Lady GaGa-zpacho

Gazpacho is an underappreciated culinary delight as far as I’m concerned.  Kind of like Lady GaGa’s fashion choices.  Most people never make it and you just don’t see it on restaurant menus out and about town.  If you’ve had a Gazpacho sighting, please enlighten me.  I love that it’s refreshing, chock full of good veggies, and that it gets better with age.   I make a big batch of it and then enjoy it over several days.  Don’t be overwhelmed by the number of ingredients.  It’s pretty straightforward and worth the effort to shop and prep.

Gazpacho

2 cups chopped roma tomatoes, about 6 tomatoes
1 yellow bell pepper, chopped
1 English (seedless) cucumber, chopped
1 small red onion, chopped
2/3 cup olive oil
Juice of 1/2 lemon
2 cups beef or chicken broth
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1 bunch flat leaf parsley, leaves chopped
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 46 ounce can V8 juice (use spicy if you like)
1/2 cup panko (Japanese bread crumbs) or plain bread crumbs
Kosher salt and black pepper

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl or pot.  Season with salt and pepper.  I like my gazpacho smooth, so I blend it in the blender in small batches until it is the consistency that I like.  You can leave it as is, but keep that in mind when you chop the vegetables.  If you chop everything roughly, your soup will not look as sophisticated or refined but will still taste good….I promise.

I find the Gazpacho is better after it sits for a while.  I would make it a day ahead of when you want to eat it.  Check it before serving and make sure it doesn’t need more salt and pepper.  Garnish it with some reserved chopped bell pepper or cucumber or some fresh crab or shrimp.  Oh yum.  Serve it with a bread item – crostini, breadsticks, etc.  Use something that has some saltiness to it.  It goes well with the gazpacho’s flavor.

Tomatoes are a fruit and high in acidity and sweetness.  So, it pairs nicely with a wine or drink that is fruity and high-acid.  A sweet white wine like a Reisling or a Gewurztraminer would be a winner.  Go for the acidic margarita too.  That’ll work.  And then crank up the Lady Gaga or whatever else works for you and party on.

Meridith