Gazpacho soup is the perfect dish to serve on a summer's day when it's just too hot to cook and the refrigerator is overflowing with fresh vegetables from the garden or farmer's market. This cold, tomato-based soup from Spain is chock full of vitamins, refreshing, light and surprisingly easy to make.
History
Gazpacho began as a poor people's food, eaten by Spanish field workers. It was originally composed of bread, water and olive oil, which were crushed together in a wooden bowl or dornillo. Tomatoes were added to this early form of Gazpacho shortly after they were introduced to the Old World from the Americas by Columbus. Other ingredients were added and regional variations developed throughout Spain. Andalusia, a region in Southern Spain, is credited with inventing gazpacho soup as we know it today,
Ingredients
Gazpacho typically contains fresh raw tomatoes, bell peppers, cucumbers and garlic, blended with vinegar, olive oil and ice water. Slightly stale bread moistened with water is often added as well. Some recipes may call for parsley, lemon juice, sugar or onion. It is vital that all ingredients be garden fresh and at the peak of ripeness. Pale hothouse tomatoes will not make a good gazpacho. Be sure to use a good quality extra virgin olive oil for maximum flavor. (See the Resources section for specific recipes.)
Preparation
Wash and chop the vegetables. Remove the skin from tomatoes, garlic and onions. Combine the vegetables in a large bowl and add soaked stale bread, if desired. Blend the vegetables with a mortar and pestle or in small batches in a blender or food processor. Add olive oil, vinegar, salt and pepper in small amounts, tasting frequently, until the desired flavor is attained. Gazpacho should be chilled for several hours before serving.
Types
There are many different types of gazpacho soup; recipes vary by locality and some families even have their own versions. White gazpacho contains peeled, crushed almonds, while green gazpacho calls for chopped herbs such as mint, parsley and basil. Other variations may have chopped eggs, ham, lettuce or fruit as ingredients.
Benefits
Gazpacho soup is full of antioxidants and vitamins. There is healthy fat from the olive oil, and this soup has no cholesterol and is generally low in calories. A bowl of gazpacho soup will go a long way toward satisfying the recommended five servings of fruits and vegetables a day.
Tags: gazpacho soup, stale bread, were added
