Gazpacho with avocado recipe - Pamela Salzman (2024)

Gazpacho with avocado recipe

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Gazpacho with avocado recipe - Pamela Salzman (1)

  • Pamela
  • August 28, 2012
  • 16 Comments

Categories: Appetizers, Gluten-free/gluten-free adaptable, Recipes, Soups, Vegetables, Vegetarian

The kids are going back to school tomorrow, which means that my favorite season is UNofficially over. No more lazy days and waking up late or reading for pleasure instead of for a test. Back to making lunches at 6:30 am and soccer carpools. Not so fast! The good news is that summer isn’t officially over until September 22nd and there are tomatoes to prove it.

If you’re new here, I am mildly obsessed with summer tomatoes, i.e. tomatoes grown in soil and hot July and August sun until they’re sweet and juicy and drippy with intense tomato flavor. My garden doesn’t produce that many so I supplement with tomatoes from my local farmers markets or GROW, my favorite local market which always seems to find great produce from local farms. I’m a lucky girl for sure! I try to take advantage of the fleeting tomato season, so I buy a ton and seem to use tomatoes almost every day in some way, even for breakfast or in between meals. Just now I took a handful of yellow grape tomatoes and ate them as a little snack like candy, which is what they tasted like. Yum!

It’s always my preference to keep things simple when the ingredients are perfect, like sliced tomatoes and avocado on grilled bread with sea salt, but gazpacho is a recipe that is worth the extra 5 minutes to make. We’ve been enjoying some hot weather here in Southern California so it’s the perfect time to enjoy this cooling, no-cook soup. My version of gazpacho is not exactly traditional, but just as delicious and possibly a tad more healthful. In Spain, it is very typical to add day-old bread, which I omit. I don’t notice the lack of bread one bit, and I think if you’re going to indulge in bread, you might as well actually know you’re eating it. I also don’t use canned tomato juice, which normally contains BPA or aluminum or both. Yikes! Not only that, I think you can get a cleaner, more tomato-y flavor from using awesome fresh tomatoes, not to mention more vitamins, minerals and antioxidants like lycopene.

My kids like gazpacho because they think it tastes like a blended salad and they can add an assortment of toppings. As I’ve mentioned, I’m big into topping bars, especially for soups and salads, because I think it gives the kids more control over what they’re eating and I notice they tend to eat more of a food when they can make it their own, so to speak. Our favorite topping with gazpacho is creamy cubes of avocado with give the perfect balance to the acidity of the tomatoes and vinegar. But don’t let me stop you there. Croutons, grilled corn kernels, chopped shrimp or crab are all fantastic additions to the top of this bowl of summery goodness. I’ll come clean and confess I’ve even put out popcorn for Mr. Picky to add. Whatever works, people. I love pairing cool gazpacho with chicken kebabs and chimichurri sauce or a summer frittata for a light dinner. But one of my favorite ways to serve it is in little shot glasses as an hors d’oeuvre. With Labor Day weekend around the corner, here’s one way you can keep that summer feeling going strong.

5.0 from 1 reviews

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Gazpacho with Avocado

Author:Pamela

Serves:6

Ingredients

  • 2 cups large chopped unpeeled Persian cucumbers, about 3-4
  • ½ small red onion, cut into chunks*
  • 4 large (about 2 ½ - 2 ¾ pounds) ripe tomatoes, cored and cut in half crosswise to remove the seeds, cut into chunks
  • 3 medium garlic cloves, peeled
  • 2 teaspoons sea salt
  • freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • 2 Tablespoons Sherry vinegar
  • ¼ cup unrefined, cold pressed extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 avocado, cubed

Instructions

  1. Place the cucumber in a food processor fitted with the metal blade and pulse until coarsely chopped. Transfer the cucumber to a large bowl. Repeat the process with the red onion and transfer to the bowl with the cucumber.
  2. Take half of the tomato and pulse in the food processor until chunky and add to the bowl.
  3. Smash the garlic cloves and place in the food processor with the remaining tomato pieces, salt and pepper, vinegar and oil. Process until smooth.
  4. Transfer mixture to the bowl with the cucumber and onion and stir to combine. Cover and refrigerate until cold.
  5. Before serving, garnish with avocado. Can be made several days ahead.

Notes

You can add finely diced radish for pepperiness; hot sauce or jalapeño for heat, croutons for crunch, or a dollop of sour cream. You can also use yellow heirloom tomatoes for a yellow gazpacho.

*Onion can be soaked in ice water for 15 minutes to take the edge off the raw flavor.


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Comments

  1. Gazpacho with avocado recipe - Pamela Salzman (15)

    Karen richter

    Made this today with my vegan granddaughters, tripled the recipe, they ate tons and loved it so much that they took home the leftovers to share with the rest of the families. It was delicious, so quick and easy, first time making. So was really pleased with results. I did not seed the tomatoes and it still was great.

