Spicy Gazpacho With Avocado

Here in Florida, the summer temperatures and the humidity just keep rising and rising. It’s hard enough to keep the house cool, so when it comes to cooking, we shy away from anything that requires turning on the stove, much less the oven. While thinking about what summer recipe to create this weekend, I thought of gazpacho, a Spanish cold tomato soup, as the perfect summer meal: refreshing, raw, and filled with healthy vegetables. Gazpacho is a classic summer soup, but this time I would give it a little twist by adding Hass avocado and just a bit of heat. 

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I was first introduced to Gazpacho by a Spanish friend. The first time I had it, I was not a big fan, but as with many other things, I have come around, and now I thoroughly enjoy it. I usually go easy on the garlic and always add my own twist to it.  I started with a traditional recipe of Gazpacho Andaluz (from the Spanish region of Andalucía).

The “real” Gazpacho recipe includes ripe tomatoes, cucumber, green pepper, and garlic, to which a good amount of olive oil and some vinegar are added. The Gazpacho Andaluz is not chunky but rather smooth.

From the original recipe I found, I replaced the water with Swanson chicken broth to give it more flavor. I reduced the amount of olive oil and added avocado, a bit of heat, and some grilled shrimp as garnish. I also went easy on the garlic, so if you love garlic, feel free to increase the amount. To counteract the acidity of the tomato and the vinegar, I added some sugar along with a pinch of salt.

For grilling parties, summer get-togethers, or to take with you on a picnic, you can serve the gazpacho in mason jars that not only look great but also travel well.

To make my Gazpacho, I headed to Sam’s Club and bought the new 6-pack of Swanson Chicken Broth. Although you usually think of chicken broth as an ingredient for warm soups and sauces, we use it in the summer to make all sorts of cold soups and marinades for grilling. So, I was happy to find this new 6-pack presentation because I can save more and get all the chicken broth I need on a single trip.

I was surprised that even my kids devoured this (I did make a version without the heat). I kept thinking there was something missing, and it wasn’t until the kids had already started eating the gazpacho that I realized I had forgotten the yogurt. Likewise, I managed to take one last picture of the only one they had not gotten to yet with a dollop of the yogurt.

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Spicy Gazpacho with Avocado

Yield: 6

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 3 hours

Total Time: 3 hours 20 minutes

A cold Spanish tomato soup blended with avocado, chipotle hot sauce and lime, served chilled with grilled shrimp.

5.0 Stars (4 Reviews)

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Ingredients

For the Gazpacho

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• 6-8 ripe tomatoes, diced
• 1 cucumber, diced
• ½ sweet red pepper, diced (save half for garnish)
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 Hass avocado, diced
• 1 cup tomato or mixed vegetable juice
• ½ cup Swanson chicken broth
• ¼ cup olive oil
• 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
• 1 tablespoon lime juice
• 1 teaspoon chipotle hot sauce
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• Salt and pepper to taste

For The Garnish

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• ⅓ cup plain yogurt
• 12 medium shrimp, grilled
• ¼ cup chopped cilantro
• 1 Hass avocado, sliced
• 2 tablespoons diced green pepper
• ½ sweet red pepper, diced

Instructions

1. Combine the tomatoes, cucumber, half the red pepper, garlic, and 1 avocado in a blender. Add the broth, olive oil, vegetable juice, vinegar, and lime juice.
2. Blend on high for about 4 minutes, until smooth.
3. Strain through a colander to remove skins and seeds.
4. Stir in the chipotle hot sauce, sugar, salt, and pepper, tasting as you go.
5. Refrigerate for at least 3 hours.
6. While the soup chills, grill the shrimp until pink and opaque, about 2 to 3 minutes per side.
7. Serve cold, garnished with yogurt, cilantro, avocado slices, the diced green and red pepper, and a couple of grilled shrimp.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 229Total Fat: 17gSaturated Fat: 3gUnsaturated Fat: 15gCholesterol: 22mgSodium: 291mgCarbohydrates: 16gFiber: 6gSugar: 8gProtein: 6g

Nutritional values are estimates calculated using standard databases. Actual values may vary based on specific ingredients and brands used.

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Cesar Diaz

Cesar is a freelance graphic designer with more than 15 years of experience in the advertising world.He is the creative force behind GrowingUpBilingual.com and 365thingsswfl.com.2 year ago he gave up his steady job so he could spend more time at home and be more involved in his kid's lives. He loves sharing tips to maintain a healthier lifestyle both at home and while traveling. He likes to cook low calorie meals with a Latino touch, specially if they are on the grill. He is a techie, a carnivore and a fitness buff not necessarily in that order. During his free time he enjoys mountain biking, working out at the gym, watching movies and traveling with his family.

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