How to make Gazpacho and tomato soup
Smooth, comforting and full of flavour, tomato soup is a favourite in any weather. But when the mercury is on the rise it’s time to turn to tomato soup’s warm weather friend: Gazpacho.
For those wanting to enjoy either iteration of tomato soup, it’s important to know that the perfect serving is about more than just temperature. In fact, preparation and flavour are two of the biggest differentiators between these culinary cousins.
What is Gazpacho?
On the surface, Gazpacho is tomato soup served cold. However, the reality is that it is not only served cold, but is never cooked to begin with. This raw soup has its roots in Spain and Portugal in the 19th Century when red tomatoes were added to a traditional cold broth of garlic, olive oil, salt and vinegar, giving it the colour and flavour we have become familiar with. Perfectly suited to the warmer climates where it was popularised, Gazpacho has a strong flavour punch without the need to spend time in front of a hot stove.
How to make Gazpacho
While you might not need a stove to make traditional Gazpacho, you’ll find it easier to blend the tomatoes with a food processor for a smooth consistency. However, there are no real rules when it comes to this raw soup. Some people prefer it to be entirely smooth like a tomato soup, others reserve some crushed tomatoes to give it a little bit of texture. Similarly, you can also garnish your soup in a myriad of ways. From crushed almonds, finely chopped capsicum, herbs or cucumber, to more hearty options like hard boiled eggs or chopped ham, there is no wrong way to garnish your gazpacho.
Ingredients (Serves 4)
100g of stale crusty bread
1kg ripe tomatoes
1 cucumber, peeled and diced
2 capsicums (1 red and 1 green), deseeded and diced
2 cloves of garlic, crushed
150ml extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons vinegar
Salt and pepper to taste
Your preferred garnishes (such as cucumber, mint, parsley, spring onion or ham)
Method
Soak your bread in water to soften. Remove and squeeze out excess water.
Tear bread into pieces and place in your food processor.
Add olive oil, tomatoes, cucumber, capsicum and garlic to the food processor.
Blend until smooth, then slowly add salt and vinegar to taste.
Stir well then cover and refrigerate. (For a smoother consistency, you can run the mixture through a fine sieve first.)
Once chilled, serve with the garnishes of your choosing. Or when serving for guests, serve with a selection of garnishes so they can add their own.
How to make hot tomato soup
The flavours are mighty different, so if you’re craving a piping hot bowl of comforting tomato soup then this recipe will tick all the boxes for you.
Ingredients
1kg tomatoes, diced
1 medium onion, finely chopped
1 stick of celery, finely chopped
1 small carrot, peeled and finely chopped
2 cups chicken or vegetable broth
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 bay leaves
2 tablespoons tomato paste
A pinch of sugar
Method
Heat oil in a large pot until warm.
Add onion, celery and carrot and stir until they are soft.
Add your tomato paste a stir to coat all your vegetables.
Pour in your chopped tomatoes, bay leaves and a pinch of sugar and pepper and stir to thoroughly combine.
Put the lid on your pan and allow to simmer over low heat until the juice flows from the tomatoes (about 10 minutes), stirring occasionally.
Pour in your stock liquid and stir through.
Increase heat to high and bring to the boil.
Put the lid on and turn the heat back down to low, to allow it to continue simmering for about 25 minutes.
At the end of your cooking time, ladle your mixture into a blender (only until about half full), and pulse until smooth. Transfer to a new pot or bowl and continue until the whole mixture is smooth.