Really Good Gazpacho
Soups/StewsFROM CYNDI'S KITCHEN CUPBOARD
Really Good Gazpacho
Serves 8-10
Gazpacho is high summer in a bowl. This ice-cold, uncooked vegetable soup, made primarily of tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, and onions and seasoned with olive oil and vinegar, is sometimes referred to as “liquid salad” in its native Spain. A cool, refreshing treat that is sure to delight everyone’s taste buds and give you a break from cooking over a hot stove during the summer heat. Enjoy!
Ingredients:
- 3 ripe medium beefsteak tomatoes (about 1 ½ pounds), cored and cut into ¼ inch cubes
- 2 small red bell peppers (about 1 pound), cored, seeded, and cut into ¼ inch cubes
- 2 small cucumbers (about 1 pound), one peeled and the other with skin on, both seeded and cut into ¼ inch cubes
- ½ small red Vidalia onion, peeled and minced (about ½ cup)
- 2 medium garlic cloves, minced
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1/3 cup sherry vinegar (substitute with white wine vinegar if can’t find)
- Ground black pepper
- 5 cups V8 low-sodium vegetable juice
- 1 teaspoon hot pepper sauce
- 8 ice cubes
- Extra-virgin olive oil for serving.
Directions:
- Combine tomatoes and their juices, bell peppers, cucumbers, onion, garlic, salt, vinegar, and pepper to taste in a large (at least 4 quarts) nonreactive bowl; let stand until vegetables just begin to release their juices, about 5 minutes.
- Stir in tomato juice, hot pepper sauce, and ice cubes; cover tightly and refrigerate to blend flavors – at least 4 hours.
- Adjust seasonings with salt and pepper, remove and discard any unmelted ice cubes, and serve ice cold. Drizzle each portion with about 1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil and garnish with croutons or extra raw, cut vegetables.
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