Food

How to Make Gazpacho: Traditional Gazpacho Recipe

Written by MasterClass

Last updated: Dec 18, 2024 • 2 min read

Authentic Spanish gazpacho—a versatile cold soup starring the best summer ingredients—is a refreshing dish to serve on hot weather days.

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What Is Gazpacho?

Gazpacho is a seasonal soup that originated in Andalusia, Spain, where it was served chilled during the summer to combat the intense heat in the region. There are a variety of different types of gazpacho but all are made with a base of garlic, bread, olive oil, and vinegar.

Red gazpacho, made with tomatoes, sweet green or red bell peppers, cucumber, red onion, garlic, vinegar, and stale bread, is the most common preparation.

What to Serve With Gazpacho

Gazpacho is a vegan-friendly soup that can be enjoyed on its own or with toppings like croutons, chopped almonds, or sour cream. The versatile soup also pairs well with a variety of ingredients, like:

  • Seafood: Fresh seafood, like clams, lobster, or shrimp make great additions in the tomato soup itself or as a cooked garnish.
  • Diced vegetables: Vegetables can ramp up the flavor of your gazpacho. Top the soup with diced cucumber, red onion, slices of avocado, or minced green chiles for added texture.
  • Herbs: Top your gazpacho off with a sprinkle of herbs like cilantro, chives, parsley, or basil to add a fresh note to the dish.

4 Variations on Classic Gazpacho

There are a number of variations on gazpacho: some variations are tomato-free, while others incorporate fruit.

  1. 1. Ajoblanco: This classic dairy-free gazpacho recipe hails from Andalusia, Spain. Ajoblanco, or white gazpacho, is made with blanched almonds, white garlic, rustic bread, cucumbers, and olive oil, and a topping of green grapes.
  2. 2. Green gazpacho: Green gazpacho gets its signature color from cucumbers. In addition to cucumbers, green gazpacho is made with bell peppers, avocado, white onion, olive oil, cilantro, parsley, and garlic.
  3. 3. Strawberry gazpacho: Strawberries do most of the heavy lifting in this gazpacho variation, which uses the sweet fruit in place of tomatoes. Cucumbers, bell peppers, and onions help balance the sweetness of the strawberries, creating a flavor-packed soup that is perfect for summertime.
  4. 4. Watermelon gazpacho: Watermelon is the highlight of this refreshing variation, which uses many of the same ingredients as the classic red gazpacho. The addition of watermelon adds a subtle sweetness and depth of flavor in this take on the classic savory soup.

Traditional Gazpacho Recipe

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makes

6 cups

prep time

10 min

total time

13 min

cook time

3 min

Ingredients

  1. 1

    Combine tomatoes, cucumber, onion, garlic, bell pepper, bread, vinegar, olive oil, and salt in a blender or a food processor. Purée until the mixture is smooth or has the desired consistency, adding a tablespoon of cold water (as needed) if the mixture appears too thick. Taste, and adjust seasoning as necessary.

  2. 2

    Transfer to a large bowl or jar and cover; chill in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

  3. 3

    To finish, drizzle with olive oil (or add a few drops of aged balsamic vinegar, or hot sauce) and top with garnishes of your choice.

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