Summer is time for barbecue, pie (sour cherry, raspberry rhubarb, peach...), AND cold soups. My favorite cold summer soup is gazpacho, and I'm having some right now, even though it's 65 degrees here and rainy.
Such a simple recipe, and there aren't really set amounts so you have to taste until it's right for you.
You need a food processor to grind the vegetables with vegetable juice, then add vinegar and hot sauce and salt to taste. I topped mine with Edith Maxwell's chives (thanks, Edith!) So delicious!
Hallie's summer gazpacho
- 1/2 of a large cucumber, peeled and cut into chunks
- 1 medium-sized tomato or several smaller ones, cut into chunks
- 1 small or 1/2 large onion, peeled and cut into chunks (I like to use Vidalia for this)
- 1/2 green pepper, seeded and chopped
- 1 cup of canned vegetable juice (like V8) or tomato juice
Blend until there are no more big chunks.
Dump into a bowl.
TASTE!
Add more juice and vinegar (I like to use cider vinegar) until it's the texture and taste you like.
Add hot sauce (I use Siracha) to taste.
Add salt to taste.
Serve...
just as it is, or mix in coarsely chopped vegetables, or top with garlic croutons or chopped chives.)
OR...make it into a seafood and avocado cocktail:
assemble a bowl of cooked shrimp, scallops, and/or whatever cold cooked fish and shellfish you like. Add plenty of chopped avocado, douse it with gazpacho, top with fresh chopped cilantro, and serve with crusty bread. Dinner!
So what's your go-to summer soup?
