Looking for a light and refreshing way to cool down on these hot summer days? Chilled Summer Gazpacho will help you forget about the hot temps as it cools you off from the inside out!
I. Am. Melting.
If you have read any of my posts during the blazing summer months, you know that I am less than thrilled with over-the-top hot weather. Even sitting inside with the air conditioning blasting, my body just knows it’s unbearable out there. I admit that a significant part of my disdain for this weather is that my MS (multiple sclerosis) does not find it amusing. My body just doesn’t react the same way when it gets overheated. The good ole’ autoimmune system gets confused and things start to go haywire. Not fun, I tell you. So inside I stay, Vitamin D deficiency intact. Sigh…
So I’m always looking for ways to cool down, and that includes foods that are refreshing and light. As you may know, I have an addiction to tomatoes, as evidenced by recipes for Tomato Flatbread, Fresh Salsa, and a twist on a Caprese Salad. Since the Summer tomatoes are a seasonal delicacy in my book, I decided to make a simple and refreshing chilled soup to keep me cool on these insanely hot days. And what says “chilled soup” better than a classic Gazpacho? Not much, if you ask me.
I have had many versions of this classic Spanish specialty. The bright flavors, the little bit of kick most of them have–all so good. I love that you can get creative with the toppings to add a bit of variety to the flavors you get from the ripe vegetables in the soup itself. Here, I decided to splurge and topped my bowl of summer sunshine with cubed avocado and shredded crab meat. Decadent but not heavy, it was the perfect way to cool down and feel full at the same time.
Blast the A/C and get yourself a bowl of this Chilled Summer Gazpacho–you’ll cool off in no time!
| Servings | Prep Time |
| 4 people | 40 minutes |
| Passive Time |
| 30 minutes |
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This Spanish summer weather classic is a must on those hot days when you need to cool off on the inside, too. Bright, fresh, and so refreshing, you will want to make this summer stunner all year long!
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- 1 large red bell pepper, deseeded & chopped
- 1 medium red onion, chopped
- 5 medium vine ripe tomatoes, deseeded & chopped
- 1 large English cucumber, peeled & chopped
- 1/2 day-old French bread
- 2 cups Bloody Mary Mix (or tomato juice, if you don't have drink mix)
- 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tbsp. red wine vinegar
- 1 medium lemon, juiced
- Chop all of the vegetables to approximately 1" pieces. Slice bread into equal sized pieces.
- Place the bread cubes into a bowl with the Bloody Mary Mix, making sure to coat each cube. Allow to sit for 30 minutes.
- Place vegetables into food processor. Process until a thick puree forms. Add red wine vinegar and lemon juice. Pulse to incorporate.
- Add the bread cubes to the vegetable mixture. Process until a thick mixture is formed.
- Over a large bowl, place a fine meshed sieve; place 1 cup of mixture into sieve and, using a spatula or spoon, press down to release all of the blended juices. Repeat with the vegetable & bread mixture until all of the juices have been released. Discard the remaining pulp.
- Stir in the olive oil; cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes, or overnight. Serve with cubed avocados, shredded crab, or other desired garnish.
Because I wanted a little "kick" in this recipe, I decided to use a pre-mixed Bloody Mary Mix. It's got that zip that is so good in a drink, but is absolutely perfect in this soup. If you don't have a drink mix, no worries! You can substitute tomato juice just as easily and season with pepper to your desired taste.
Either way, this light and refreshing soup is perfect on those days when you need to chill out and cool down. Chilled Summer Gazpacho is a winner on a hot day, or any other day for that matter!
I love crab meat you put on it. It looks scrumptious !
Summer veggies are the best and this is the perfect way to enjoy them! And avocado and crab meat topping…yum!
The avocado and crab just amped up the sweetness of the amazing tomatoes and bloody mary mix. :o)
My husband loves gazpacho and I keep collecting recipes to make it because it’s the one dish I haven’t made from scratch before. Your recipe looks so delicious and perfect for our heat wave this weekend!
This is so simple you’ll want to make it all the time!
Nothing better than a refreshing cup of gazpacho to cool off with on a hot day! This looks delicious, I love the crab and avocado topping.