1968 Málaga Gazpacho Food

1968: MáLAGA GAZPACHO

Steps:

• Combine all the ingredients in the container of an electric blender. Blend at high speed, pausing now and then to scrape down with a rubber spatula as necessary.
• Pour the mixture through a large sieve placed inside a mixing bowl. Press and stir with a wooden spoon to extract as much liquid as possible. Discard the solids. Taste soup for seasoning and add more salt and vinegar if desired. Chill thoroughly before serving.

MALAGA ALMOND GAZPACHO

Steps:

• Soak bread in 1/2 cup water 1 minute, then squeeze dry, discarding soaking water.
• Mash garlic to a paste with salt using a mortar and pestle (or mince and mash with a large knife). Blend garlic paste and almonds in a food processor until nuts are as smooth as possible. Add bread and 1 tablespoon vinegar and, with motor running, add oil in a slow stream, then add ice water and blend well. Force purée through a fine sieve into a bowl, pressing firmly on solids. Discard solids.
• Transfer soup to a glass container and chill, covered, until cold, about 3 hours. Season with salt and vinegar before serving.

MALAGA GAZPACHO

Steps:

• Combine all the ingredients in the container of an electric blender. Blend at high speed, pausing now and then to scrape down with a rubber spatula as necessary.
• Pour the mixture through a large strainer placed inside a mixing bowl. Press and stir with a wooden spoon to extract as much liquid as possible. Discard the solids.
• Taste soup for seasoning and add more salt if desired. Chill thoroughly, as much as 24 hours, before serving.

WHITE GAZPACHO MALAGA-STYLE

Steps:

• Slip off almond skins while they're still hot and discard the skins.
• Place the almonds in a food processor, adding the garlic and bread. Process until a smooth paste forms. Next, add the egg, vinegar, olive oil, water, and sugar. You should now have a medium-thick soup. If you desire a thinner consistency, add additional ice water.
• Strain, season to taste with salt and chill in the refrigerator for several hours.
• When ready to serve, ladle the soup into 4 soup bowls. Cut the grapes in half, and garnish each bowl with 8 grape halves.

CHEF JOHN'S WHITE GAZPACHO

Steps:

• Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Cook and stir leeks until soft, 10 to 15 minutes. Remove to a plate and allow to cool.
• Place cucumbers in a blender with grapes, almonds, 1 tablespoon olive oil, salt, creme fraiche, bread cubes, vinegar, cooled leeks, and water. Puree until smooth, about 1 minute. Strain through a fine mesh sieve. Cover and chill for 1 to 2 hours.
• Taste and season with salt and cayenne pepper. If needed, add some more vinegar. Serve garnished with dill oil (see note), thinly sliced grapes, slivered almonds, and fresh dill.

GAZPACHO AJO BLANCO

Steps:

• Cover bread with cold water, and let soak for 15 minutes. Meanwhile, cover garlic with water in a small saucepan, and bring to a boil. Cook for 3 minutes; drain.
• Pulse blanched almonds in a food processor until finely ground. Squeeze excess liquid from bread, and transfer bread to food processor. Add cooked garlic, vinegar, and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt. Puree mixture until smooth. With machine running, pour in oil in a slow, steady stream, alternating with cup cold water, blending until emulsified. Blend in remaining 2 1/4 cups cold water. Strain through a fine sieve until smooth, discarding solids. Season with salt. Refrigerate gazpacho until chilled, at least 1 hour (or up to 1 day). Season with salt and pepper.
• Divide chilled gazpacho among 6 bowls or glasses. Drizzle with oil and top with grapes, and Marcona almonds if desired, just before serving.