Gazpacho is an anomaly in the soup world because it is served cold rather than hot. Borrowed largely from Spain, the gazpacho recipe proves to be a great way to beat the heat while filling you up at the same time. Gazpacho has a hearty, piquant flavor and consistency and has ties to the ancient Romans.
In one original gazpacho recipe that can be traced back to its ancient Roman roots, the ingredients were a combination of garlic, olive oil, stale bread, salt and vinegar. The gazpacho recipe morphed and once Spain discovered the new world hundreds of years ago, they were introduced to bell peppers and tomatoes which were quickly incorporated into the heartier fare we recognize today.
The Basis of the Gazpacho Recipe
The basis of the original gazpacho recipe, one you can still find today in Spain, starts with day old bread. You have to soak this day-old bread in water to get it soggy and then squeeze out the water. Next, the bread is then put into a food processor along with some olive oil, red wine vinegar and bit of minced garlic. This concoction is pureed in the food processor into a creamy consistency and serves as the base of this cold soup.
The next step in this gazpacho recipe is to add your onions, tomatoes, bell peppers (in your choice of colors) and even avocado. Again, puree these vegetables with your bread base and then serve with some green cilantro as a garnish. You can also make a number of variations to this theme using different types of vegetables that are in season. Again, using the bread base for the gazpacho recipe, choose green vegetables like asparagus, broccoli, artichoke hearts, green peppers and more. This will create a green rather than the traditional red look of gazpacho.
Go Wild with your Gazpacho Recipe
The great thing about your basic gazpacho recipe is that you can tweak it to your hearts desire with a selection of fresh herbs, hot peppers and seasonings. For instance, if you want a more oriental flair, use bok choy, bean sprouts and rice vinegar in place of the red wine vinegar in the bread base. A gazpacho recipe with an Italian flavor could include fresh basil or oregano when adding the vegetable ingredients.
The best place to look for a gazpacho recipe is the internet but be prepared for a plethora of options! You will find some recipes that bypass the bread base while others may incorporate fruit like watermelon or strawberries. Be adventurous and let your taste buds be your guide when it comes to recipes you want to try.
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