The Cool Comfort of Creamy Gazpacho: A Spanish Classic Reimagined
Introduction:
Gazpacho is a beloved Spanish classic, a chilled soup perfect for warm summer days. This creamy gazpacho recipe offers a delightful twist on the traditional dish. With fresh ingredients and a velvety texture, it’s a refreshing bowl of comfort that’s easy to prepare. In this article, I’ll explore the history of gazpacho and take you through the detailed steps to create this creamy masterpiece.
History of Gazpacho:
Gazpacho, with its roots in the southern Spanish region of Andalusia, is a dish with a fascinating history. This chilled soup was traditionally made by grinding bread, garlic, olive oil, salt, and vinegar together. Over the centuries, it evolved to include tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers, reflecting the availability of new ingredients.
Today, gazpacho is enjoyed around the world, offering a glimpse into the flavors and culture of Spain. Whether you stick to the traditional recipe or explore creamy variations like the one detailed here, gazpacho remains a culinary gem that celebrates the beauty of simple, fresh ingredients.
Course:
This creamy gazpacho recipe is typically served as a cold soup and is best suited as an appetizer or a refreshing starter for a meal. It can also be enjoyed as a light and healthy standalone dish on a hot day.
Cuisine:
Gazpacho is a classic Spanish dish, specifically from the Andalusian region, known for its vibrant and refreshing flavors. This creamy gazpacho recipe maintains its Spanish heritage while incorporating a unique twist with its creamy texture.
Difficulty:
This recipe is relatively easy to prepare, making it suitable for home cooks of various skill levels including beginners. The steps involve basic chopping and blending, and there is no cooking involved. The most critical part is achieving the right balance of flavors, which can be adjusted to personal taste. Overall, it’s a beginner-friendly recipe that allows you to create a delicious and impressive dish with minimal effort.
Prep Time:
The prep time for this creamy gazpacho recipe is approximately 20-30 minutes. It involves washing, chopping, and blending the ingredients, as well as allowing for some time to chill the soup in the refrigerator.
However, there is no actual cooking involved in this recipe as it is a cold soup. The chilling time in the refrigerator, which is recommended for at least 2 hours to allow the flavors to meld, can be considered part of the “cooking” process, although it doesn’t involve any heat.
So, the total time from start to finish, including preparation and chilling, is around 2 hours and 20-30 minutes. This makes it a great option for a refreshing and no-cook dish on a warm day.
Homemade Creamy Gazpacho: A Step-by-Step Visual Guide
Step 1: Gather Your Ingredients
Before you dive into the world of creamy gazpacho, gather the following ingredients: 6 Roma tomatoes (about 2 lbs), 1 seedless cucumber (about 8 inches), 1 Hungarian hot pepper (seeded and ribs removed), 1 small sweet onion, 1 shallot, 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar, 2 teaspoons kosher salt, and 1/2 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil.
Step 2: Prepare the Tomatoes
Start by washing the tomatoes and removing the stems. You’ll want to cut them into quarters, ensuring they are ready for blending.
Step 3: The Cucumber
Peel the cucumber, and then cut it into manageable chunks. This crisp addition will add a refreshing quality to the gazpacho.
Step 4: Handling the Heat
The Hungarian hot pepper brings a kick to this dish. To make it milder, remove the seeds and ribs before chopping it into smaller pieces.
Step 5: Onions and Shallots and Garlic
Peel and roughly chop the sweet onion and shallot and garlic (not shown). These aromatics will provide depth and flavor to the gazpacho.
Step 6: Vinegar and Salt
Now, add 2 tablespoons of red wine vinegar and 2 teaspoons of kosher salt to the blender. These ingredients enhance the tangy, savory notes of the gazpacho.
Step 7: Blend Until Smooth
Place all the prepared vegetables in the blender. Begin blending on a low setting and gradually increase the speed as the mixture becomes smoother. Keep blending until the mixture achieves a silky, creamy consistency.
Step 8: Stream in Olive Oil
To impart even more creaminess to the gazpacho, slowly stream in 1/2 cup of Extra Virgin Olive Oil while the blender continues to run. This will emulsify the soup, creating a luscious texture.
Step 9: Season to Perfection
Taste the creamy gazpacho and make any necessary seasoning adjustments. You can add more salt, vinegar, or even a pinch of sugar to achieve your desired flavor profile.
Step 10: Strain and Chill
Strain the creamy gazpacho to a large bowl or pitcher to remove any large bits, cover it, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or up to 24 hours. Chilling allows the flavors to meld, intensifying the dish’s overall taste and enhancing the refreshing quality.
