One of my favorite things about summer is tomato havest time! I make as many fresh tomato things as I can…I just can’t get enough of ‘em. Here’s a a great sandwich recipe to use up some of those perfect summer tomatoes. This is a good time to splurge on some top-quality bacon like Nueske’s Thick Sliced Applewood Smoked Bacon. Enjoy!

California BLTs
-recipe from Barefoot Contessa at Home by Ina Garten

Makes 2 sandwiches

6 thick-cut slices smoked bacon
4 slices good white bread, cut 1/2-inch thick
4 tablespoons good mayonnaise (recommended: Hellman’s)
4 to 8 tender green lettuce leaves, washed and spun very dry
1 ripe Hass avocado
1/2 lemon, juiced
1 large ripe tomato, sliced 1/2-inch thick
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Place a baking wire rack on a sheet pan and arrange the bacon on the rack in a single layer. Bake for 15 to 25 minutes, until the bacon is browned and crisp. Drain on paper towels and set aside.

Place the bread slices on a sheet pan and toast them for 5 minutes. Turn the slices and toast for 1 more minute, until all the bread is evenly browned. Place 2 slices on a cutting board. Spread each slice with about 1 tablespoon of mayonnaise. Cover the slices with a layer of lettuce. Peel the avocado and slice it 1/2-inch thick. Toss the avocado slices gently with the lemon juice, and arrange on top of the lettuce leaves. Place 3 slices of bacon on top of each sandwich and then add a layer of tomato slices on top of the bacon. Sprinkle liberally with salt and pepper.

Spread each of the remaining 2 slices of toasted bread with 1 tablespoon of mayonnaise and place, mayonnaise side down, on the sandwiches. Cut in half and serve.

Tags: avocado, bacon, Barefoot Contessa at Home by Ina Garten, BLAT, BLT, California BLT, lettuce, sandwich, tomato

Guacamole…so simple yet so incredibly delicious. The first time I had really great guacamole was at a resort in Tuscon, Arizona. The waiter made it at our table so, of course, we were impressed with the presentation: mashing the perfect avocado right before our very eyes in a molcajete, the traditional Mexican version of a mortar and pestle, then adding fresh tomato, chopped onion, a little garlic, cilantro, fresh lime and salt. It was amazing! 

A good batch of guacamole is hard to stop eating, especially when you serve it with fresh, locally-made tortilla chips. If you live in the Portland area, try Juanita’s brand tortilla chips. They’re made in Hood River and are the best grocery store tortilla chips I’ve ever had (available at many local markets). Some Mexican restaurants even sell freshly-made tortilla chips.

This recipe for guacamole is from Rick Bayless, the king of authentic Mexican cuisine. I prefer the luxurious version of this guac…it rocks!  As long as you start with good avocados, you pretty much can’t go wrong. For more on avocados, click here.

Guacamole Three Ways: Simple, Herby or Luxurious
Guacamole Tres Estilos
-recipe from Mexican Everyday by Rick Bayless

“I gave up looking for “the one best guacamole” years ago. Because “the best” is only the best for a particular moment, a particular set of ingredients, a particular group of people and the role it plays in their eating or snacking. Which is why I’ve written this recipe in stages. I want you to have an easy-to-follow guide for making the perfect guacamole for a multitude of uses, a variety of occasions. So it starts with the simplest perfect mash of avocado, garlic and salt (I know many cooks in Mexico who think that adding anything to avocados but those two ingredients is a start on the road to ruin). This simple guacamole is a delicious condiment to spread on sandwiches or grilled meat tacos that are served with salsa. Adding cilantro and lime to the basic, garlicky guacamole gives it the pizzazz to stand alone—as a topping for crispy tacos or tostadas, even as a dip. Green chile, white onion and red tomato—do I need to point out that those are the colors of Mexico’s flag?—create a chest-thumping, look-at-me guacamole that’s perfect with a bowl of chips at a party where the music’s turned up and there are lots of laughs.” -Rick Bayless

