10 Super-Refreshing Gazpacho Recipes To Keep You Cool This Summer (2024)

FAQs

Is it necessary to peel tomatoes for gazpacho? ›

Although it's often okay to leave on tomato skins when cooking them, they are too fibrous to slurp in soup form.

Because it lacks the preserving benefits of cooking, the freshness of the ingredients directly impacts its longevity. Typically, homemade gazpacho can last for 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator if stored properly in an airtight container to prevent oxidation and contamination from other foods.

Spanish cookbooks classify gazpacho as a salad. The most frequently encountered gazpacho is an uncooked mixture of tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, water, vinegar, onions, cucumbers, and green peppers, thickened with bread crumbs.

Gazpacho is a natural source of vitamins (A, C and E), carbohydrates, phosphorus, iron, calcium, magnesium, manganese, zinc, copper, potassium and sodium. It also provides fibre and antioxidant substances such as lycopene, which gives tomatoes their red colouring, and carotenoids.

Add the tomatoes to the boiling water for 20 to 30 seconds until the skin begins to wrinkle and peel away from the flesh. Don't let the tomatoes sit too long in the water, or they will start to cook. Using a slotted spoon or a strainer, strain the tomatoes and transfer them to the bowl of ice water to cool.

But like many tomato-based dishes — think spaghetti sauce, tomato soup, etc. — the acidity in gazpacho can sometimes give off a bitterness depending on the type of tomatoes used or the time of year.

Absolutely! You can make batches of gazpacho, place in airtight containers, freezer bags or even ice cube trays and freeze for 3 to 6 months. To thaw, place in the refrigerator the night before and let thaw slowly (do not try to speed up the process in any other way).

Roasted chickpeas, croutons, chopped hard boiled eggs, and avocado would be delicious toppings too. Round out the meal with good crusty bread, socca, or avocado toast. For a heartier meal, serve this easy gazpacho with grilled vegetables and romesco sauce, your favorite protein, or a summer veggie frittata.

Allow time for the soup to chill!

For more developed flavor, try to chill the tomato gazpacho for a couple of hours or so before serving. You can make it ahead of time and chill it overnight, if you like. I like to use an air-tight glass container or even canning jars like this one.

In the U.S., gumbo is the top national soup, a thick spicy soup from Louisiana. Clam chowder is another.

What does gazpacho mean in English? ›

noun. gaz·​pa·​cho gə-ˈspä-(ˌ)chō gəz-ˈpä- plural gazpachos. : a spicy soup that is usually made from chopped raw vegetables (such as tomato, onion, pepper, and cucumber) and that is served cold.

While a gustatorily stultifying purée of tomatoes and tomato juice is lipstick-red, real gazpacho falls somewhere between pink and orange, thanks to the olive oil, bread, and nuts. But you can trick the eye by adding a nice green garnish. (Fresh herbs are fine, but avocado is better.)

Regular consumption of cold gazpacho soup can help to battle high blood pressure and cut heart disease risk, say researchers.

Gazpacho, a classic chilled Spanish soup, is the perfect dish for hot summer days. Not only is it refreshingly delicious, but it's also filled with fibre-rich vegetables that can support your gut health.

4. It'll help you lose the bloat and stay trim. Tomatoes, red bell peppers, cucumbers —they're all packed with fiber and are high in water content, which means that gazpacho will help combat water retention and make you feel full even though it's low in calories.

The tomato skin is a different texture from the tomato flesh, and will remain so in sauces and purées—you'll get tiny chunks of skin instead of an uniformly smooth mixture. Moreover, the tomato skin is heavy in a kind of nutrient called flavonols, which impart a bitter flavor.

The short answer is yes. The tough skin of the tomatoes can spoil the good feeling of the soup. However, because this tomato soup is blended at the end, you can skip peeling the tomatoes if you want to save time.

Size Matters. Here's the obvious one: Tiny tomatoes don't need to be peeled. Large heirloom varieties, with their tender skin, don't need peeling either. Hearty beefsteaks and those varieties bred for canning (such as plum or roma) have a pretty thick skin that wouldn't be welcomed in smooth sauces or soups.

Tomato's bitter flavors are in their skin

According to the USDA's guide to home canning, it's important to peel root vegetables and tomatoes before canning them because much of the bacteria lives on the skin. Proper canning should kill off most of the bacteria present, but it's better to be safe than sorry.