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    Home » Recipes » Soup Recipes

    Gazpacho Recipe

    Published: Aug 9, 2022 · Modified: Jul 13, 2023 · by Debra with 2 Comments · 1494 words. About 8 minutes to read this article. · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This traditional gazpacho recipe is easy to make and it's a Spanish classic! Use the best summer tomatoes and sherry vinegar for authentic flavor.

    Two bowls of gazpacho and two shot glasses of gazpacho topped with chopped cucumber. Two gold spoons, two tomatoes, and a red and white striped towel surround the bowls.

    This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of my links, I may make a small commission at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Read my full disclosure policy here.

    How about something that tastes like summer that you can make in 10 minutes? Sounds like gazpacho to me! On a sweltering day, you need this cold Spanish soup to refresh you. It can be served in a bowl, in a glass, in a shot glass even—that's a cool party trick.

    What makes just a few fresh, raw ingredients taste so quintessentially Spanish that they knock you out of time and place and plop you down in an Andalusian vineyard or onto the beach in Barceloneta? It's the sherry vinegar and some good olive oil. Don't substitute and don't skimp.

    This version is made without bread, so it's gluten free. That may not be what you'd expect, but that's how I learned to make it in a cooking class in Barcelona at BCN Kitchen. (José Andrés makes his this way, too, so I think we're good.)

    Jump to:
    • What is gazpacho?
    • Ingredients you'll need
    • How to make gazpacho soup
    • Tips for the best gazpacho
    • FAQ
    • Gazpacho toppings
    • More Spanish recipes
    • Gazpacho is the best choice for an easy, refreshing, cold summer soup!
    • Recipe

    What is gazpacho?

    Gazpacho is a traditional cold Spanish soup made of tomatoes, cucumbers, vinegar, peppers, garlic, olive oil, and sometimes bread. Its origins date back several centuries. Toppings and additions can vary by region. and include chopped vegetables, hard boiled eggs, mayonnaise, and Serrano ham. The tomato version is probably the best-known but there is also a white gazpacho called ajo blanco.

    Tomatoes, a bell pepper, an English cucumber, and small glass bowls of olive oil, sherry vinegar, salt, garlic and water.

    Ingredients you'll need

    • Ripe tomatoes: Plump, fat, vine-ripened tomatoes are the key to the best flavor.
    • Red bell pepper: You can also do ½ red pepper and ½ green pepper.
    • Cucumber: I like English cucumbers best, but "traditional" cucumbers from your garden work well, too.
    • Sherry vinegar: This is the KEY to gazpacho's authentic flavor. See tips below.
    • Garlic
    • Olive oil
    • Ice water: Or ice cubes if you're in a hurry.
    • Salt

    How to make gazpacho soup

    A knife on a wooden cutting board with a red pepper that has been halved and cut into pieces.

    Step 1: Prep the vegetables

    Remove the ribs and seeds from the bell pepper and use a good chef's knife to chop it into large chunks.

    A vegetable peeler on a wooden cutting board with a cucumber that has strips of peel removed.

    Use a vegetable peeler to peel a few stripes of skin away from the cucumber. Or peel it all the way. It's your preference. Cut off a few slices for the topping and set aside. Cut the remaining cucumber into large chunks.

    A paring knife on a wooden cutting board next to five tomatoes that have been cored.

    Use a paring knife to core the tomatoes. Then give them a rough chop.

    Step 2: Combine veggies and remaining ingredients and blend!

    Place cucumbers, tomatoes, bell pepper, and garlic in a blender and blend until smooth. Then add the oil, vinegar, salt and ice water and blend again. Taste for seasoning.

    A woman's hand holding an immersion blender in a bowl of gazpacho.

    (Alternatively, you can use a food processor to chop the vegetables, then transfer to a large bowl, add the water, vinegar, oil, and salt and use an immersion blender to blend until smooth.)

    For best results, let the gazpacho chill for at least 30 minutes (or overnight) before serving to allow the flavors to come together. Serve topped with a drizzle of olive oil and chopped cucumbers.

    A bowl of gazpacho topped with chopped cucumber and olive oil next to a gold spoon and a red and white striped towel.

    Tips for the best gazpacho

    • You must, must, MUST use sherry vinegar. Sherry vinegar is what makes gazpacho taste like gazpacho! It's made from sherry—obvi—and is produced in the southern Spanish province of Cádiz. The flavor is distinct and it's used in all kinds of Spanish dishes. You can find it online, at Whole Foods, and at specialty markets.
    • Some traditional gazpacho recipes will tell you to strain the soup through a fine sieve before serving. I don't do this because I like the slight bit of texture you get by not straining it. But if you prefer to do so, go ahead! You do you.
    • If you're having a summer gathering, serve gazpacho shooters! Put them into a shot glass or small cocktail glass and let guests drink the cold soup as they mingle, free of utensils!

    FAQ

    Does gazpacho taste better the next day?

    Yes, it does! Gazpacho should be chilled for at least 30 minutes before serving, but letting it chill overnight is best, to allow all of the flavors to meld together.

    How long does gazpacho last in the refrigerator?

    It should keep in an airtight container for 4-5 days.

    Can you freeze gazpacho?

