version looks like great salsa.
julia
August 25, 2010 at 10:05 amI am eating gazpacho right now for lunch! It’s one of my favorite meals. And I never blend mine simply because I’m too lazy to wash the blender. It’s good as a chunky soup too as long as you chop everything in small pieces.
Angharad
August 25, 2010 at 10:06 amThis looks brill. I made a chunky gazpacho this summer (i.e. non-blended) that was quite something in terms of delicious but I think I prefer the idea of a smoother texture. And I like the spicy tom juice idea. Jalapeno pepper anyone?
Erin
August 25, 2010 at 10:11 ammany gaspachos look like and taste like salsa to me…now i LOVE salsa…but your soup looks like soup. 🙂 I will have to try this! Your pics of hiking are making me miss WA so very much! I am in NC right now, and am moving back to WA in 3 weeks. ROAD TRIP! I can’t wait to hike my mt’s again! Its such a great workout, gets me in the best shape, but is trully peaceful and so good for the soul. Happy hiking! Enjoy CA! You are making me want to visit northern CA in the next couple years. Looks lovely. still loving your blog after two years reading it. 🙂 best wishes…Erin
Suzanne de Cornelia
August 25, 2010 at 10:17 amI LOVE gazpacho. Used to make lots of dif recipes, best ever found was from the Silver Palate cookbook–it produces a very tomato-y red soup with a crunky texture that tastes like the cure to everything. But look forward to trying this, too. Great pix as always!
Kelly
August 25, 2010 at 10:22 amMy mom made gazpacho every summer growing up. Cute rooster bowls! And love the new style of the blog! 🙂
Jordan
August 25, 2010 at 10:23 amI made gazpacho this morning so it would be nice and cool tonight. I wish I would have delayed making it long enough to have seen this recipe, though!
Sarah @ Daily Nibbles
August 25, 2010 at 10:41 amI’ve never made gazpacho and this looks deeee-lish! I’m also loving your recipe posts:)
kristin
August 25, 2010 at 11:29 amthankyouthankyouthankyou! it’s been cold and rainy here for the past three days in new england, but i have a whole bunch of ugly (read: amazing) heirloom tomatoes from our farmer’s market this weekend and i was looking for a gazpacho recipe. i also have a ton of zucchini, so there might be a soup duel taking place this afternoon.
ashleigh
August 25, 2010 at 11:30 amJenna, that looks awesome! Need to make ASAP!
Lolly
August 25, 2010 at 11:48 amEnjoy your 3 day heatwave! SF highs only in the mid 50s over the weekend—brrrrrr! I’m visiting SF in mid-September and chose that time because it is supposedly the warmest time of the year. Packing is going to require a lot of strategizing.
eatmovelove
August 25, 2010 at 1:06 pmSooo…I’ve never ever knew what that even was?…or how to pronounce it? 😉
Love the first photo! Stellar.
Sana
August 25, 2010 at 1:19 pmI am not a fan of any veggie soups. I know I know. I like them in whole from. But this actually looks good!
hira
August 25, 2010 at 1:23 pmyum–i would even just eat that salad as is. your photographs are amazing!
Katherine
August 25, 2010 at 1:28 pmThank you for posting this as a heat wave hits LA. I love gazpacho and I’m excited to try this variation.
C.
August 25, 2010 at 1:34 pmI could just eat the “salad” alone before turning it into soup. Mostly because I’m lazy. Looks really good! I have a question for you, speaking of lazy: you are so diligent in the kitchen, perfect dices and doing things the ‘right’ way…do you ever just have lazy days? What do you make when you want to cook something, but don’t want to bother with the muss and fuss of using so many appliances or multiple steps or special ingredients? I used to have the time to fool with things like that, but now, seconds count in the kitchen, and I would love some ideas for quick, easy, home-cooked meals. Or if you can recommend a good resource that you use for those kinds of recipes, that would be awesome.
Rachael
August 25, 2010 at 1:40 pmI love gazpacho – this version looks great! The best I’ve had to date was an all-green version in Berkeley, at Venus. So perfect on a hot day.
Chelsea @ One Healthy Munchkin
August 25, 2010 at 1:50 pmThis looks so perfect for a hot summer day! And I like that you added a bit of olive oil. The fat helps us absorb all those yummy vitamins. 😉
Mary @ Bites and Bliss
August 25, 2010 at 2:19 pmOh that looks incredible! I dont think I’ve ever had gazpacho. The only cold soup I recall having was this carrot soup..and it was pretty gross. Might have to give this a try, thanks! 🙂
Mom
August 25, 2010 at 3:05 pmLooks Yummy !! Will be making it tomorrow!
Alycia [Fit n Fresh]
August 25, 2010 at 3:07 pmLooks delicious! I’ve never had gazpacho though. I’m not sure cold soupy veggies are my thang. 😉
Annie@stronghealthyfit
August 25, 2010 at 3:20 pmThat looks like good gazpacho! I think I’m still trying to like eating gazpacho, but it always looks good anyway 🙂
Brooke - One Healthy Cookie
August 25, 2010 at 3:26 pmYUM. I like the touch of having some chunks in the gazpacho!
monicanelsonfitness
August 25, 2010 at 4:07 pmWhoah! Those pics are tasty! I just went to the farmer’s market today and have most of this. That red bell pepper is talking to me:)
Sarah (Running to Slow Things Down)
August 25, 2010 at 4:31 pmI have *never* made gazpacho. What a shame, right? It sounds so easy, and I love the idea of chilled veggies. I need to do this before the cool weather hits. 😀
Kristin (Cook, Bake and Nibble)
August 25, 2010 at 4:33 pmThis recipe looks great! Very refreshing and rustic.
xo
Kris
Kristen
August 25, 2010 at 5:18 pmThat looks good. I really like the first picture.
Lauren
August 25, 2010 at 5:47 pmI just made Gazpacho for the first time the other day and as soon as I took one bite, I thought to myself, why have I not been making this my entire life?!?! 🙂 So good. And I also used the Spicy version of Tomato Juice. I think it made a big difference!
Gree
August 25, 2010 at 6:24 pmI have never been a big fan of Gazpacho but I think I might like this, it looks so fresh! And I love the idea of the spicy tomato juice.
Marie
August 26, 2010 at 3:55 amlooks delicious and nutritious! can’t wait to try 🙂
Jennifer
August 26, 2010 at 8:19 amI like that you pureed only half. A little texture is nice in gazpacho. Thanks for the recipe!
kellyO
August 26, 2010 at 4:36 pmI made this today after a quick day-trip. So, so good!!
Kristina
August 26, 2010 at 11:02 pmI have to add a few comments, late as they are. First of all, in Spain, from gazpacho hails, the recipe ALWAYS calls for olive oil! Secondly, I can’t think of anything written about gazpacho without mentioning “Women on the verge…”. Amazing movie, great scene.