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Tuesday 5 July 2016

Gazpacho - A taste of Andalucia


Gazpacho is a soup made of raw vegetables and served cold, usually with a tomato base, originating in the southern Spanish region of Andalucia, which some spell with a c, while others use an s !

This soup can be "great for a hot day when making a lunch that takes just a few minutes is exactly what you want. In our version of this Andalusian peasant dish we leave out the soaked bread and instead use a creamy avocado to give it substance. Eating some of your food raw every day is important as the vitamins are retained as well as the all-important enzymes.

Ingredients:
Serves 4
8 large, ripe tomatoes
½ medium red, orange or yellow pepper (green peppers are unripe)
½ large cucumber, peeled
1 medium avocado (or a handful of soaked nuts such as almonds, cashews, or brazil nuts)
1 small red or white onion or a bunch of spring onions
3 large cloves of garlic
1 handful of fresh herbs (we like parsley or a mix of parsley and basil / coriander)
1 tsp of good quality balsamic vinegar or sherry vinegar*
The juice of ½ a lemon or lime
3 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
Sea salt and pepper 


Optional toppings:
Drizzle of extra virgin olive oil
Diced olives
Diced cucumber/red pepper/tomatoes
Toasted pumpkin seeds 
Parmesan crisps - how to make these see here 

Tips:
For GAPS (Gut And Psychology Syndrome) use apple cider vinegar instead of balsamic or sherry
For Paleo, add an extra ½ lemon or lime instead of vinegar
If you would prefer, you can substitute the avocado for a handful of soaked almonds, cashews or brazil nuts "

This recipe suggestion, and words above, are from Jasmine and Melissa Hemsley. They are home cooks and food lovers with a passion for wellness and delicious, nutrient-dense food. Their cooking is all about creating natural, satisfying and easy to digest meals that make you feel vibrant, strong and healthy; recipes that are full of flavour and goodness and free from gluten, grains and refined sugar. They believe in the nourishing power of real food and that eating well can be easy, affordable and enjoyable for everyone.

Original recipe here
More about the Hemsley's here

Facts about Andalusia ... a rocky, sun-baked region on Spain’s southern coast, embodies much of what the world thinks of as Spanish: flamenco, tapas, matadors and bullfights. Yet it was under Moorish rule from the 8th-15th centuries, a legacy that shows in its architecture, including such landmarks as the Alcázar castle in Seville, the capital city, as well as Córdoba’s Mezquita Mosque-Cathedral and Granada’s Alhambra palace.


Seville - Place d'Espagne - image from here

Well, you may not be able to visit Andalucia, but I hope you may get to taste this Gazpacho soon. Happy Eating - which if my Spanish is correct, translates to

Comiendo feliz!

All the best Jan

14 comments:

eileeninmd said...

Hello, the soup sounds delicious. I love the photo of Seville, very pretty place!
Happy Tuesday, enjoy your day!

PerthDailyPhoto said...

Loved the sound of substituting avocado Jan, I would add avo to everything :)

Debbie said...

this sounds very good!! soon, i will have oodles of tomatoes and this would be a great use for them. i adore hot soup, much not so much in the summer!!!

Anonymous said...

One of the great moments in my life was a visit to The Alhambra Palace - fabulous place!

Regards to you and Eddie.

Ray Davies

Snowbird said...

Gosh, what an unusual dish, raw cold soup....how enticing it looks. I really am looking forward to trying this! xxx

Judith @ Lavender Cottage said...

When our tomatoes are in this would be a great soup recipe to try and it sure looks healthy. Thank you for the recipe Jan.

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

Doesn't that sound wonderful! We definitely eat lighter here in Florida in the summer months. It's too hot to cook! Thanks for the recipe and info. Hugs, Diane

Anonymous said...

Hey, think the Spanish spell it with a 'C', sure would like to visit Seville and surrounding area. Soup looks tasty.

Ben

Red Rose Alley said...

Jan, I used the word "lately" because I wasn't talking about the world, I was talking about my real life and LATELY the people around me have been acting in a manner that isn't pleasant. I was just referring to my own life, not the world.

This soup looks delicious. I love soups during the cold months of winter.
Have a sweet day, Jan.

~Sheri

Anonymous said...

Great idea to use avocado instead of bread. Tasty looking recipe, must try it soon.

Jenny S

The Joy of Home with Martha Ellen said...

Oh boy does this soup sound good on a hot summer day. I would love to visit Seville and experience the culture there. Have a great evening, Jan. ♥

Kezzie said...

Aha, I was taught to make Gazpacho by a Spanish gentleman in a small Spanish village in his home. My friend and I were staying there! It was so nice to try it and then make it myself!

Lisa said...

I'm sure this is very good for you but I'd struggle to eat it with my food fussiness!
We went to the Alhambra palace years ago, it is absolutely stunning, a place I'll never forget.
Lisa x

The Happy Whisk said...

I had a friend that used to make a killer tomato-based one but I could never eat it cold. I had to heat it. But boy, so good.

Happy Weekend.