GARDEN GAZPACHO

Yield: 4-6 servings

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Gazpacho is a flavorful, chilled, traditional, Spanish cuisine soup.  With the abundance of tomatoes, peppers and herbs in the school gardens, I thought this would be a perfect dish to make with elementary students. Through my work in the schools, I teach students how to make healthy dishes using their garden harvest and the importance of healthy eating.   I wasn't sure if they would like the idea of "cold" soup, but I can truly say, this recipe has been kid tested and approved! They really loved this flavorful dish.  It's perfect for a hot summer day when you don't feel like turning on the stove or oven.  This garden gazpacho is loaded with fresh vegetables and many essential nutrients.  Experiment with different varieties of peppers, tomatoes and herbs to create your own customized garden gazpacho.  My basic recipe is below.

Ingredients:

• 1 cucumber, halved and seeded
• 2  peppers, cored and seeded (can use any type of pepper: bell pepper, chili, anaheim and jalapeno for a little heat)
• 4 -6 Roma tomatoes
• 1/2 red onion
• Fresh herbs:  basil, oregano, parsley
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 3 cups of tomato juice (optional)
• ¼ cup fresh lemon juice (juice of one lemon) 
• 2 tbsp red wine vinegar or sherry vinegar- optional
• ¼ cup olive oil
• ½ tsp salt and freshly ground pepper
• Optional: Can also add 1 cup of cubed white bread to blender to thicken the soup
• garnish options: corn kernels, chopped greens, herbs, avocado, onion, mini toasts or croutons

Directions:

1. Use a blender or food processor - Chop the cucumbers, peppers, tomatoes, and red onions into 1- inch cubes.  Put each vegetable separately into a blender or food processor and blend until pureed.  Add the herbs, garlic, olive oil and bread (if using).  Blend until combined and reaches desired consistency.
2. ​Add pureed mixture to a large bowl.  Mix in tomato juice, lemon juice, vinegar (if using), salt and pepper.  Mix well and refrigerate.  The longer gazpacho sits, the more the flavors develop.
3. Garnish options: corn kernels, chopped greens and herbs, avocado, onion (and the mini toasts were a fun addition for kids!)