Makes 1 ¼ to 1 ½ cups

2 medium ripe avocados
1 clove garlic, peeled and finely chopped or crushed through a garlic press
Salt
To make it herby, add:
2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
About 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
To make it luxurious, also add:
Fresh hot green chile to taste (I like 1 serrano or ½ to 1 jalapeño), finely chopped
¼ small white onion, finely chopped
½ medium tomato, chopped into ¼-inch dice

Cut the avocados in half, running your knife around the pit from stem to blossom end and back up again. Twist the halves in opposite directions to free the pits and pull the halves apart. Dislodge the pits, then scoop out the avocado flesh into a medium bowl.

Mash the avocado with a large fork or potato masher. Stir in the garlic and about ½ teaspoon salt, plus any other sets of ingredients you’ve chosen. If your list includes the white onion, rinse it first under cold water, then shake well to rid it of excess moisture, before adding to the avocado. (This reduces the risk of having onion flavor overwhelm the guacamole.) Taste and season with additional salt if appropriate. If not using immediately, cover with plastic wrap pressed directly on the surface of the guacamole and refrigerate—preferably not more than a few hours.

A Riff on “Stage Two” Guacamole: Replace the lime juice with (or, for extra-tangy guacamole, add along with the lime juice) about ½ cup homemade or bottled tomatillo salsa—perfect as a topping or a dip, especially when you need to make the guacamole ahead (the additional acid in the tomatillos helps keep the guacamole greener for longer).

Avocado Sauce: For a tangy sauce to drizzle over raw (or blanched) vegetables or on tacos, tostadas and the like, follow the above variation, increasing the tomatillo salsa to 1 cup; puree everything in a blender. If the sauce is too thick to drizzle, thin with additional tomatillo salsa. A little heavy cream, sour cream or crème fraiche can be added for wonderful richness.

Tags: avocado, cilantro, guacamole, Juanita's tortilla chips, lime, Mexican Everyday Cookbook, molcajete, onion, Rick Bayless, tomato

Words cannot describe how much I love this sandwich…it’s one of my favorite sandwiches EVER! You may be thinking to yourself that it’s just a sandwich. But that’s where you’re wrong. It’s not just a sandwich…it’s a REALLY, REALLY GOOD SANDWICH: Ciabbata bread spread with a delicious basil mayonnaise and layered with ripe tomato slices, fresh mozzarella, smoky bacon, romaine lettuce, fresh basil leaves and a drizzle of olive oil and balsamic vinegar. If you’re not drooling yet, you should be! 

First things first: you must start with top-quality tomatoes. It would be an insult to the sandwich to use the tasteless tomatoes found in most grocery stores. This recipe is best when using perfect, garden-ripe tomatoes. And since we’re just at the beginning of October, you can still find good tomatoes at farm stands.

On to the basil mayo…it’s absolutely wonderful! I usually double or triple that part of the recipe so I’ll have extra for recipes later in the week (sandwiches, chicken, fish). If you don’t feel like messing with bacon, the sandwich is also great with slices of salami or other Italian deli meats. Or leave out the meat entirely and you’ve got a delicious vegetarian sandwich. If you can’t find fresh mozzarella, sliced provolone would be a good substitute.

The recipe calls for a loaf of ciabatta. As with any sandwich served on this type of bread, the crustier and chewier the bread, the harder it will be to eat the sandwich. Personally, I’m not a fan of sandwiches that have a delicious crusty bread for a foundation but with each bite, the contents of the sandwich come squishing out of every side possible. What good is the delicious, crusty bread when you’ve got sandwich innards all over your lap? I prefer a bread that is sturdier than regular sandwich bread but not as crusty/chewy as some of the artisan breads. I found a loaf of ciabbata in the Winco bakery (Winco label on it) that is perfect: chewy but not too chewy for a sandwich. I’ve used ciabatta rolls before, too. 

