Simple Summer Gazpacho

Name: Simple Summer Gazpacho
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 10 min
Cuisine: Spanish
Ingredients: 2.5 pounds ripe tomatoes, seeded (8-10 tomatoes); 1 red bell pepper, seeded; 1 small cucumber, peeled and seeded; 1 shallot, peeled and quartered; 1 clove garlic, peeled; 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar; 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil; 3/4 teaspoon sea salt; Fresh ground black pepper; To Serve: Olive oil, cherry tomatoes, fresh basil or chives

A refreshing summer gazpacho, in under 10 minutes!

There is nothing quite like a bowl of refreshing gazpacho on a hot summer day and this simple summer gazpacho recipe is exactly that! Made with ripe tomatoes, crisp cucumber and a drizzle of olive oil, this simple gazpacho recipe is filled with all of the flavours of summer, while being quick and easy to make.

On a hot and humid summer day, the idea of turning the stove on is less than appealing so a blended gazpacho soup makes the perfect meal. If you’ve never had gazpacho the idea of a cold soup might seem rather odd, I know it was for me, but a well-made gazpacho is incredibly refreshing. Common in Spain and Portugal, traditional versions of gazpacho are made using fresh tomatoes, cucumber, onion, garlic, vinegar and drizzles of olive oil, blended with day-old bread to give the soup extra texture and richness. Although this is the classic version, today you will find gazpachos made thick or thin, with or without bread, and even paired with fruits like melon or watermelon.

Regardless of which option you choose, the best gazpachos are based on the quality of their ingredients, so for the best flavour, you want to use the ripest seasonal tomatoes and vegetables you can get your hands on. If you didn’t add any tomatoes to your vegetable patch this year, visit your local farmer’s market or farm stand to see what they might have available.

For this simple summer gazpacho recipe, I opted out of using bread to really focus on the flavours of the vegetables, added a bell pepper for sweetness, and used red tomatoes in my gazpacho, but any colour or mixture of colours of tomatoes would be delicious. Just be sure to use the ripest ones you can buy.