    Yes, gazpacho will keep in the freezer for up to 6 months. Once thawed, you may want to run it through the blender again to make sure the texture is correct.

    Gazpacho toppings

    We've got ourselves a cold soup here, so let's think cold toppings.

    • Chopped vegetables: Of course you can add more of the vegetables that are found in the soup like cucumbers, tomatoes, and bell peppers.
    • Hard boiled eggs: If you want to add a little protein, but still keep it vegetarian, hard boiled eggs are the way to go!
    • Mayonnaise: Well, some people like mayo on everything and I guess this is no exception.
    • Serrano or Iberico ham: These two aged hams are iconic Spanish products. They'll add protein and a salty bite.
    • Croutons: I'm not using bread to thicken the soup here, so if you want some carbs on top for some crunch, go for it.
    • Fresh herbs: If you're like me, you want more herbs on everything all the time. Parsley, cilantro, basil or tarragon would taste great.

    More Spanish recipes

    Try one of these easy traditional Spanish recipes.

    • Got more tomatoes? Pan con Tomate is the easiest Spanish side dish ever, just rub fresh, ripe tomatoes on toasted bread.
    • Garlic Shrimp (Gambas al Ajillo) is one of the simplest and tastiest Spanish tapas. Don't sleep on soaking up all that garlic oil with some crusty bread.
    • Paprika Potato Chips are exactly what you need with an evening cocktail or glass of vermouth.

    Gazpacho is the best choice for an easy, refreshing, cold summer soup!

    • No cooking whatsoever!!
    • It's gluten free, dairy free, vegetarian and vegan!
    • Almost no prep needed, just give the veggies a rough chop and blend.
    • Raw vegetables at peak summer ripeness give the best, brightest flavor.
    • The soup is served cold to cool you down on a hot day.

    Recipe

    Top down view of a bowl of gazpacho topped with chopped cucumber and a drizzle of olive oil.

    Gazpacho Recipe

    This traditional gazpacho recipe is easy to make and it's a Spanish classic! Use the best summer tomatoes and sherry vinegar for authentic flavor.
    5 from 5 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Soups
    Cuisine: Spanish
    Diet: Gluten Free, Low Lactose, Vegan, Vegetarian
    Keyword: best gazpacho recipe
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 0 minutes minutes
    Chilling time (optional): 30 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 40 minutes minutes
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 188kcal

    Equipment

    • chef's knife
    • cutting board
    • blender or food processor followed by immersion blender

    Ingredients

    • 2 pounds ripe tomatoes
    • 1 red bell pepper
    • 1 English cucumber or regular cucumber
    • 1 clove garlic
    • 4 tablespoon sherry vinegar or more if you like
    • 4 tablespoon olive oil or more if you like
    • ½ cup ice water or ice cubes if you're in a hurry
    • 1½ teaspoon kosher salt
    US Customary - Metric
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • Remove the ribs and seeds from the bell pepper and chop it into large chunks.
    • Use a vegetable peeler to peel a few stripes of skin away from the cucumber. Or peel it all the way. It's your preference. Cut off a few slices for the topping and set aside. Cut the remaining cucumber into large chunks.
    • Use a paring knife to core the tomatoes. Then give them a rough chop.
    • Place cucumbers, tomatoes, bell pepper, and garlic in a blender and blend until smooth. Then add the oil, vinegar, salt and ice water and blend again. Taste for seasoning. Add more oil or vinegar if you like.
    • (Alternatively, you can use a food processor to chop down the vegetables, then transfer to a large bowl, add the water, vinegar, oil, and salt and use an immersion blender to blend until smooth.)
    • For best results, let the gazpacho chill for at least 30 minutes (or overnight) before serving to allow the flavors to come together. Serve topped with a drizzle of olive oil and chopped cucumbers.
    • Makes 4 bowls, but serves 6-8 or more if served in small glasses.

    Notes

    • You must, must, MUST use sherry vinegar. Sherry vinegar is what makes gazpacho taste like gazpacho! It's made from sherry—obvi—and is produced in the southern Spanish province of Cádiz. The flavor is distinct and it's used in all kinds of Spanish dishes. You can find it online, at Whole Foods, and at specialty markets.
    • No time to wait for the soup to chill? Substitute ice cubes for the water.
    • Some recipes will tell you to strain the soup through a fine sieve before serving. I don't do this because I like the slight bit of texture you get by not straining it. But if you prefer to do so, go ahead! You do you.
    • If you're having a summer gathering, serve gazpacho shooters! Put them into a shot glass or small cocktail glass and let guests drink the cold soup as they mingle, free of utensils!
     
    This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of my links, I may make a small commission at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Read my full disclosure policy here.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 188kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Sodium: 888mg | Potassium: 720mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 2900IU | Vitamin C: 72mg | Calcium: 40mg | Iron: 1mg

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Lisa Boone

      September 01, 2022 at 8:13 am

      5 stars
      Healthy, yummy and easy!

      Reply
      • Debra

        September 01, 2022 at 11:53 am

        Yay! So glad you liked it Lisa!

        Thanks for reading,

        Debra

        Reply

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    Hi, I'm Debra! I'm a detail-oriented Virgo, so it's my jam to simplify recipes and break them down into easy to follow steps. I help you bring the world to your table!

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