Chef John’s Gazpacho Recipe

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Are you worried about how you’re gonna deal with the scorching heat of the summer? So, stop here because if you don’t, you’ll miss out on a deliciously refreshing summer recipe of all time. It’s Chef John’s Gazpacho Soup!

This soup is extremely flavourful and made with summer delights like tomatoes, cucumbers, and jalapenos. Yeah! You need this one to heat things up a little. After all, what’s a soup without a bit of spiciness in it?

Did you know that this soup was popular among Spanish and Portuguese people? Its specialty is that it is made of raw veggies and is consumed cold. The tomatoes have a tart sweetness, while the English cucumber and bell peppers add a cool and refreshing touch to every spoon.

Not only this, but all the ingredients used to make this soup have antioxidant properties. Moreover, the garlic and onion give a subtle spicy kick, perfect enough to uplift your mood.

I’m sure by now you must be wondering how such a simple bowlful can have so much goodness! So, when your summer morning bath turns into a sauna experience, it’s not 911 but Chef John’s Gazpacho Soup to your rescue.

What's In The Post

Equipment Required

Blender or Food Processor: Blending the tomatoes and other ingredients is of utmost importance.
Knife And Cutting Board: I use these to chop off the veggies.
Mixing Bowls: This is needed to combine the ingredients once they are blended.
Fine-Mesh Sieve: This is optional. Sometimes, I want the soup to have a smoother consistency, so I pass it through this sieve to remove any chunks.

Chef John’s Gazpacho Ingredients & Substitutions

Note: The ingredients mentioned below will help you serve 4-6 people. You are free to adjust the quantity of the ingredients if you want to serve more or fewer people.

Four large Tomatoes, Peeled And Diced: If you run out of tomatoes, you can use canned crushed tomatoes, fresh Roma tomatoes, or tomato passata.
½ English Cucumber, Peeled And Finely Diced: Whenever I don’t have an English cucumber, I look for regular peeled cucumber, zucchini, or Persian cucumber.
½ Cup Finely Diced Red Bell Peppers: I suggest substituting yellow, orange, green, or poblano peppers.
¼ Cup Minced Green Onion: You can use chives, leeks, or shallots as alternatives.
1 large jalapeno pepper, Seeded And Minced: I recommend using serrano peppers, Fresno peppers, and green chilies as the other alternatives.
2 Cloves Garlic: Garlic powder, garlic salt, or garlic flakes will also do.
1 Teaspoon Salt
½ Teaspoon Ground Cumin: Out of cumin? Just go for cumin seeds or coriander powder.
1 Pinch Dried Oregano: I sometimes use fresh oregano, marjoram, or Italian seasonings in the absence of oregano.
1 Pinch Cayenne Pepper, Or To Taste: Crushed red peppers, paprika, or chipotle powder can also provide similar spiciness.
Freshly Ground Black Pepper, To Taste
1 Pint Cherry Tomatoes: If you don’t have cherry tomatoes in your pantry, you can opt for grape, Roma, or Campari tomatoes.
¼ Cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Avocado, grapeseed, or sunflower oil would also work.
1 Lime, Juiced: Lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, or white wine vinegar are some alternatives.
1 Tablespoon Balsamic Vinegar: When balsamic vinegar is unavailable, you can also use red wine vinegar, sherry vinegar, or apple cider vinegar.
1 Teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce: Soy sauce, tamari, or coconut aminos can also work well.
Salt And Ground Black Pepper
2 Tablespoons Thinly Sliced Fresh Basil: When I don’t have fresh basil, I use fresh mint, parsley, or cilantro.

Preparation And Cooking Time

Preparation Time	Resting Time	Total Time
45 Minutes	2 Hours	2 Hours 45 Minutes

How To Make Chef John’s Gazpacho At Home

Step 1

Take a mixing bowl and add diced tomatoes to it.

Step 2

Then add English cucumber.

Step 3

Add green bell peppers.

Step 4

Add red bell peppers.

Step 5

Add green onions.

Step 6

Now add salt, ground cumin, black pepper and oregano.

Step 7

Add cayenne pepper and garlic.

Step 8

Take some cherry tomatoes in a small bowl.

Step 9

Now blend the cherry tomatoes with Worcestershire sauce, extra virgin olive oil, lime juice, and balsamic vinegar.

Step 10

Blend it in a smooth consistency.

Step 11

Add it to the bowl containing the chopped veggies.

Step 12

Mix all the chopped veggies well in bowl.

Step 13

Your healthy and refreshing Gazpacho soup is ready.

