Description
Classic Gazpacho is a refreshing cold Spanish soup made from ripe tomatoes, fresh vegetables, and a hint of spice. Perfect for warm weather, this smooth and flavorful gazpacho blends fresh ingredients with olive oil, vinegar, and seasonings to create a light yet satisfying dish. It’s easy to prepare, requires no cooking, and is delicious served chilled with fresh herbs and diced vegetables on top.
Ingredients
Vegetables
- 2 pounds ripe tomatoes, cored and chopped
- 1 small cucumber, peeled, seeded, and chopped
- 1 small red bell pepper, seeded and coarsely chopped
- ½ cup red onion, diced
- 1 garlic clove, minced
Liquids and Seasonings
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon cumin (optional)
- 1 cup tomato juice
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon Tabasco sauce (or more to taste)
Garnishes
- Fresh basil or parsley, chopped
- Diced cucumber
- Diced tomato
- Diced red bell pepper
- Drizzle of olive oil (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the Ingredients: Core and chop the ripe tomatoes, peel and seed the cucumber before chopping it, seed and chop the red bell pepper, dice the red onion, and mince the garlic clove to get all fresh vegetables ready for blending.
- Blend the Soup: Place the tomatoes, cucumber, bell pepper, onion, garlic, olive oil, red wine vinegar, salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, cumin (if using), tomato juice, lemon juice, sugar, and Tabasco sauce into a blender. Blend on high speed until the mixture is silky smooth and fully combined, ensuring a creamy consistency without chunks.
- Chill the Gazpacho: Pour the blended mixture into a container and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. This chilling time allows the flavors to marry and develop, making the gazpacho taste fresher and more vibrant.
- Adjust Seasoning: After chilling, taste the gazpacho and adjust the seasoning as needed. Add extra salt, red wine vinegar, or Tabasco sauce if you prefer bolder flavors. Stir well to incorporate any additions.
- Serve Cold: Serve the gazpacho cold, garnished with chopped fresh basil or parsley and additional diced cucumber, tomato, and red bell pepper for texture. A final drizzle of olive oil adds richness and enhances the presentation.
Notes
- For a chunkier texture, reserve some diced vegetables to stir into the soup before serving.
- You can make the gazpacho a day ahead; it tastes even better after resting overnight.
- Adjust the spiciness by varying the amount of Tabasco sauce.
- Use very ripe, in-season tomatoes for the best flavor.
- To make this recipe vegan and gluten-free, ensure the Tabasco or hot sauce used is compliant with dietary preferences.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Soup
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: Spanish
