25
Jul

Heirloom Gazpacho with Bay Shrimp

 

Tomato season is upon us! We took our weekly visit to our small local Farmer's market and the aisles looked like a sea of red, speckled with yellows and oranges from the gorgeous heirlooms that are currently in their prime. Heirloom tomato season, in particular, is my favorite time of the year. The unusual shapes and colors conjure up memories of fairy tales and picture books. I half expect them to turn into a carriage!

Heirloom tomatoes are open-pollinated, meaning they are not genetically altered in any way. They are left to take their natural shape and color, rather than being cross-bred to achieve that uniform red color and perfectly round shape we all know so well. They're bursting with flavor and each fruit is unique. Because of this unique taste, the seeds of heirloom tomatoes are exactly that: Heirlooms. The coveted seeds are passed down through generations and some varieties have been being cultivated for over 50 years. So next time you bit into a slice of an heirloom, know that you are partaking in some family's rich heritage!

When we had the blender giveaway last week, a huge number of you said the first dish you would make was gazpacho. I guess you all have caught the same tomato fever that I have, because I made this cool and refreshing soup a few weeks ago and have just been waiting for the right time to share it with you! We have had a heat wave here in the San Francisco Bay Area, so this cold soup is the perfect answer when you're avoiding turning on your stove or even hovering over a hot barbecue. You can make this in a food processor or blender, whichever you have accessible. If you don't have access to heirloom tomatoes, vine ripened will work too.

 Shared with Wellness Weekend

Heirloom Gazpacho with Bay Shrimp



AUTHOR:

Ingredients:

  • 1 cucumber, peeled & seeded
  • 1 pound heirloom tomatoes
  • ½ red onion, peeled
  • 3 garlic cloves, peeled
  • 3 cups tomato juice
  • ¼ cup red wine vinegar
  • ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 1½ teaspoons honey or sweetener of choice (helps cut the acidity)
  • 3 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 3 tablespoons parsley
  • ½ teaspoon sea salt
  • dash cracked pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon Tabasco sauce
  • ½ cup bay shrimp, peeled and deveined (optional, remove for Vegan)
  • garnish: diced cucumber, red onion, lemon slices, and chopped parsley

Instructions:

  1. Cut your vegetables into large chunks to make it easier for your food processor or blender to chop.
  2. Place the tomato pieces, cucumber, onion, and garlic in the bowl of a food processor or in a large blender jar.
  3. Pulse 3-4 times, until the vegetables are roughly chopped. Add half of the tomato juice, vinegar, olive oil, honey, lemon juice, seasonings and blend for 30 seconds until a smooth soup has formed. If you have a food processor large enough to hold all 3 cups of tomato juice, you can add it all at once.
  4. Pour the remaining tomato juice into a large bowl, then incorporate your blended mixture. Check for seasonings, and adjust to your taste. My husband likes a little extra Tabasco, but I prefer less spice.
  5. Chill in the refrigerator to let the flavors meld for a minimum of 4 hours, but preferably overnight.
  6. Serve with fresh diced cucumber, red onion, lemon slices, parsley, and bay shrimp.