Homemade gazpacho step by step
I had been resisting making gazpacho for a while because since I’ve been living in Switzerland I haven’t experienced those extreme temperatures of inland Spain that trigger in my mind the irresistible need to eat (or drink?) a good cold gazpacho. For now I handle the temperatures well—not so much the humidity and its inherent stickiness—so with any rice or pasta salad, I’m as happy as can be :D.
But this past weekend was so incredibly hot that I had to take cold showers both days, and with them came the long-awaited gazpacho. And what can be said about it? For my Spanish readers, probably nothing new—we practically have it written into our DNA—but for foreigners… you really have to try it, it’s so, so delicious!!!
Ingredients to refresh 2 people
3 ripe tomatoes (preferably plum tomatoes)
1/2 cucumber
1/2 green pepper
1 slice of day-old bread
1 garlic clove (optional, if you don’t like it, skip it)
3 tablespoons olive oil (as always, mine is extra virgin)
1 tablespoon wine vinegar (or more if you like bold flavors)
cold water, ice, and salt
Preparation
If you have time and a demanding palate, start preparing it the day before so it can macerate and become much more flavorful. You can also make it the same day, with freshly peeled and chopped vegetables, but it won’t taste as good. Let’s begin.
Soften the day-old bread by soaking it in a container with a little water until it absorbs it, but without excess water remaining.
Peel the tomatoes and cucumber, remove the seeds, and cut them into small cubes. Also chop the pepper—after removing its seeds—and the garlic clove.
Add the oil, salt, and vinegar and leave it in the refrigerator overnight to macerate.
The next morning, blend everything with a blender and serve it very cold (even with ice cubes).
Things to keep in mind
Each time you make it, it will turn out differently, both in color and flavor, as the ripeness of the tomatoes greatly influences the final result.
If it turns out too thick, add a splash of water; if it is too thin, you can add more bread or tomatoes.