As you can see from the photo, I took the picture before I cut the loaf into individual sandwiches. Serving size and amount of servings will depend on the size of the loaf you start with. I got 8 pieces out of my sandwich loaf.  

Caprese BLT
-recipe from Cook’s Illustrated Magazine

This sandwich builds on the basic BLT with the addition of Italian flavors like mozzarella, basil, and balsamic vinegar. Many supermarket bakeries carry ciabatta. An Italian loaf can be used instead, but be sure to discard the interior of the bread, as directed. Serves 4 to 6.

2 medium tomatoes , sliced thin 
 Table salt  
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil  
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar  
1 loaf ciabatta  
1 1/3 cups fresh packed basil leaves  
1/3 cup mayonnaise  
2 teaspoons lemon juice  
1 clove garlic , minced 
1/8 teaspoon hot sauce  
8 slices bacon , cooked until crisp, drained, and crumbled 
4 leaves romaine lettuce  
8 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese , sliced thin 

Place tomato slices on several layers of paper towels and sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon salt. Let sit for 15 minutes, then press with additional paper towels to extract excess moisture. Mix oil and vinegar together in small bowl. Slice bread in half horizontally and use fingers to remove and discard all but 1/2 inch of interior crumb.

Puree 1 cup basil, mayonnaise, lemon juice, garlic, hot sauce, and 1/4 teaspoon salt in blender or food processor until smooth, stopping to scrape down sides several times. Spread basil mayonnaise on both cut sides of bread. Sprinkle bacon on bottom half of bread and place romaine on top of bacon. Shingle tomatoes and mozzarella alternately over romaine and drizzle with oil and vinegar mixture. Place remaining 1/3 cup basil in single layer on top and replace top half of bread. Cut crosswise into 2-inch sandwiches. Serve.

Test Kitchen Discoveries:
• Make a basil-flavored spread by pureeing lots of fresh basil leaves with store-bought mayonnaise. A little lemon juice, garlic, and hot sauce round out the spread’s flavor.
• Sprinkle the sliced tomatoes with salt and let the slices sit on paper towels for a few minutes to draw off much of the tomatoes’ liquid. This step concentrates the flavor and ensures that the sandwich won’t become too soggy.
• Use a crisp-crusted, peasant-style loaf like ciabatta, which many supermarkets and bakeries carry.

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Tags: bacon, basil, basil mayonnaise, caprese BLT, ciabatta, fresh mozzarella, Italian, lettuce, picnic, romaine lettuce, sandwich, tailgating, tomato

I love grilled cheese and tomato sandwiches, so naturally I was intrigued by this recipe for Inside-Out English Muffin Grilled Cheese sandwiches. It’s a tasty and fun way to jazz up a lunch-time classic.

The recipe calls for sharp white cheddar cheese, which has a bolder flavor than the medium cheddar I used. Any kind of cheddar will produce a good sandwich so use what you have or splurge on the fancy sharp white cheddar. Definitely buy the best tomatoes you can find because lame tomatoes will add no flavor at all to this sandwich. Serve with a green salad or fresh veggie sticks. Enjoy!

Inside-Out English Muffin Grilled Cheese
-recipe from Every Day with Rachael Ray Magazine, November 2009

“This is the only way I make grilled cheese now. I sometimes swap the tomatoes for arugula or spinach or crisp bacon. Or I just have straight cheese. Try emmentaler or havarti cheese, too, and serve with a salad.” -R.R.

4 sandwich-size English muffins
Butter, softened
8 slices sharp white cheddar cheese
Four 1/4-inch-thick slices beefsteak tomato
Salt and pepper

Heat a cast-iron skillet or griddle over medium-low heat. Lightly spread the inside of each English muffin half with butter. Arrange the muffins buttered sides out and build 4 sandwiches, each with a cheese slice, a tomato slice, some salt and pepper and another cheese slice. Place the sammies in the pan and cook, turning once or twice, until the cheese is melted and the muffins are golden-brown, about 8 minutes.