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    • Gazpacho with avocado recipe - Pamela Salzman (16)

      PamelaModerator

      How wonderful! Thank you for letting me know!

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  2. Gazpacho with avocado recipe - Pamela Salzman (17)

    Kelly

    This soup has gotten be through the past 2 summers. Thank you! What would happen if the tomatoes weren’t de-seeded? I find myself dreading this step.

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    • Gazpacho with avocado recipe - Pamela Salzman (18)

      PamelaModerator

      I find seeds annoying because they don’t blend up smooth, but try it with the seeds and see if you don’t mind them. 🙂

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    • Gazpacho with avocado recipe - Pamela Salzman (19)

      Karen richter

      I did not seed and it was great.

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  3. Gazpacho with avocado recipe - Pamela Salzman (20)

    Monica Lovell

    I really like gazpacho so I wanted to try this. The flavors were awesome together. I think my tomatoes needed to be a bit bigger to add a little more tomato flavor but it was still good. I’ll definitely try it again. Las Brisas in Laguna use to have an amazing gazpacho that they served in a bowl that was in a bigger bowl filled with ice. So pretty and kept it chilled.

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    • Gazpacho with avocado recipe - Pamela Salzman (21)

      PamelaModerator

      That must have been a lovely presentation! I need to try that 🙂

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  4. Gazpacho with avocado recipe - Pamela Salzman (22)

    Kelly

    YUM!!! Can’t believe I waited so long to try your gazpacho recipe. Better than Le Pain.

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  5. Gazpacho with avocado recipe - Pamela Salzman (23)

    Michelle S

    Had company over last night for casual outside dinner. Made 3 pea dish ( sans turkey bacon ), couscous w/apricots and nectarine/beet salad. All delicious! Thanks

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    • Gazpacho with avocado recipe - Pamela Salzman (24)

      PamelaModerator

      That sounds perfect!

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  6. Gazpacho with avocado recipe - Pamela Salzman (25)

    Lynette

    This looks delicious! What kind of vinegar can I use in place of the sherry vinegar? Thanks

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    • Gazpacho with avocado recipe - Pamela Salzman (26)

      PamelaModerator

      Red wine vinegar will work just fine.

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  7. Gazpacho with avocado recipe - Pamela Salzman (27)

    Lisa Wehrly

    This is absolutely the best gazpacho recipe ever. And with avocado, it’s the perfect California version. I didn’t even like gazpacho too much until I tried Pamela’s recipe. She taught it in a class a couple of years ago, and I still am in love with it. Yum, delicious!!

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    • Gazpacho with avocado recipe - Pamela Salzman (28)

      PamelaModerator

      Awww, thanks Lisa! xo

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  8. Gazpacho with avocado recipe - Pamela Salzman (29)

    Melissa Bailey

    Love it! Thanks, Pamela…I’ve been looking for a better gazpacho recipe and I can’t wait to try this -Melissa.
    PS-I’m on the site to get spiced rubbed salmon since I spent a fair bit of time at the beach today and had to come up with a last-minute dinner plan. 🙂

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    • Gazpacho with avocado recipe - Pamela Salzman (30)

      PamelaModerator

      You’ll enjoy this, Melissa. Spice-rubbed salmon is a perfect post-beach dinner! Bon appetit!

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Gazpacho with avocado recipe - Pamela Salzman (31)

I come from a large Italian-American family with 28 first cousins (on one side of the family!) where sit-down holiday dinners for 85 people are the norm (how, you might ask – organization! But more on that later …).

Some of my fondest memories are of simple family gatherings, both large and small, with long tables of bowls and platters piled high, the laughter of my cousins echoing and the comfort of tradition warming my soul.

Gazpacho with avocado recipe - Pamela Salzman (32)

Gazpacho with avocado recipe - Pamela Salzman (33)

Gazpacho with avocado recipe - Pamela Salzman (34)

Gazpacho with avocado recipe - Pamela Salzman (35)

Gazpacho with avocado recipe - Pamela Salzman (2024)

FAQs

How do you fix bitter gazpacho? ›

— the acidity in gazpacho can sometimes give off a bitterness depending on the type of tomatoes used or the time of year. The quick fix? Simply add in a little bit of sugar to neutralize the acid.

Why is my gazpacho pink? ›

While a gustatorily stultifying purée of tomatoes and tomato juice is lipstick-red, real gazpacho falls somewhere between pink and orange, thanks to the olive oil, bread, and nuts. But you can trick the eye by adding a nice green garnish. (Fresh herbs are fine, but avocado is better.)

