This month's cooking class theme was STAY OUT OF THE KITCHEN. I focused on sharing with my class at Browns Kitchen a few simple to prepare cold dishes when brought together make a fantastic summer meal. The menu was centered around this delightful and refreshing summer gazpacho soup.
Gazpacho is a Spanish soup enjoyed in the country's southern Andalusia region and neighboring Portugal which both experience very hot summers. This blend of raw vegetables including, cucumbers, bell peppers, tomatoes, onions and fresh garlic with tomato juice as the base come together creating a incredibly fresh and flavorful cold soup.
This summer soup is best prepared ahead of time to allow the flavors to full develop.
Summer Gazpacho
Serves 4-6
Recipe from Ina Garten
Ingredients:
1 hothouse cucumber, halved and seeded, but not peeled
2 red bell peppers, cored and seeded
4 plum tomatoes
1 red onion
3 garlic cloves, minced
24 ounces tomato juice (3 cups)
1/4 cup white wine vinegar
1/4 cup good olive oil
1/2 tablespoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Directions:
Roughly chop the cucumbers, bell peppers, tomatoes, and red onions. Put each vegetable separately into a food processor fitted with a steel blade and pulse until it is coarsely chopped. Do not overprocess!
After each vegetable is processed, combine them in a large bowl and add the garlic, tomato juice, vinegar, olive oil, salt and pepper. Mix well and chill before serving.
The longer gazpacho sits, the more the flavors develop.