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Tags: english muffin, grilled cheese sandwich, tomato, white cheddar cheese

I took this awesome Greek-inspired salsa to a pool party recently. Dang, it’s good! I chose to make it because it’s super easy and I had all the makings for it. It’s a perfect summertime appetizer!!!

I followed the recipe for the salsa except that I didn’t have the fresh oregano so I used a little extra fresh dill and parsley. I also added some chopped red bell pepper and a few dashes of dried red pepper flakes for some zip. If you want the salsa to have a bit more tang, add a few dashes of red wine vinegar.

The recipe calls for making fresh pita chips but I didn’t feel like turning on the oven so I served it with store-bought pita chips. Next time I’ll make my own, though, because the store-bought kind were too small and fragile to hold much of the salsa. Bigger pita squares or triangles would work much better. Enjoy!

Greek Salad Salsa with Toasted Pita Chips
-recipe from San Francisco Flavors: Favorite Recipes from The Junior League of San Francisco

This zesty blend of feta cheese, olives, tomatoes, cucumber, and parsley is a wonderful alternative to guacamole and chips. If, by chance, there is any left over, pulse it in a blender or food processor and use as a sauce for grilled fish. Serves 6 to 8.

8 ounces feta cheese, crumbled (1 1/2 cups)
1 large ripe tomato, seeded and chopped
3 scallions, thinly sliced, including green portions
1/2 cucumber, peeled, seeded, and coarsely chopped
1/2 cup black olives, pitted and sliced
1/4 cup minced fresh flat-leaf parsley
2 tablespoons minced fresh oregano
2 tablespoons snipped fresh dill
Juice of 1/2 lemon
1/3 cup olive oil
Freshly ground pepper to taste
Toasted Pita Chips (recipe follows)

In a medium bowl, combine all the ingredients except the pita chips and gently mix.

Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or up to one day.

Toasted Pita Chips
You might want to double this recipe — these chips disappear quickly! Make them the night before you plan to serve them, and leave them in the turned-off oven overnight. Makes about 40 chips.

1 package mini pita breads
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
Garlic powder, dried
Dill, and paprika to taste

Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F. Cut the pita rounds in half. Cut each half again into thirds, then separate each piece to make two bite-sized chips. Using a pastry brush, lightly coat each chip with the melted butter.

Lay the chips in a single layer on a large baking sheet. Dust with the garlic powder, dill, and paprika. Place in the oven and turn the oven off. Do not open the oven door until the oven is completely cool and chips are crisp, about 4 hours or overnight. If the chips are still soft, repeat cooking process, preheating oven to 200 degrees F.

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Tags: Appetizer, black olives, cucumber, dill, Feta cheese, lemon, olive oil, oregano, parsley, pita bread, scallions, tomato

Most people fall in one of two categories with eggplant: you either Like It or Hate It. I happen to be in the Like It category. Recently I was looking up new sandwich recipes and came across this “sandwich” using grilled eggplant. Not only are these Eggplant and Mozzarella Sandwiches beautiful, but they’re also delicious, incredibly easy and vegetarian.

I misread the recipe and put a slice of mozzarella on each slice of eggplant so I got extra cheesy sandwiches…no big deal! I loved the flavor of the smoky grilled eggplant with the melty cheese, fresh basil and the crunch of the pine nuts…Delicious!

Grilled Eggplant and Mozzarella Sandwiches
-recipe from Bon Appétit Magazine

Makes 4 servings.

Nonstick vegetable oil spray
8 1/2-inch-thick eggplant slices
4 1/4-inch-thick slices part-skim mozzarella cheese (4 ounces)

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 1/2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 garlic clove
4 large bunches arugula
2 large tomatoes, coarsely chopped
3 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
2 tablespoons pine nuts, toasted

Spray grill with oil spray and prepare barbecue (medium heat). Spray eggplant on both sides with oil spray; sprinkle with salt and pepper. Grill until tender, turning occasionally, about 10 minutes.

Place 1 cheese slice atop each of 4 eggplant slices; top with remaining eggplant slices. Grill until cheese melts, about 2 minutes.