Step 11: Presentation and Enjoyment
Serve the creamy gazpacho cold, garnished with a drizzle of extra olive oil and your choice of toppings. Croutons, diced cucumber, bell pepper, or fresh herbs make fantastic additions to this exquisite dish.
Conclusion:
So there you have it – a detailed guide to making creamy gazpacho, a delightful twist on a Spanish classic. Perfect for staying cool on a hot summer day or adding a touch of sophistication to your dinner table, this creamy gazpacho recipe is a treat for the senses.
Creamy Gazpacho
Course: Appetizers, Cold Soups, SoupsCuisine: SpanishDifficulty: Easy, Beginner4
servings20
minutes160
kcal2 – 24
HoursThis recipe requires no cooking and is a perfect recipe for beginners.
Ingredients
6 Roma tomatoes (about 2 lbs.)
1 seedless cucumber (about 8 inches)
1 Hungarian hot pepper (seeded and ribs removed)
1 small, sweet onion
1 shallot
1-2 cloves garlic
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1/2 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil (or more as needed)
Directions
- Prepare the Vegetables:
Wash the tomatoes and cut them into quarters, removing the stems.
Peel the cucumber and cut it into chunks.
Chop the Hungarian hot pepper after removing the seeds and ribs.
Peel and roughly chop the sweet onion, garlic and shallot. - Blend the Vegetables:
Place all the prepared vegetables (tomatoes, cucumber, Hungarian hot pepper, sweet onion, and shallot) in a blender. - Add Seasonings:
Add the red wine vinegar and kosher salt to the blender with the vegetables. - Blend Until Smooth:
Start blending the ingredients on low speed and gradually increase the speed as the mixture becomes smoother.
Continue blending until the mixture reaches a smooth and creamy consistency. - Stream in Olive Oil:
While the blender is still running, slowly stream in the Extra Virgin Olive Oil.
The olive oil will help emulsify the gazpacho and give it a creamy texture. - Adjust the Seasoning:
Taste the gazpacho and adjust the seasoning as needed. You can add more salt, vinegar, or even a pinch of sugar to balance the flavors to your preference. - Chill:
Strain the creamy gazpacho to a large bowl or pitcher.
Cover it and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or until it’s well-chilled (up to 24 hours). This allows the flavors to meld and intensify. - Serve:
Serve the creamy gazpacho cold, garnished with some extra olive oil and your choice of toppings, such as croutons, diced cucumber, bell pepper, or fresh herbs.
Notes
- The provided creamy gazpacho recipe is inherently vegan as it contains no animal products. It is made entirely from plant-based ingredients: tomatoes, cucumber, pepper, onion, shallot, red wine vinegar, kosher salt, and extra virgin olive oil. Therefore, it is suitable for a vegan diet.
- Regarding whether the recipe is non-GMO (Genetically Modified Organism), it largely depends on the sourcing and brands of the specific ingredients you use. If you choose organic or non-GMO certified versions of the ingredients, then your gazpacho will be non-GMO. To ensure that all your ingredients are non-GMO, you can look for products that carry the Non-GMO Project Verified seal or specifically state that they are non-GMO on the label.
- The nutrition values provided give you a rough estimate of the nutritional information per serving when the entire recipe yields 6 cups, divided into 4 servings. You can adjust portion sizes or specific ingredients to tailor the nutrition to your dietary needs or preferences.
- The creamy gazpacho recipe, as provided, is naturally gluten-free. It does not contain any gluten-containing ingredients such as wheat, barley, or rye. The primary components of this recipe are fresh vegetables (tomatoes, cucumber, pepper, onion, shallot), red wine vinegar, kosher salt, and extra virgin olive oil, all of which are naturally gluten-free. However, when preparing gluten-free recipes, it’s essential to be cautious about cross-contamination. If you are highly sensitive to gluten or have celiac disease, make sure to use kitchen equipment and utensils that have not been in contact with gluten-containing ingredients to avoid any potential cross-contamination during the preparation of the gazpacho.
Nutrition Facts
4 servings per container
- Amount Per ServingCalories160
- % Daily Value *
- Total Fat
14g
22%
- Saturated Fat 2g 10%
- Cholesterol 0mg 0%
- Sodium 330mg 14%
- Total Carbohydrate
8g
3%
- Dietary Fiber 2g 8%
- Sugars 4g
- Protein 1.3g 3%
- Vitamin A 17%
- Vitamin C 27%
- Calcium 3%
- Iron 4%
* The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
