:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/__opt__aboutcom__coeus__resources__content_migration__simply_recipes__uploads__2010__07__white-gazpacho-vertical-a-1200-bf4dcee6c9e04a0f87066a0672d68d44.jpg)
With all the hot weather much of the country has been experiencing, we thought we'd suggest a gazpacho, a chilled soup, one that you can make quickly, with minimal use of the stove.
Not all gazpachos are made with tomatoes. White gazpacho is a classic dish from Spain, earlier versions dating back to when the Moors controlled Andalucia.
This version is made with bread, blanched almonds, green grapes, cucumbers, olive oil, and garlic. Odd combination you might think, but let me assure you, it truly is delicious.
There's no dairy. The soup gets body and protein from the blanched almonds. The bread acts as a thickener. The cucumbers are wonderfully cooling.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/__opt__aboutcom__coeus__resources__content_migration__simply_recipes__uploads__2010__07__white-gazpacho-horiz-a-800-383edd502cf7463b821182019fc9a1b7.jpg)
White Gazpacho
Ingredients
- 2 cups of crustless stale bread, broken into pieces
- 2 cups chicken or vegetable stock (use vegetable stock for vegan or vegetarian version)
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1 cup slivered blanched almonds (must be blanched, the skins are bitter)
- 2 cups green seedless grapes, sliced in half
- 2 cucumbers, peeled, seeded and chopped
- 1-3 chopped garlic cloves (depending on how garlicky you want the result to be)
- 2-3 tablespoons sherry vinegar or cider vinegar
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- Chives for garnish
Method
-
Heat stock, add bread
Heat the stock until it's steamy. Turn off the heat and add to the stock the broken up pieces of stale bread. Let cool.
-
Grind almonds with salt and garlic
Put the almonds, salt and garlic in a food processor and pulse until the almonds are pulverized.
-
Add bread, stock, grapes, and cucumbers, purée
Add the soaked bread and any stock that was not absorbed by the bread into the food processor, then add the grapes and cucumbers. Pulse until the mixture is a rough purée.
-
Add vinegar
Add 2 tablespoons of the vinegar and pulse a few seconds to combine. Taste and add the other tablespoon if it needs it – grapes can sometimes be acidic enough to leave out the final tablespoon of vinegar.
-
Drizzle in olive oil while food processor is running
With the motor running, drizzle in the olive oil. Turn off the motor and taste the gazpacho. Add more salt if needed.
Chill before serving, garnish with chopped chives.