Ultimate Classic Gazpacho Recipe

When you’re tempted to enjoy a timeless classic, don’t overlook the fantastic Spanish soup recipes, as they offer the perfect dish regardless of the time of year or occasion.

For summer or hot days, there’s nothing better than the classic gazpacho recipe. This is the original way to make the beloved Andalusian dish, and it’s so simple that you’ll want to make it every day.

By reading this article, you’ll learn how to make it from scratch, and we’ll also give you the best tips for serving, storing, and adapting the recipe to your tastes.

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Pssst…!!?? You can’t get enough of Spanish soup recipes? Have a look at my other posts: 

• Roasted tomato gazpacho

• Best tomato gazpacho

• Watermelon tomato gazpacho

Background of the Dish

The classic gazpacho recipe was created in Andalusia, Spain, where it was originally enjoyed as a nourishing and cooling dish by the people who lived and worked in rural areas.

Its main ingredients to this day are ripe tomatoes, onions, garlic, olive oil, vinegar, and bread, still easily available in Southern Spain and pretty much worldwide.

Although with time, people started playing with ingredients that were far from the classic gazpacho Spanish recipes, such as the fantastic gazpacho verde or the extra-fresh cold melon soup, the traditional one will always hold a special place.

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Things You’ll Need for Classic Gazpacho Recipe

To make the classic gazpacho recipe you will need ripe tomatoes, cucumber, white onion, garlic cloves, bell pepper, olive oil, stale bread, and water.

To prepare this recipe for Spanish soup you also need a blender, food processor, or immersion blender so that the gazpacho reaches the right consistency.

Ingredients

• 1kg ripe tomatoes
• 1 cucumber
• 1 green bell pepper
• 1 onion 
• 2 garlic cloves
• 2 cups (480 ml) cold water
• 1/4 cup (60 ml) extra virgin olive oil
• 2 tablespoons sherry vinegar (or red wine vinegar)
• Salt and pepper (to taste)
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 3 slices stale white bread
• Bread croutons (optional, for serving)

How to Make Classic Gazpacho Recipe – Step by Step Guide

1. To start with this classic gazpacho recipe, wash, peel, and roughly chop the tomatoes, cucumber, green bell pepper, and red onion. Mince the garlic. You can save some of the chopped veggies and use them for toppings.

2. Then, grab a blender or food processor, and combine the chopped tomatoes, cucumber, green bell pepper, red onion, and garlic. Blend until smooth. You may need to do this in batches depending on the size of your blender, or you can use an immersion blender.

3. Now, remove the crust of the bread, soak it in a bit of water, and squeeze until dry. Then, add it with olive oil, sherry vinegar, salt, black pepper, and cumin (if using) to the blended mixture. Blend again until everything in the cold Spanish soup is combined and smooth.

4. Something you have to watch out for in this traditional gazpacho recipe is the soup consistency. If it is too thick, add cold water a little at a time until you reach your desired consistency. Keep in mind that gazpacho should be smooth but not watery.

5. For the next step in this basic gazpacho recipe, transfer it to a large bowl or container and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, allowing the flavors to meld and the soup to chill properly.

6. To finish this gazpacho traditional recipe, stir the soup before serving. Pour into bowls and top with diced cucumber, green bell pepper, tomatoes, and croutons, if desired.

Substitution of Ingredients

We recommend that you use the freshest ingredients that you can find to make the classic Spanish gazpacho recipe, but as long as you follow that rule you can let your imagination run wild.

For the ingredient substitutions, feel free to take inspiration from other Spanish soups recipes, no matter how different or similar they are to the classic gazpacho recipe.

As an example, you can make this cold Spanish tomato soup even faster if you turn it into a tomato juice gazpacho (which is a great alternative if you can’t find good quality fresh tomatoes).

You can also make this easiest gazpacho recipe with other types of tomatoes, like the heirloom tomato gazpacho, or add more creaminess with a nice avocado as you would do with the avocado tomato soup.

Tips on Serving Classic Gazpacho Recipe

The traditional Spanish gazpacho is often served as a starter or side dish, and you can enjoy it for lunch or dinner.

To honor this authentic Spanish gazpacho recipe, top the cold Spanish soup with diced cucumber, green bell pepper, tomatoes, and croutons, as well as a drizzle of olive oil.

If you want to go a more creative path with this classic gazpacho recipe, then you can top it with avocado slices, chopped herbs like basil or cilantro, and a drizzle of balsamic glaze.

You can make this gazpacho more filling if you take inspiration from other Spanish soup recipes, such as the crab gazpacho or the seafood gazpacho, and top it with grilled shrimp, mussels, or any leftover meat that you have.

To turn this Spanish cold tomato soup into the best appetizer, then draw inspiration from the gazpacho shot and serve it in martini, champagne, or shot glasses.

How to Store Classic Gazpacho Recipe

Once you finish making the classic gazpacho recipe, you can serve your fantastic cold tomato soup right away or store it in the fridge for later.

If you choose the latter, place the Spanish soup in an airtight container, and cover it with plastic wrap on contact with the top so that it doesn’t form a crust (then, put the lid on).

After that, you will be able to have one of the best Spanish soups stored in your fridge for up to 2 days and enjoy a refreshing and healthy meal whenever you desire.

Before serving it, stir the gazpacho -you might even need to blend it again if the ingredients got separated- and adjust the seasoning (if the texture and flavor still seem off then it is better to avoid consuming it.

Other delicious Spanish cold soups that you can make and store in the fridge for a couple of days are the refreshing Spanish cucumber soup and the flavorful cold courgette soup.

Recipe Card: Classic Gazpacho Recipe

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