Whisk oil, vinegar and garlic in large bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Add arugula, tomatoes and basil; toss. Divide among 4 plates. Sprinkle with pine nuts. Top each with 1 eggplant sandwich.

Tags: arugula, balsamic vinegar, basil, eggplant, fresh mozzarella, Grilling/BBQ, olive oil, pine nuts, tomato

Words can not express how much I love this appetizer! In fact, it’s what I had for dinner last night. I didn’t intend to eat only the crostini for dinner but I ate several of them, which led to several more and before I knew it, I was full. This is one of those appetizers that is always a hit at parties and potlucks. Plus, it’s delicious, full of fresh flavors and easy to make. I seriously think I could eat it everyday and never grow tired of it!

Since it’s hot right now, I grilled the bread outside on the grill so I wouldn’t heat up the house by turning on the oven. I used small mozzarella balls called ciliegine that I got at Trader Joe’s. I sliced each cherry-sized ball of mozzarella into several slices and put 2-3 slices on each piece of grilled bread. Sometimes I like to put the cheese on the bread while it’s on the grill so it melts. If you want a little zip, add a few dashes of crushed red pepper flakes to the tomato-basil topping. Yumm!

Fresh Mozzarella and Tomato Crostini
-recipe from Williams-Sonoma

Easy to make, crostini are an excellent way to showcase fresh seasonal ingredients. This simple combination of ripe tomatoes, basil and mozzarella cheese makes a perfect beginning to an alfresco meal.

Extra-virgin olive oil for brushing, plus 1/4 cup
1 baguette, cut crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick slices
Salt and coarsely ground pepper, to taste
8 vine-ripened tomatoes, about 1 1/2 lb. total
1/2 cup slivered fresh basil leaves
2 Tbs. finely minced red onion
1/4 tsp. minced garlic
1 Tbs. aged balsamic vinegar
1 1/2 lb. fresh mozzarella cheese

Preheat an oven to 350°F. Brush a baking sheet with olive oil and arrange the baguette slices on the sheet in a single layer. Brush the tops with oil, and season with salt and pepper. Bake until crisp and golden, 15 to 18 minutes. If not using immediately, let the crostini cool, then store in an airtight container at room temperature until ready to use.

Core, seed and dice the tomatoes. In a bowl, stir together the tomatoes, half of the basil, the onion, garlic, vinegar, the 1/4 cup olive oil, salt and pepper.

Slice the mozzarella into 1/4-inch-thick pieces or into smaller pieces so they fit on the crostini. To assemble, lay a piece of mozzarella on each crostini and spoon 1 to 2 Tbs. of the tomato salad on top. Garnish each with a pinch of the remaining basil. Serve immediately.

Serves 8.

Williams-Sonoma Kitchen.

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Tags: balsamic vinegar, basil, bruschetta, crostini, fresh mozzarella, garlic, olive oil, red onion, tomato

Since my folks are galavanting around London right now on holiday and enjoying the delicious Indian food that the city has to offer, I thought I’d make my own Indian food in honor of their trip. This recipe for Chicken Tikka Masala, noted as being Britain’s new national dish, is a great way to recreate this British favorite at home. Chunks of chicken are marinated in yogurt and spices, broiled in the oven then quickly simmered in a fragrant sauce of tomatoes, spices and cream. If you like Indian food, you’re going to love this recipe!

While at Whole Foods recently, I found organic bulk spices so I bought small quantities of several of the spices needed for this recipe. Usually I just buy spices in jars but these bulk spices were so fragrant that I couldn’t pass them up. The fresher spices made a huge difference in the overall dish!

For the spice paste, I only used 6 drops of red food coloring instead of 1 teaspoon. If you don’t want to use it at all, the dish will still be great…just not as red.

To make the sauce, the recipe calls for cumin and coriander seeds but I substituted ground cumin and coriander instead. I also skipped the step of straining the pureed tomatoes through a sieve. Even with the changes, the sauce was silky and delicious! Serve with steamed basmati rice and enjoy the excellent meal you’ve just created.

