This traditional gazpacho recipe is a refreshing no-cook soup, featuring a mix of fresh veggies and tomato-based vegetable juice for a perfect blend of smooth and chunky textures.
Traditional Gazpacho
Gazpacho is a classic, no-cook Spanish soup and the iteration we’re familiar with today is a bit different from the original. Some food historians say gazpacho dates back somewhere between the 8th and 13th centuries. Back then, it was made with garlic, salt, bread, olive oil, and vinegar (no tomatoes!). It wasn’t until peppers and tomatoes arrived in Europe in the 16th century, that the soup evolved, and those ingredients were added.
I have recipes for Bloody Mary Gazpacho and a Mango Gazpacho, but there’s something in the simplicity of plain old tomato that always works for me. What makes this soup extra simple to make is using a mix of fresh tomatoes and vegetable juice like V-8. I’ve tried making this with spicy V-8, but prefer the regular so I can adjust the heat to my liking. Gazpacho can run the gamut from silky smooth to chunky, just like a salsa. I prefer mine well blended but with a bite, with just enough chunk to make me feel like I’m eating something instead of sipping.
Eat this gazpacho at room temperature, or chill it in the fridge for at least an hour, for super refreshing results. I love to add a swirl of thinned sour cream for a little tang where a chilled bowl (or glass) of gazpacho on a hot summer day always hits the spot.
What Does Gazpacho Consist Of?
Here’s what’s in this traditional gazpacho:
- Tomatoes or tomato juice such as V-8 vegetable juice (or both, in this case!)
- Celery
- Cucumber — you can use run of the mill cucumbers but I prefer the Armenian or hot house seedless cucumbers. If you do use regular cucumbers, be sure to cut in half first and use a spoon to remove all of the seeds before chopping.
- Red onion
- Tomato juice
- Garlic is usually an ingredient I apply the old “the more, the merrier” treatment to, but guess what? Less is more here. Stick to the 2 cloves and you’ll be much happier, trust me.
- Olive oil — a good quality extra virgin olive oil is important here
- Vinegar or sherry (I love using red wine vinegar)
Is Gazpacho Really Healthy?
Chock-full of healthy fruit and veggies (that maintain all of their nutrients since this soup is raw), gazpacho is teeming with fiber, minerals and vitamins A, C and E, as well as plenty of carotenoids (antioxidants that can help prevent cancer), like beta-carotene and lycopene.
There’s no question this summery soup is an excellent (and delicious) way to get those veggies in. Not to mention it’s a stellar way to put peak summer produce to good use!
How to Make Gazpacho From Scratch
The best thing about this traditional gazpacho recipe is it’s super easy to make from scratch. You can whip it up in your blender or food processor in a matter of minutes, and it’s no-cook! Let me tell you, I live for a summery recipe that doesn’t require me to turn my stove or oven on when it’s sweltering hot.
Blend some of it up. Using a blender or food processor, simply blend half of your veggies with the tomato juice, olive oil and seasonings until smooth.
Pulse once or twice. Add the other half of your veggies, only pulsing once or twice, that way you’ll have the perfect amount of chunk to your gazpacho, for an extra satisfying texture.
Chill. Put your gazpacho in the fridge for at least an hour (while your gazpacho chills, you should chill too). Letting your soup hang out in the fridge for a while allows time for the flavors to get happier, and your soup will be ultra satisfying and refreshing once cool.
Garnish and serve. Mix a bit of water with some sour cream to thin it out and drizzle over your gazpacho for the perfect amount of creaminess (tomatoes and sour cream are a match made in heaven, after all). Top with freshly chopped chives.
What to Serve with Gazpacho
- Garnish with a bit of sour cream thinned down with a little water.
- Top it with grilled shrimp and chunks of avocado and fresh snipped chives
- Mediterranean Orzo Salad
- Grilled Flatbread with Peaches and Arugula Pesto
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Traditional Gazpacho Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 stalks celery diced
- 1 seedless hot-house cucumber with skin on diced
- 1 zucchini diced
- 3/4 whole medium red onion diced
- 4 cups tomato juice such as V-8
- 2 cloves garlic pressed or minced
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil or grapeseed oil
- 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 2 tablespoons Chohula hot sauce or other hot sauce to taste
- 1 tablespoon celery salt
- 1 tablespoon garlic salt
- 6 cocktail or campari tomatoes diced
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- Fresh chives for garnish
Instructions
- In the bowl of a food processor or in a blender, combine half of the celery, cucumber, zucchini, red onion and 2 cups of the tomato juice with the pressed or minced garlic, olive oil, red wine vinegar, sugar, hot sauce, celery salt, and garlic salt.
- Pulse all of ingredients until well blended. Add the rest of the tomato juice and pulse to mix.
- Add the celery, cucumber, zucchini, and the diced tomatoes and pulse once or twice. Season with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper and adjust the hot sauce to taste.
- Chill the soup for at least 1 hour before serving.
- Serve the soup with a drizzle of the sour cream that has been thinned with a bit of water. Top with fresh chopped chives.
More No-Cook Summer Eats
- Cucumber Salad with Dill
- How to Make THE BEST Chimichurri Sauce
- Greek Chickpea Salad
- THE BEST Caprese Sandwich
- Dreamy Creamy Mango Pops
- How to Make THE BEST Creamy Coleslaw
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