Chilled Tomato Cucumber Soup (Gazpacho)

Gazpacho: A light cold soup of Spanish origin made from raw fresh garden vegetables

A bumper crop of tomatoes and cucumbers were the inspiration behind this soup. Well – that and several weeks of high 80 degree days with no cooling off in sight. Cold soup on hot summer days is refreshing and hydrating. This gazpacho recipe is loaded with flavor and a super fun way to make use of your home grown produce. Picking vegetables fresh from the garden means vitamin content will be at their highest and, absolutely hands down, homegrown vegetables taste a zillion times better then grocery store produce.

Don’t have space for a garden? You can still experience the joy by growing just about any vegetable and herb in containers on a balcany, patio, deck, terrace or even rooftop. Vertical hydroponic tower gardens are the latest craze for growing fresh food year round even in the basement. This year I bought whiskey barrels and my cherry and beefsteak tomatoes are thriving along with cucumbers, bell peppers and strawberries. Too soon to tell with the sweet potatoes. I also have containers with oregano, basil, chives and parsley along with mint and spearmint in the woods flowerbeds. Tending to the gardens, even small scale ones like my own, is pure joy and using the produce to create healthy eats is sheer happiness.

If you don’t have a garden go to a local farmers market. Many markets like Sandy Acres Farm in Harpersfield, Ohio pick their produce the day it sells. West Orchard is my favorite in Perry, Ohio. Located on the fertile shores of Lake Erie I swear zucchini, cucumbers, peppers, tomatoes, cabbage and corn never tasted better. Visiting local markets is not only a great outing but you’ll be sure to bring home perfectly ripe produce that is generally cheaper then the grocery store. Additionally there’s the satisfaction of supporting community and small business owners.

Not everyone can afford to buy fresh produce especially in these times of food price over-inflation. Many cities have community gardens where residents pitch in to grow and tend to the crops and then help themselves to what is available. The Life Brand Cowboy church in Painesville, Ohio opens their doors to anyone in need of fresh fruits and vegetables the first Saturday of every month. In fact, there are many other churches that offer free fresh produce programs. So check out what is available in your community.

Ingredients:

• 6 large tomatoes
• 12-15 cherry tomatoes
• 1 large (or 2 small) red bell peppers
• 1 large cucumber
• 1/2 jalapeno pepper
• 1 large sweet onion
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1/2 cup balsamic vinaigrette
• 1 lime
• 1/4 cup date syrup
• 1 tsp. ground black pepper

Directions:

• Peel the tomatoes by cutting an “X” at the bottom and remove the core. Place them in a pot of boiling water for one minute. Transfer the tomatoes to a bowl filled with ice water for another minute. The peels will easily slide off using your hands.

• Peel the cucumber, cut in half lengthwise, scoop out the seeds and then cut in small pieces.
• Chop the onions and red bell pepper
• Mince the garlic and jalapenos
• Place everything in a large bowl and stir together

• Cut the cherry tomatoes in half and place in a bowl. You may choose to remove the seeds but I did not. Add the balsamic vinaigrette, juice of one lime, date syrup and black pepper. Stir. Marinate for at least 2 hours to let the tomatoes soak up the flavors.
• Puree into a smooth, creamy mixture.

• Puree half of the tomato / cucumber mixture in a high speed blender or food processor. Combine the pureed vegetable mixure and the pureed cherry tomato mixture with the rest of the cut up vegetables.

If you prefer a chunky, salsa like gazpacho then omit pureeing half of the tomato cucumber mixture. I would still puree the marinated cherry tomato mixture though.

This Chilled Tomato Cucumber Soup has become my new summertime favorite and I hope it becomes yours too. So long as the tomatoes and cucumbers keep on growing I will continue to whip up more and more batches. The best of health to all my friends!