For other recipe ideas, check out Foodie Friday.

Chicken Tikka Masala
-recipe from Saveur.com

Serves 6.

1 tbsp. ground turmeric
4 tsp. garam masala
1 tsp. red food coloring (optional)
6 cloves garlic, crushed
1  2 1⁄2″ piece ginger, peeled and chopped, plus julienned strips for garnish
1 jalapeño, stemmed and chopped
1  28-oz. can whole peeled tomatoes, undrained
2 lbs. boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1 1⁄2″ cubes
1⁄4 cup Greek yogurt, such as Fage
Kosher salt, to taste
6 tbsp. unsalted butter
1 tsp. coriander seeds
1⁄2 tsp. cumin seeds
1 tbsp. paprika
2 small yellow onions, finely chopped
1 cup heavy cream
Cilantro leaves, for garnish
Cooked basmati rice, for serving

In a blender, purée turmeric, 2 tsp. garam masala, coloring, garlic, ginger, jalapeños, and 1⁄2 cup water. Put paste into a bowl. In the same blender, purée tomatoes and strain through a sieve. In a bowl, mix 2 tbsp. paste, chicken, yogurt, and salt; marinate for 30 minutes. Place oven rack 4″ from heating element; heat to broil. Transfer chicken to a foil-lined sheet tray; broil until cooked, 5–6 minutes; set aside.

Heat butter in 6-qt. saucepan over medium-high heat. Add coriander and cumin; toast 4–6 minutes. Add paprika and onions; cook until soft, 6–8 minutes. Add remaining paste; brown for 5–6 minutes. Add tomatoes; cook for 2 minutes. Stir in cream and 1 cup water; boil. Reduce heat; simmer until thickened, 6–8 minutes. Stir in remaining masala and chicken; season with salt. Serve with garnishes and rice.

Tags: chicken tikka masala, coriander, cream, cumin, garam masala, garlic, ginger, jalepeno, tomato, turmeric, yogurt

We’ve all had grilled cheese sandwiches before. But have you ever had a Grilled Cheddar, Tomato and Bacon Sandwich? If not, you’re in for a treat! Bacon takes the humble grilled cheese to new heights! It’s true, you know…everything is better with bacon!!!

Because this is a simple sandwich, top-quality ingredients are very important. The recipe calls for using sharp cheddar cheese, which is aged longer and has a more pronounced cheddar flavor and tang than medium or mild cheddar. The tomatoes will be the hardest to find since we’re out of prime tomato season, so buy the best looking hothouse or on-the-vine tomatoes you can get your hands on.

And then we have the bacon. I suggest splurging on a gourmet bacon like Nueske’s Thick Sliced Applewood Smoked Bacon. Just the mere mention of Nueske’s bacon makes Husband happy. It’s leagues better than ordinary grocery store bacon and makes a great gift for a bacon lover. Fortunately for us, we’re able to buy it at the little gourmet grocery store that I shop at. If you can’t find Nueske’s then try another top-quality brand…it’s worth every penny!

Now on to the bread. I don’t care for my mouth getting ripped to shreds by thick-sliced grilled artisan bread so I use pre-sliced sourdough bread, which has a sturdier texture and more flavor than a soft sandwich bread but is more managable to eat than a thick slice of artisan bread. There you have it…my notes on the making of an incredible Grilled Cheddar, Tomato and Bacon Sandwich. Enjoy!

Grilled Cheddar, Tomato and Bacon Sandwiches
-recipe from epicurious.com

Spreading a little mayonnaise over the outside of the bread before grilling adds golden color and delicious crunch. Makes 4 servings

8 thick-cut bacon slices
8 slices country-style sourdough bread or batard (cut on deep diagonal into 5x3x1/2-inch slices)
2 cups (packed) grated extra-sharp cheddar cheese (about 8 ounces)
8 tomato slices, seeds removed, slices drained on paper towels
4 tablespoons mayonnaise

Cook bacon in heavy large skillet over medium heat until brown and crisp, turning occasionally, about 6 minutes. Transfer bacon to paper towels and drain. Wash and dry skillet.

