Gazpacho Time

It is summer time and there are so many wonderful treats in the garden. And gazpacho is such a great way to combine these seasonal gifts and create a delicious cold summer soup. This is one that I made at the Payson Farmers Market, using fresh ingredients from the market.

This is such an easy dish to make. Just find veggies that you like from your garden, chop or dice and mix together. If you are using tomatoes in the soup, low salt V8 juice is a great way to add flavor quickly. Then, season with fresh or dry herbs.

Gazpacho Soup

Source: Plant Powered Payson

INGREDIENTS

1 cucumber, diced

2 tomatoes, diced

1 green bell pepper, diced

1/4 cup red onion, diced

1/4 - 1/2 cup salsa

3/4 cup Low Sodium V8 Juice

1 teaspoon Soy Sauce or Tamari

DIRECTIONS

As you diced the cucumbers, tomatoes, and bell pepper, but 1/2 of them in the blender. Blend them until they are soupy, but still with some texture. Add the remaining ingredients and chill for 30 minutes.

If you pre-chill all the ingredients, you can eat it right away. Feel free to adjust the seasonings. By using your favorite salsa, you should get the right amount of heat.

Sometimes I top it with chives and/or fresh basil.

Then, you can explore texture. One way is to put all or part of the batch in the blender to make it a finer texture soup. And you can top it with with something crunch, baked tortilla chips, croutons, or seeds work wonderful.

Fruit Gazpachos are great too! This is a Watermelon Gazpacho, it is wonderfully refreshing and can be used as an appetizer or a tasty snack. You can be creative an use different fruits to fit your flavor profile.

15-Minute Watermelon Gazpacho

Source: forksoverknives.com

INGREDIENTS

6 cups chopped watermelon (1-inch cubes)

½ cup water or coconut water

¼ cup freshly squeezed lime juice

½ teaspoon seeded and diced jalapeño pepper

½ teaspoon chili powder

¼ teaspoon chipotle chili powder

Pinch of sea salt

¾ cup seeded and diced cucumber

¾ cup peeled and diced jicama

1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh cilantro

DIRECTIONS

Place the watermelon, water or coconut water, lime juice, jalapeño pepper, chili powder, chipotle chili powder, and salt in a blender and blend well.

Add the remaining ingredients and stir well before serving.