Ultimate Summer Gazpacho
Roasting the vegetables adds a layer of smokiness and subtle sweetness to this summer classic. The watermelon enhances that background sweetness; and all this is balanced by the gentle heat of the peppers, ginger, and adobo sauce and the tartness of the vinegar. Wonderfully appealing, this version of a summer classic showcases the gastronomic potential of simply prepared, fresh vegetables caught at the peak of ripeness.
Ingredients:
- 2 sweet red peppers, roasted
- 1 pepper, roasted
- 1 poblano pepper, roasted
- 1 half sweet onion, roasted
- 2 medium carrots, roasted
- ~ 3 pounds roasted tomatoes, roughly chopped and seeded (reserve the juice)
- ¼ cup watermelon puree
- 4 cucumbers, peeled and seeded
- 1 head roasted garlic
- ¼ cup sherry vinegar
- 1 tsp. fresh grated ginger
- 1 tsp. adobo sauce
- ¼ cup basil
- 1 tsp. salt
- ½ tsp. fresh ground black pepper
- Dab crème fraiche, lime wedge and good olive oil for garnish
- Salt and pepper to taste
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly drizzle the carrots, garlic, onion and tomatoes with olive oil and roast until the carrots are tender and tomatoes start to split; about twenty minutes. Remove and allow to cool. Place the peppers under the broiler and char. Remove and place in a sealed plastic bag for several minutes. Remove the charred skin and remove the seeds; roughly chop the peppers. Combine all the ingredients including reserved tomato juice, in a food processor, working in batches if necessary. Chill the soup for several hours or overnight to allow the flavors to meld together. To serve, ladle into a bowl, drizzle a little good quality olive oil, top with a dab of crème fraiche and garnish. Finish with a wedge of lime.