Farmer’s markets and gardens are bursting with fresh produce and it’s the perfect time to enjoy a cold and zesty soup that authors Miles Hassell, MD, and Mea Hassell call “summer in a glass.”
In their book “Good Food, Great Medicine, A Mediterranean Diet and Lifestyle Guide,” the Hassells share their recipe for gazpacho, a traditional Spanish soup served chilled. It’s easy to make ahead and chill for a quick meal, afternoon snack, or for a fun picnic or party dish.
Gazpacho features tomatoes, a great source of vitamins and minerals including vitamin C, potassium, vitamin K1, and folate (vitamin B9). Tomatoes are also a good source of antioxidants and flavonoids lycopene, beta carotene, naringenin, and chlorogenic acid. Best of all, these delicious fruits are praised as being one of 11 mood-boosting foods (because of the lycopene!)
We hope you enjoy!
Gazpacho: Chilled Mediterranean Soup
Ingredients
- 6 ripe tomatoes (about 1 ½ lbs.)
- 1 medium cucumber, preferably seedless
- 1 cup chopped sweet onion
- ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
- ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly crushed garlic
- ½ teaspoon Tabasco sauce
- 2 cups tomato juice
Directions
- To prepare tomatoes: Put a couple at a time in boiling water for about 10 seconds, remove, and then peel. (Try holding the tomato with a fork. You might score the bottom to start the peeling.) Slice into quarters, core, and scoop seeds into a sieve. Save any juice for gazpacho.
- Peel and quarter cucumber. If using a regular cucumber, taste the seeds and remove them if bitter or tough. Chop roughly – you should have 2 cups. Peel and chop onion into ½ inch dice.
- Combine vegetables and other ingredients. Blend half in a food processor for 30 seconds or until smooth. Repeat with second half (puree or leave some chunkiness).
- Add tomato juice. Cover and chill for a few hours or overnight. Serve cold.
Gazpacho calls for garnishes! Fresh cilantro, diced avocado, and cooked shrimp are the authors’ favorites. Other yummy garnishes include roasted corn, crab meat, green pepper, jalapenos, hard-boiled egg, capers, green olives, prosciutto, feta cheese, and watermelon.
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