Fresh & Easy 15-Minute Spanish Gazpacho

Fresh & Easy 15-Minute Spanish Gazpacho

The ultimate no-cook summer soup that’s nutritious, refreshing, and ready in minutes

KEY INFO

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Chill Time: 2 hours minimum
• Total Time: 2 hours 15 minutes
• Servings: 4-6
• Difficulty: Easy
• Diet: Vegetarian, Vegan-optional, Gluten-free optional

EQUIPMENT NEEDED

• Food processor or blender
• Large bowl
• Sharp knife
• Cutting board
• Glass storage containers
• Alternative: Hand blender + deep bowl

INGREDIENTS

Base

• 2 pounds ripe tomatoes (about 5-6 large)
• 1 English cucumber, peeled and roughly chopped
• 1 green bell pepper, deseeded and chopped
• ½ red onion, roughly chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, peeled
• 4 slices day-old white bread, crusts removed (optional)

Seasoning

• ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
• 2 tablespoons sherry vinegar (or red wine vinegar)
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
• ½ teaspoon ground cumin (optional)

Garnish Options

• Diced cucumber
• Cherry tomatoes
• Fresh herbs (basil or parsley)
• Extra virgin olive oil drizzle

METHOD

1. Prepare the bread (if using)
   • Soak bread in cold water for 5 minutes
   • Squeeze out excess water



2. Prep vegetables
   • Roughly chop tomatoes, cucumber, pepper, and onion
   • Tip: No need for perfect cuts – everything gets blended
3. Blend ingredients
   • Add vegetables, garlic, and bread to blender
   • Process until smooth
   • Texture check: Should be creamy but still have some body



4. Season
   • With blender running, stream in olive oil
   • Add vinegar, salt, pepper, and cumin
   • Blend for 30 seconds more
5. Chill
   • Transfer to glass container
   • Refrigerate for minimum 2 hours



6. Serve
   • Pour into chilled bowls
   • Top with chosen garnishes
   • Drizzle with olive oil

CRUCIAL TIPS

• Use the ripest tomatoes you can find
• Don’t skip the chilling time
• Taste and adjust seasoning before chilling
• Never add ice – it dilutes the flavors

STORAGE & VARIATIONS

Storage

• Keeps for 3 days in refrigerator
• Does not freeze well

Common Mistakes

• Using unripe tomatoes
• Over-blending
• Serving too cold (removes flavor)

Variations

• Spicy: Add 1 jalapeño
• Chunky: Pulse instead of full blend
• Low-carb: Skip the bread
• Modern: Add avocado

Remember: Great gazpacho depends on great tomatoes – if they’re not in season, wait until they are!