Gazpacho with Berries
Gazpacho is a cold soup from Spain with a long history. It is the best representation of the Andalusian cuisine and eaten in the summer. Made with local products, easy and fast to prepare and best during the hot summer months.
History:
Gazpacho was first made in Al-Andalus in the VIII Century. The original recipe had no vegetables, and the dish was made with only water, olive oil and vinegar. All very easy and locally grown. Later some people cooked Gazpacho with almonds or added garlic.
This soup is associated with the Mediterranean, and specifically the area of Andalucía in Southern Spain. In the XVI century, with the discovery of America, additional elements from the other side of the Atlantic were introduced. Incorporated into the soup were peppers and tomatoes which gives this dish its truly unique flavor.
In those days workers would drink gazpacho to cope with the long hours of labor during hot sunny days. The drink was first consumed in the fields, in and later in the factories.
In the XIX century gazpacho became very popular amongst the bourgeoisie who started to add small pieces of chopped veggies into it. Today, Gazpacho is the most popular summer soup in Spain.
This one is a different version of Gazpacho; I have added some berries that gives it a bit of a fruity flavor.
2 lbs. ripe tomatoes
2 oz green pepper
2 oz cucumber, not peeled
1 garlic clove
½ oz vinegar
2 oz virgin olive oil
¼ tsp of powdered cumin
1 tsp salt (to taste)
½ cup fresh blueberries
½ cup fresh strawberries
½ cup fresh raspberries
Wash all the vegetables, cut them into pieces and place them with all the rest of the ingredients in a high-speed blender. Blend for 3 minutes. If you like a very smooth texture you can pass it through a strainer, once it’s all blended keep in the refrigerator at least 2 or 3 hours before you drink it, this soup must be very cold.
Optional:
When served Gazpacho can be garnished with any or all the following: small-diced green/red peppers, tomatoes, cucumber, onion, croutons, or boiled eggs., and any type of berry.
Marta Díaz Megías was born and raised in Madrid, Spain and is as an official Translator/Interpreter from the Catholic University of Paris. She has always had a personal passion for cooking and started her own catering company in Madrid, and taught cooking courses for several years as well. Marta now lives in Southern California and loves promoting Spanish cuisine.