The heat of August ushers in peak tomato harvest, which makes it the perfect time to get creative with summer’s favorite fruit. However, now that August is behind us, it's time to get resourceful as well. (Because letting not just good, but gorgeous food spoil isn't just a waste of taste, it's a waste of resources.)
It's with both the harvest and this humility (i.e. respect for food's value) that we've made several tomato-based recipes.
The first is salmorejo, a chilled soup from the Andalusia region of Spain that could be considered the rich, creamy cousin of gazpacho. Where the latter is cold and refreshing, salmorejo is cold and velvety.
Rich with tasty Spanish olive oil and thickened with a bit of bread, it's the perfect late summer soup. Whip up a batch and let us know if you agree.
Ingredients
- 2 pounds tomatoes, quartered
- 1 medium red bell pepper, seeded and chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, peeled and smashed
- 1 stalk celery, chopped
- 5 large basil leaves, torn into pieces
- 1 Serrano chili, seeded and chopped
- 12 ounces (1 small can) low-sodium tomato juice
- ½ teaspoon dry chili flakes
- 4 ounces white bread, torn or cubed and crust removed
- ⅓ cup good quality red wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon kosher salt
- ¾ cup good quality Spanish olive oil
- Serrano ham, hard-boiled egg and chives for garnish (optional)
Directions
- In a large, non-reactive vessel, combine all ingredients except olive oil. Mix well and marinate in refrigerator at least four hours (or overnight for maximum flavor).
- Working in batches, place mixture in a Vitamix blender, slowly adjusting speed from lowest to highest setting. While blender is running, slowly stream in olive oil to emulsify. (The color will change to a beautiful orange and the texture will become smooth and creamy.)
- Repeat with remaining mixture.
- Return mixture to refrigerator for at least two hours before serving in chilled bowls.
- Top with chopped hard-boiled egg, chopped Serrano ham, a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and a pinch of freshly chopped chives, if desired.
Receive instruction in cooking recipes for all seasons — click here to learn about our culinary arts career program.
