Gazpacho – a cold, tomato-based soup – is the perfect dish to enjoy on warm summer nights. It’s delightfully bright, yet surprisingly rich. With this recipe, courtesy of Whisk, we revisit the Andalusian classic, salmorejo, which incorporates a loaf of bread into a blended tomato base. Garnish it with ham, tuna, hard-boiled eggs or fresh herbs like basil or parsley! The result is creamy, refreshing, and oh, so satisfying!
Spicy Salmorejo Gazpacho
Yield: Serves 4
Ingredients:
8 large tomatoes
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 medium sweet onion, chopped
1 jalapeno pepper, stems and center removed, minced
1 red bell pepper, stems and seeds removed, chopped
1 tablespoon sherry vinegar
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil, plus 2 tablespoons for drizzling
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 teaspoon fresh cracked black pepper
1/2 teaspoon Spanish smoked paprika
1/2 loaf day-old French bread, crust removed, cut into 2-inch cubes
Directions:
1. Bring a medium pot of water to a boil. With a sharp paring knife, cut an X on the bottom of the tomatoes and boil them for 2 minutes until the skin begins to separate at the cut. Place tomatoes in an ice bath to cool quickly. Once cooled, peel off the tomato skin with your fingers. Discard the skin, remove the tomato core, and chop into 1-inch pieces.
2. Combine the tomatoes, garlic, onion, jalapeno and red pepper in a high powered blender, and begin to pulse. Add the vinegar and olive oil, and blend until smooth.
3. Add the salt, pepper, and paprika and blend. Slowly add the cubes of bread and continue blending until the soup is creamy in consistency, adding 1-2 tablespoons of water if necessary.
4. Pour the salmorejo into a large pitcher. Cover and refrigerate for at least one hour to let the flavors incorporate.
5. Serve salmorejo chilled, with a drizzle of olive oil, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Optional garnishes include ham, fresh herbs like basil or parsley, tuna, or a hard-boiled egg.
About Whisk
A welcoming community for home cooks and professional chefs alike, Whisk is stocked with thousands of unique, high-quality kitchenware and entertaining items. A variety of cooking classes are held every month, suitable for all levels of culinary expertise.
316 Colonades Way, Cary
(919) 322-2458
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