Expert Tips That I Recommend

I prefer using only ripe and in-season tomatoes. They give the best sweetness and depth of flavors.
Gazpacho is traditionally served cold. After blending the ingredients, refrigerate the soup for at least 2 hours to allow the flavors to meld and to get that refreshing, chilled taste.
If your gazpacho is too thick, add a splash of tomato juice or vegetable stock to reach your desired consistency. It also helps enhance the flavor.

FAQs About Chef John’s Gazpacho

Why is this Gazpacho too watery?

If you use watery tomatoes, the gazpacho soup can become watery. So make sure to use fewer watery tomatoes or remove the seeds before chopping them. Also, drain the excess water from the veggies before blending.

Why is this Gazpacho tasting acidic?

If you use more lime juice, balsamic vinegar, or under-ripe tomatoes, the gazpacho can taste acidic. To balance out this acidity, add a pinch of sugar, olive oil, or cucumbers.

Why is this Gazpacho too spicy?

If you add more jalapeno or cayenne pepper, the gazpacho can be spicy. You can add more cucumber or tomatoes to mellow out the spiciness.

Why did this Gazpacho turn out to be bitter?

If you use overripe veggies or more garlic, the gazpacho can taste bitter. So, taste the veggies before adding more.

Why is this Gazpacho not smooth enough?

If you do not blend the veggies properly, the gazpacho may not be smooth. Hence, make sure to blend the veggies for a longer period or use a fine mesh sieve to pass the mixture through it to remove any chunks.

Why is this Gazpacho too salty?

If you overseason the soup, it may turn salty. To dilute the saltiness, you can add more tomatoes, cucumbers, and water.

Why is this Gazpacho separating?

If you underline the ingredients or do not mix them properly, the soup may separate. Therefore, make sure to stir the soup properly before serving and blend again to incorporate the ingredients.

Nutritional Information Per Serving

Chef John’s Gazpacho soup is extremely healthy. It is packed with fresh veggies like tomatoes, cucumbers, and bell peppers, which are rich sources of antioxidants, vitamins, and fiber. Moreover, extra virgin olive oil adds healthy fats, which makes it lower in calories.

Have a look at the nutritional table below.

Calories	677 kcal
Carbohydrates	45 g
Protein	9 g
Fat	56 g
Saturated Fat	8 g
Polyunsaturated Fat	6 g
Monounsaturated Fat	40 g
Sodium	2482 mg
Potassium	1902 mg
Fibre	9 g
Sugar	25 g
Vitamin A	36307 IU
Vitamin C	255 mg
Calcium	172 mg
Iron	7 mg

People can consume this soup on a vegetarian, whole 30, dairy-free and low-calorie diet.

Recipe Variations For Different Diets

Vegan: To make this soup vegan, I simply replace Worcestershire sauce with soy sauce.
Gluten-Free: For a gluten-free version, I switch Worcestershire sauce with tamari sauce, and a gluten-free gazpacho soup is ready.
Keto-Friendly: I use Roma tomatoes and green bell peppers to make this soup fit for a keto diet. I also swap balsamic vinegar with apple cider vinegar and Worcestershire sauce with coconut aminos.

Storing This Recipe

Refrigerator: Once the soup is blended, I transfer it to a clean, airtight container and keep it in the refrigerator. It can be stored for at least 4-5 days.
Freezing: When I plan to freeze the soup for a longer period of time, I first divide it into small batches. Then, I transfer each batch to freezer-safe containers. After that, I store it in the freezer for 3 months.

What to Serve With This Soup

If you’re a health freak, then this nutritious soup goes well with warm, crisp Grilled Vegetables and Caprese Salads. I also like to have it with Roasted Asparagus and Grilled Shrimp to enhance the freshness of the soup.

In addition to the above-mentioned options, Grilled Chicken and Seared Peppered Ahi add a rich and creamy contrast to the soup.

Printable Version

More Chef John Recipes That You Can Try

Chef John's perfect prime roast — Chef John’s Prime Rib

Chef John's Make Ahead Turkey Gravy — Chef John’s Prime Rib

Conclusion

In the end, I would like to state that this Gazpacho soup brings the essence of fresh summer veggies and bold flavors—everything in one bowl. With simple preparation and some life-changing tips and tricks, you can ace this one.

However, this soup may not be suitable for some diets due to the presence of one or two ingredients, but you can easily customize it with simple ingredient substitutions.

So, now, it’s your turn to turn your tiring summer weekday into a refreshing, cool experience. Make yourself this bowl of elixir that is healthy and flavourful. Till then, happy blending!