What's the difference between salsa and gazpacho? ›

Gazpacho is thinner, less spicy, and in many cases fresher than salsa. Would anyone call salsa a “drinkable salad”? On the other hand, the overlap—at least in the American conception—was large enough that, the closer I looked, the less clear the line became.

How are you supposed to eat gazpacho? ›

In some places, they serve it with croutons and toppings. And in others, it's served on ice and slurped from a glass like any other beverage. In Andalusia, you're most likely to find gazpacho made with tomato, cucumber, and green peppers, and poured into a glass.

What neutralizes bitter taste? ›

Sweetness: From sugar, honey, fruits or otherwise, sweetness will counteract bitter and sour flavours. It can also be used to cut down the heat of a particularly spicy meal. Saltiness: Salt plays two very important roles in flavouring a dish. Firstly, it balances against bitterness.

Is gazpacho really healthy? ›

This nutrient-rich dish contains vitamins A, C and K, along with potassium and folate, which play a supporting role in immune function and overall well-being. It's heart-healthy and low in calories.

How many days does gazpacho last in the fridge? ›

Like most foods, it's good for two or three days, maybe one more, as far as food safety is concerned. But safety aside, gazpacho relies on freshness for the best flavor. If you want to keep it more than two days, you're probably better off freezing it.

Should gazpacho be served cold or room temp? ›

The way of serving gazpacho may influence the level of satisfaction. It can be alone or accompanied but always cold. As it is a traditional summer dish, temperature is of outmost importance because flavour and freshness may change.

What if my gazpacho is too thick? ›

If the gazpacho appears too thick, you can thin it out by adding 1/2 cup of cold filtered water. What is this? 🥖 For an optional twist, place a piece of bread into the blended mixture and let it soak for a minute before mixing again. Taste and adjust the seasoning as needed.

Do you need to peel tomatoes for gazpacho? ›

Although it's often okay to leave on tomato skins when cooking them, they are too fibrous to slurp in soup form. To remove the skins, mark a small "X" on the bottom, gently lower them into boiling water for 30 seconds, then shock in ice water. The skins will slip right off, and you can proceed with the gazpacho recipe.

Do they eat gazpacho in France? ›

Yes, summer's on its way, and with it gazpacho season. This flavor-packed chilled soup, which arrived in France from Spain, has many variants — including in spelling and pronunciation. The standard ingredients are tomatoes, cucumber, green pepper, garlic, dried bread, olive oil, vinegar, salt and pepper.

How did they make gazpacho before blenders? ›

Traditionally, gazpacho was made by pounding the vegetables in a mortar with a pestle; this more laborious method is still sometimes used as it helps keep the gazpacho cool and avoids the foam and silky consistency of smoothie versions made in blenders or food processors.

How do you get the bitterness out of gazpacho? ›

The quick fix? Simply add in a little bit of sugar to neutralize the acid. Similar to the way many add sugar to their pasta sauce, the goal here isn't to completely transform this dish into a whole new sugary sweet concoction; it's all about using just a small sprinkle to round out the flavors.

Is gazpacho good for stomach? ›

Gazpacho, a classic chilled Spanish soup, is the perfect dish for hot summer days. Not only is it refreshingly delicious, but it's also filled with fibre-rich vegetables that can support your gut health.

What is good to serve with gazpacho? ›

Serving Suggestions

Roasted chickpeas, croutons, chopped hard boiled eggs, and avocado would be delicious toppings too. Round out the meal with good crusty bread or socca. For a heartier meal, serve this easy gazpacho with grilled vegetables and romesco sauce, your favorite protein, or a veggie frittata.

How do you get rid of bitter taste fast? ›

Easy Ways to Reduce Bitter Taste in Any Food
  1. 1 Balance out bitterness with some fat.
  2. 2 Cover the flavor with sweetness.
  3. 3 Sprinkle some salt over your food.
  4. 4 Try a pinch of baking soda.
  5. 5 Squeeze in some vinegar or lemon juice.
  6. 6 Add some spice to your foods.
  7. 7 Cook with herbs to cut through the bitter taste.
Apr 10, 2024

How do you neutralize bitterness in soup? ›

2> Balancing flavors: Counteract the bitterness with other flavors. Sweetness can help balance bitterness, so consider adding ingredients like carrots, onions, or a small amount of sugar or honey. Acidic ingredients like tomatoes or a splash of vinegar can also help balance flavors.

How do you remove bitterness from stock? ›

If it tastes bitter to you, there are a couple of ways to fix it.
  1. Add an additional ⅛ teaspoon of salt, stir, and taste.
  2. For every quart of stock you can add one chopped apple and cook the stock for an additional two hours.
  3. Try a teaspoon or two of sugar, stir it in, and taste it after two minutes.

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