Gazpacho

With the arrival of warm weather, a healthy chef’s thoughts turn to thoughts of gazpacho. The refreshing dish is built on a foundation of tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, garlic and onions and can be tailored to your tastes with pepper, curry, tarragon, pepper sauce – even almonds or garbanzos.

Here’s a fresh and healthy recipe for basic gazpacho. You can season it with cilantro, or give it additional kick with jalapenos and peri peri sauce.

Original recipe makes 10 servings.

Ingredients

• 4 cups tomato juice
• 1 onion, minced
• 1 green bell pepper, minced
• 1 cucumber, seeded and chopped
• 2 cups chopped tomatoes
• 2 green onions, chopped
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
• 1 teaspoon dried tarragon
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
• 1 teaspoon white sugar
• salt and pepper to taste

Directions

In a blender or food processor, combine tomato juice, onion, bell pepper, cucumber, tomatoes, green onions, garlic, lemon juice, red wine vinegar, tarragon, basil, parsley, sugar, salt and pepper. Blend until well-combined but still slightly chunky. Chill at least 2 hours before serving.

Courtesy of Kara, allrecipes.com