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Friday, July 9, 2010

Farmer's market gazpacho, plus how I almost drowned Anthony Bourdain

gazpacho

I have a confession. Last week I almost drowned Anothony Bourdain. I know what you're thinking: what'd he do to deserve that? The answer: nothing. It was an accident. I was running a bath and was taking Kitchen Confidential with me, a book I've wanted to read for years, and I knocked it in the water. It's finally dry, but it's a wrinkled mess - I am devouring it page by page regardless. I can just hear Bourdain's voice in my head as I read. I'm getting through it quickly, so I need your help. What other foodie books should I be reading? Leave your favorites and I'll start a list. Let me know what you like and why.

Now on to the gazpacho. For my last birthday, my husband gave me a copy of 1080 Recipes. It was proudly placed on the shelf next to Phaidon's other pubs: the Silver Spoon and Vefa's Kitchen. And I hadn't used it until now. This gazpacho is Spanish-style. It's thicker than the stuff you typically see here, but it's exactly what I loved as we travelled through Spain last fall. If you've got a bumper crop of tomatoes overtaking your yard or, like me, just buy too much at the farmer's market, this is a great use of ripe tomatoes. For a light lunch or as a first course, it's cool and refreshing on a hot summer day... and olive coated goat cheese balls add a little something special. (They're purely optional, but what a yummy option to have!)

gazpacho (1)

Farmer's Market Gazpacho
adapted from 1080 Recipes by Simone and Ines Ortega

4-6 large ripe tomatoes, seeded, cored and coarsely chopped (I used 4 beefsteak, 6 vine-ripiened would be about the same amount)
1/4 onion, coarsely chopped
1 small cucumber, peeled and coarsely chopped
1/2 small green pepper, seeded and coarsely chopped
1/2 cup plain breadcrumbs
1/2 cup olive oil
1-2 Tbsp. sherry vinegar (use white wine vinegar if you don't have sherry)

For the goat cheese balls (optional)
2 oz. fresh goat cheese
1/4 cup pitted black olives (such as kalamata) finely chopped

Working in batches as needed, combine the tomatoes, onion, cucumber, green pepper, breadcrumbs, oil and vinegar in a blender and puree. Add salt to taste. (NOTE: taste it and add more vegetables if you prefer more flavor of one of the vegetables. You can also add some water if it's too thick, but this should be a thick gazpacho).

Transfer to a bowl and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.

To make the goat cheese balls, using your hands, roll piece of goat cheese into small balls and then roll each in the chopped olives to coat.

To serve, garnish the soup with the goat cheese balls.

11 comments:

Unknown said...

It does look very yummy! I like some chunkiness in mine, but yours served smooth is gorgeous.

Cajun Chef Ryan said...

Tony will survive, I saw him scuba diving last night, he had a few cocktails beforehand anyway!

Your gazpacho is perfect cooling recipe for this heat wave!

Bon appetit!
=:~)

Ms. F said...

Ha! I did that with my copy of Simone de Beauvoir's The Second Sex and it is now twice the size and it was formidable to begin with.

This gazpacho looks incredible and I think I'll definitely take your advice on the olive crusted cheese balls.

If you are looking for an interesting read I just finished Taras Grescoe's Devil's Picnic, it's about prohibited foods/substances throughout the world. Fascinating.

Ms. F said...

Ha! I did that with my copy of Simone de Beauvoir's The Second Sex and it is now twice the size and it was formidable to begin with.

This gazpacho looks incredible and I think I'll definitely take your advice on the olive crusted cheese balls.

If you are looking for an interesting read I just finished Taras Grescoe's Devil's Picnic, it's about prohibited foods/substances throughout the world. Fascinating.

Magic of Spice said...

Well I sure the read is still great, even if a bit wrinkled:) The gazpacho looks perfect!

The Housewife said...

Gotta love Tony! Nice Gazpacho…perfect for the sweltering heat when you just want something light! My fave read has to be The Picture of Dorian Grey by Oscar Wilde or anything by Wilde… Yup.. I'm a huge fan! :)

ladyberd said...

Ms. WhitePlates, Devil's Picnic sounds interesting - I'll have to check it out. Thanks for the comment - it's a book I've never heard of.

Lisa | Authentic Suburban Gourmet said...

That gazpacho looks fantastic and so creamy and perfect!!!

Josh said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Jason Phelps said...

I have to admit I have never had gazpacho and now I must because it looks delicious.

Jason

Download Ebook Gratis said...

thanks bro for this information :)

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