Place 4 bread slices on work surface. Press 1/4 cup grated cheese onto each slice. Top each with 2 tomato slices. Sprinkle with pepper. Place 2 bacon slices atop each, breaking into pieces if necessary to fit. Press 1/4 cup grated cheese over bacon on each. Top sandwiches with remaining bread slices, then spread 1/2 tablespoon mayonnaise over top of each sandwich. Heat 2 heavy large skillets over medium heat. Add 2 sandwiches, mayonnaise side down, to each skillet. Place plate atop both sandwiches to weigh down. Cook sandwiches until bottom is golden brown, about 2 minutes. Spread top of each sandwich with 1/2 tablespoon mayonnaise. Turn sandwiches over, mayonnaise side down. Top with plates and cook until golden brown on bottom, about 2 minutes. Transfer sandwiches to work surface. Cut sandwiches crosswise in half and serve.

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Tags: applewood-smoked bacon, bacon, grilled cheese sandwich, sharp cheddar cheese, tomato

One of my absolute favorite summer dishes is Andalusian Gazpacho, a Spanish tomato-based soup. To me, it tastes like summer in a bowl. You must, however, start with good farm stand or homegrown tomatoes. Period. Don’t even think about making this gazpacho if you can’t use excellent tomatoes. 

I pretty much follow the recipe except for substituting red bell pepper for the green pepper. Also, I don’t add any water to the soup because I don’t want to dilute any of the flavor, and I don’t bother to use the sieve to strain out the little bits of tomato and pepper skin (though you should strain the soup if you want it perfectly smooth). Most gazpachos are served cold, but I like this one best at room-temperature right after it’s made. It’s a perfect way to showcase those delicious, garden-fresh tomatoes!

Andalusian Gazpacho
-recipe from Fine Cooking Magazine

Straining this soup makes it absolutely smooth; if you’d rather not strain it, purée it more coarsely so the soup is chunky and tiny fibers aren’t an issue. This recipe was adapted from Carmen Perujo, a home cook from Seville, who says that gazpacho used to be served as the penultimate course of the midday meal, “just before the fruit, which was always our dessert.” Nowadays, it’s often served as an appetizer.

Serves four. Yields 4 cups.

2 cloves garlic, sliced
1 large green bell pepper, seeded and coarsely chopped (to yield 2 cups)
1-1/2 lb. very red, ripe tomatoes (about 4 large), cut into large pieces
3-inch-long piece of baguette, sliced and dried overnight or until hard
1/2 cup good-quality extra-virgin olive oil
2 Tbs. sherry vinegar or red-wine vinegar; more to taste
2 tsp. coarse salt; more to taste
Freshly ground black pepper (optional)
1 cup peeled, diced cucumber, for garnish
1 cup diced onion, for garnish (optional)

Put the garlic, green pepper, tomatoes, bread, olive oil, vinegar, and salt in a food processor. Pulse until the ingredients begin to purée (if the bread is hard, it may bounce about and take a while to break down); continue processing until the mixture is as fine a purée as possible, 3 to 5 min.

Pass the soup through a large fine sieve set over a large bowl, pressing until only solids remain in the sieve; discard the solids. Stir in 1/4 to 1/2 cup ­water, or enough to give the soup the consistency of a thin milkshake. If you want a thicker soup, add less water, or none at all. Add more salt or vinegar to taste. Cover and refrigerate until well chilled (or serve it ­immediately with a few ice cubes in each bowl).

Ladle the gazpacho into chilled bowls or cups. Grind fresh pepper on top, if you want, and pass bowls of diced cucumber and onion, if using, so ­people can garnish their own.

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Tags: Andalusian Gazpacho, Quick Cooking, Soup/Stew, tomato