Our Favorite Gazpacho Recipes

BEST GAZPACHO

Steps:

• Combine tomatoes, pepper, cucumber, onion and garlic in a blender or, if using a hand blender, in a deep bowl. (If necessary, work in batches.) Blend at high speed until very smooth, at least 2 minutes, pausing occasionally to scrape down the sides with a rubber spatula.
• With the motor running, add the vinegar and 2 teaspoons salt. Slowly drizzle in the olive oil. The mixture will turn bright orange or dark pink and become smooth and emulsified, like a salad dressing. If it still seems watery, drizzle in more olive oil until texture is creamy.
• Strain the mixture through a strainer or a food mill, pushing all the liquid through with a spatula or the back of a ladle. Discard the solids. Transfer to a large pitcher (preferably glass) and chill until very cold, at least 6 hours or overnight.
• Before serving, adjust the seasonings with salt and vinegar. If soup is very thick, stir in a few tablespoons ice water. Serve in glasses, over ice if desired, or in a bowl. A few drops of olive oil on top are a nice touch.

THE BEST GAZPACHO

Steps:

• Place the bread cubes in a small bowl and add enough water to cover. Let soak until the bread is completely saturated, about 2 minutes. Drain and squeeze dry.
• Combine the bread, tomatoes, roughly chopped cucumber, bell pepper, garlic, 1/3 cup olive oil, 2 tablespoons vinegar, coriander, 1 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper in a blender. (Work in two batches if necessary.) Blend on high speed until creamy and very smooth, about 2 minutes. Strain through a fine-mesh strainer into a large bowl or 8-cup liquid measuring cup. Cover and refrigerate until very cold, at least 2 hours and up to overnight.
• Season to taste with more salt and pepper and add up to 1 more tablespoon vinegar. Ladle into serving bowls, top with the finely diced cucumber and drizzle with more olive oil. Serve chilled.

CLASSIC GAZPACHO

Steps:

• Cut 1 tomato, 1/2 cucumber and 1/2 onion into 1-inch pieces and transfer to processor. Add bell pepper and puree. Transfer to bowl. Add tomato juice, cilantro, vinegar, oil and hot pepper sauce. Seed remaining tomato. Dice remaining tomato and cucumber and onion halves and add to soup. Season with salt and pepper. Refrigerate. (Can be prepared 2 days ahead.) Serve well chilled.

BEST GAZPACHO

Steps:

• Prepare a bowl with ice water.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat. Cut crosses into the bottom of the tomatoes with a sharp knife, and blanch tomatoes in the boiling water for 1 to 2 minutes until the skin begins to come off. Remove tomatoes with a slotted spoon and immediately immerse in the ice water.
• Remove skin from the tomatoes and cut out the seeds over a bowl (so that no juice is lost); discard the seeds.
• If the cucumber is organic, leave the peel on; otherwise peel it. Remove seeds of cucumber and roughly chop.
• Combine tomatoes, cucumber, onion, garlic, and red wine vinegar in a food processor or blender; blend until gazpacho has desired consistency, either coarsely chopped or finely pureed. Slowly add olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Puree again briefly.
• Refrigerate gazpacho until cold, at least 1 hour. Remove from the fridge at least 30 minutes before serving.

SO-EASY GAZPACHO

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine all ingredients. Cover and refrigerate until chilled, at least 4 hours.

OUR FAVORITE GAZPACHO

Steps:

• Early in the day, combine all but the crouton ingredients in glass bowl and stir to mix. Cover and chill thoroughly several hours (or overnight).
• To prepare Homemade Croutons, melt butter in small skillet; add minced garlic and saute very briefly. Add bread cubes, cut from day-old bread, tossing to coat. Saute until crisp and golden. You may want to double the crouton recipe.
• To serve, ladle into chilled soup bowls. Pass Homemade Croutons separately for diner to spoon atop their gazpacho.