Classic Gazpacho

This classic gazpacho recipe is a bright red-orange and bursting with traditional Spanish flavors! This summer soup is mixed quickly.

What could be nicer than a creamy and fresh gazpacho on a hot day? Of course, some Americans don’t like cold soups. But this Spanish soup, born in the heat of southern Spain, is the true definition of cool. Fresh mashed tomatoes and cucumbers with hints of sherry vinegar and rich olive oil truly is one of life’s great pleasures. We finally have a great recipe for a summery gazpacho: Spanish-style.

What exactly is gazpacho?

Gazpacho is a cold tomato soup native to the Andalusian region of southern Spain. It is made from pureed raw vegetables and is now eaten all over the world. Important with Gazpacho: It is intended as a refreshment on hot days, not as a hearty main course! It is therefore generally served as an appetizer or as a tapas recipe. There are a few similar Spanish soups, such as Salmorejo (creamerier and made with bread) and ajoblanco (a version with white garlic).

Luckily for us, Alex and I were able to experience some great cold gazpacho in the Spanish heat! This was our first rural meal on a trip to Spain a few years ago at a small restaurant in the center of a whitewashed village. Damn, that was refreshing! Since then, we’ve perfected our perfect gazpacho recipe to recreate that special moment.

Ingredients for a classic gazpacho recipe

As with any traditional recipe, the ingredients for a classic Spanish gazpacho vary. Everyone has their perfect way to make gazpacho! Here are the ingredients we chose to make this gazpacho similar to our perfect Spanish interpretation:

• Ripe tomatoes: only the best ripe summer tomatoes are suitable
• Cucumber
• Red pepper
• shallot: This offers a more subtle flavor than the onion, which can be spicy
• Garlic
• olive oil
• sherry vinegar: Traditionally used in Spanish recipes and brings that authentic taste
• smoked paprika: the secret ingredient! See below.
• Salt

What makes this gazpacho recipe special? Great

There are good gazpacho recipes and there are good ones. We hope you find this one in the latter category! We have studied the Spanish tradition and tried to stay as authentic as possible. Here are a few notes on what makes this recipe great:

• Sherry vinegar and smoked paprika ensure authentic taste. Smoked paprika (aka pimentón) is a traditional Spanish ingredient, and it adds just the right amount of complexity here. Sherry vinegar is another Spanish ingredient, and its astringent flavor adds just the right amount of flair. It’s worth finding this recipe.
• He nixes the bread. Some Spanish gazpacho recipes use soaked bread for creaminess, but this can water down the flavor. We also took inspiration from our favorite Spanish chef (José Andrés) who doesn’t use it in his. Try a salmorejo recipe for a thick bread soup.
• It’s pureed but not strained. Some chefs strain their gazpacho, but we like ours pureed, straight from the blender. But we believe that good gazpacho should be blended, not coarse! The thick gazpacho appears to be an American creation rather than a Spanish one.

Chill in the fridge, about 2 hours (or up to 3 days)

Gazpacho is very easy to make: just add the ingredients to a blender and blend until pureed! The hardest part is waiting for it to cool down. Here are some notes:

• The cold makes you cold And helps the flavors come together. Don’t be tempted to throw it in the freezer to speed things up. The timing will help the flavors integrate while also cooling.
• Refrigerate up to 3 days. Personally we love it within a day of making it. You can also prepare them ahead of time and store them in the fridge until ready to serve.

How to Garnish Gazpacho

A good gazpacho is also the garnish! It works in bowls or small cups or glasses. It is most often served with chopped vegetables and a piece of crusty bread. Here’s what to use for a gazpacho topping:

• Chopped tomatoes, cucumber or shallots
• Fresh herbs like oregano, chives or basil
• Crusty bread like crostini or toast
• olive oil drizzle

More Spanish recipes

Do you like Spanish recipes? After studying in Spain years ago, I fell in love with this particular cuisine. Here are some other Spanish recipes that we love to make at home:

This gazpacho recipe is…

Vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free and gluten-free.