Summer has passed, and although it’s cooling down a bit, there are still some warm days where a nice gazpacho using the season’s bounty of tomatoes is welcome. From heirlooms to Romas, the early fall tomatoes are rich from the summer’s intense rays of sun.
1 My tomatoes are rich and hearty from a summer in the sun.
2 Juicy tomatoes pack a lot of flavor into this gazpacho.
3 Fresh ingredients are essential to any meal.
4 Be sure to mince the garlic you use.
5 The Jalapeno pepper adds a kick to this soup. If you prefer a milder flavor you can omit the pepper.
6 Delicious!
I’ll be honest, there’s nothing quite like the taste of an Italian tomato, but whether you grow your own or pick them up at the farmer’s market, this soup is packed with flavor. I usually chill my gazpacho for at least an hour, but with this version I ate it room temperature straight out of the blender. I served it with homemade raw flax crackers (which I may post another time), but you can pick up some at your local health food store. I love the Mexican Harvest crackers by Foods Alive.
Gazpacho (originally from Spain) can be chunky, but this version is smooth and creamy with a little kick to it, thanks to the addition of a fresh Jalapeno pepper. (Omit the pepper if you prefer a milder flavor.) Typically bread is included in a traditional gazpacho recipe, but I decided to skip it to avoid the extra carbs. Garnish with drizzled olive oil, chopped avocado, and spring onions, or any other topping to your liking.
Ingredients
- 2 cups seeded tomatoes, chopped
- ½ purple onion, diced
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 2 sweet red peppers
- 1 stalk celery with leaves, diced
- 1 cup peeled and seeded cucumber, cubed
- Handful chopped cilantro
- 2 tablespoons cilantro
- ½ jalapeno pepper (optional)
- Pepper to taste
- Salt to taste
- 1 cup water
Place all the ingredients into a blender or food processor and blend until smooth.
Anna Getty, is the eco-editor of Pregnancy Magazine and a mother of two, green-living educator, Kundalini yoga teacher, and author. She has penned two lifestyle books with Chronicle Books, I'm Dreaming of a Green Christmas and Anna Getty's Easy Green Organic. Anna recently moved with her family to Tuscany, Italy, to pursue a simple and organic country life. Please visit her website at AnnaGetty.com.
