Gazpacho is such a surprising delicacy. It may not look like much, but this chilled blended vegetable soup that you can make in your food processor is ultra flavorful!
It's also wonderfully refreshing, and one of my favorite ways to cool down on a hot summer day.
Chilled soups are a lifesaver in the summer. Who wants to cook when it's hot and humid outside! When you crave something cool, refreshing, and easy to make, a bowl of chilled soup is perfect.
My husband and I started making gazpacho many years ago. Back then, in a tiny apartment in Tel Aviv, we did not own a food processor, so we grated the vegetables by hand. Thankfully, I do own a food processor now, and it makes a world of difference.
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Ingredients
You'll only need a few simple ingredients to make this refreshing soup. The exact measurements are included in the recipe card below. Here's an overview of what you'll need:
Vegetables and herbs: Celery, red onion, cilantro, garlic, and canned tomato sauce.
Olive oil: I highly recommend using high-quality extra-virgin olive oil in this recipe. It really does make a difference.
Fresh lemon juice: Freshly squeezed is best. I don't recommend using bottled lemon juice.
Red wine vinegar: White wine vinegar also works, as does champagne vinegar. Just don't use distilled white vinegar - it's too acidic.
Kosher salt and black pepper: If using fine salt, you should reduce the amount you use, or the soup could end up too salty.
Spices: I use paprika, cumin, and cayenne pepper. You can use smoked paprika if you'd like and maybe add a pinch of dried thyme or oregano.
Instructions
This is such an easy food processor recipe. Scroll down to the recipe card for detailed instructions. Here are the basic steps for making gazpacho:
1. Process the celery, onion, and cilantro in your food processor.
2. Gradually add the remaining ingredients and pulse after each addition to combine.
3. Chill the soup for about two hours before serving.
Expert tip
The olive oil is prominent in this recipe, so it's important to use good olive oil that you really enjoy. It's kind of like cooking with wine. You don't want to use a cheap wine that you would not enjoy drinking.
Whether you use bold-tasting olive oil or a lighter one is up to you (I'm partial to a bold one). But just make sure it's extra virgin and of high quality.
Frequently asked questions
I suppose you could, but I don't recommend it. Gazpacho originated in Andalusia, where summers are hot and this cold refreshing soup is a great way to combat the heat. The entire point is to eat it chilled - it's certainly part of the charm.
Some people like to make this soup chunky, adding cubed fresh veggies to the soup. I like it pureed and smooth, though it is still a thick, substantial soup.
For the tomato sauce, I like to use Pomi Strained Tomatoes (available on Amazon and in many grocery stores including Whole Foods). These Italian tomatoes are delicious and sweet and lack the unpleasant acidic aftertaste typical to many local tomato sauces.
Another excellent Italian brand that's easier to find in American supermarkets is Cento Tomato Puree.
Yes. It's a very thick and substantial chilled vegetable soup. Some actually refer to it as a pureed salad, and I can certainly see why.
You basically puree lots of vegetables, then add enough tomatoes and extra-virgin olive oil to achieve a thick soup consistency.
Serving suggestions
I usually serve this tasty chilled soup as a first course, and when I do, I find that it doesn't require any additions. But I do like to eat the leftovers for my lunch the next day and make a meal out of it.
So I make myself a bowl, and it's a lovely summer lunch, tasty and filling. Sometimes I serve it with jalapeno cheese crisps or with almond flour crackers. Another way to make it more substantial and filling is to add protein in the form of grated hard-boiled eggs or even shredded cooked chicken.
Storing leftovers
This is one of those dishes that not only keeps well in the fridge, it actually gets better.
You can keep it for up to four days, covered, in the fridge. And on the second day, it actually tastes better than when freshly prepared! Just remember to give it another stir before serving.
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Recipe card
Easy Gazpacho Recipe
INGREDIENTS
- 3 stalks celery roughly chopped (6 oz)
- 1 large red onion peeled and quartered (8 oz)
- ½ cup cilantro (1 oz)
- ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon minced fresh garlic
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 2 teaspoons Diamond Crystal kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ⅛ teaspoon cayenne
- 3 cups canned plain tomato sauce no salt/sugar added
- ½ cup water
INSTRUCTIONS
- Place the celery, onion and cilantro in your food processor bowl. Process until finely chopped.
- Add the olive oil, lemon juice, red wine vinegar, garlic, paprika, cumin, kosher salt, black pepper and cayenne. Process until combined.
- Add the tomato sauce. Pulse a few times, until well-blended.
- Add the water. Again, pulse a few times, until well-blended.
- Transfer the soup to a serving bowl. Cover with cling wrap and chill in the fridge for at least 2 hours before serving. Mix the gazpacho again before serving.
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NOTES
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NUTRITION PER SERVING
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Vered DeLeeuw, LL.M., CNC, has been following a low-carb real-food diet and blogging about it since 2011. She's a Certified Nutrition Coach (NASM-CNC), has taken courses at the Harvard School of Public Health, and has earned a Nutrition and Healthy Living Certificate from Cornell University. Her work has appeared in several major media outlets, including Healthline, HuffPost, Today, Women's Health, Shape, and Country Living. 
