THE REAL GAZPACHO FROM SPAIN, GREAT FOR SUMMER!

Summer is nearly here and one of the tips to fight against the heat is to cook refreshing meals. In Spain one of the most popular recipes is GAZPACHO and since it has been a long time since I haven't written about Spanish food, my post today is about this meal and how you have to prepare it.

Before telling  you how to make it, just a few lines about this meal: Although originally Gazpacho was from Andalusia, nowadays is an essential food in every Spanish home at summer. It is an important exponent of Mediterranean diet, it is a source of vitamine C, A and E, carbohydrates and some minerals such as phosphorus, iron, calcium, magnesium, manganese, zinc, copper, potassium or sodium. Provides a high content of vegetable fiber and antioxidants and phenolic compounds. Pufff.... really nutritive! isn't it? And it is easy to make and only takes twenty minutes.

So, here we are! Are you ready? Steady? Go!


Ingredients for 4 people:

1 Kilo tomatoes (preferable plum tomatoes)

1/2 small onion (60 grams)

2 small green pepper

1 small cucumber (the small chubby Spanish type)

1 small cup of olive oil

2 desert spoons of vinager

200 grams of bread from the day before, soaked in water

Small portions of diced tomatoes, red and green peppers, cucumber, onion and bread or croutons to sprinkle on top.

Steps:

1. Put the tomatoes, onion, pepper, cucumber, vinager, oil and bread into a liquidizer. If you want to dilute it, add a glass of water. Tip: if you want to go for a tangy garlic taste, add a small amount of fresh garlic to the mixture before liquidizing.

2. Put the mixture into a bowl, add salt and pepper and leave the gazpacho to chill for at least an hour. If you want to eat it straight away, you can put some ice cubes in to cool it down. Remember that Gazpacho is a summer dish which is meant to hydrate and cool down your body. So the colder the better.

3. Serve the gazpacho in soup bowls, with the portions of diced tomatoes, pepper, cucumber, onion, croutons, etc. on the table, so that everyone can add them to their bowl as they prefer. Tip: you can also sprinkle diced serrano ham or hard boiled egg.

And that's all! Please, if you try it I would be very pleased to know about the results!

¡Buen provecho!