Gazpacho Aspic Food

GAZPACHO ASPIC

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine 1 1/2 cups of the tomato juice, green onions, cucumber, celery, all but 1 tablespoon of both the red and green bell peppers, 1/2 cup of the red onion, half of the chopped jalapenos, 1 tablespoon of the cilantro, 1 tablespoon of the lime juice, red wine vinegar, 1/2 teaspoon of the garlic, 2 1/2 teaspoons of salt, 1/2 teaspoon of cayenne pepper, and the hot sauce and stir to combine well.
• In a small bowl, pour 3/4 cup of the remaining tomato juice over the gelatin to soften.
• Stir well and allow to sit for 5 minutes. Heat remaining tomato juice to boiling in a small saucepan.
• Pour over softened gelatin mixture and stir until completely melted.
• Pour melted gelatin mixture into gazpacho mixture, mix completely.
• Spray six 1-cup molds with cooking spray or grease with a little bit of vegetable oil.
• Divide half of the gazpacho mixture evenly between the molds and place in the refrigerator to chill.
• Set remaining half of gazpacho aside while the molds are chilling.
• Whirl the remaining tablespoons of red and green bell peppers, 2 tablespoons of red onion, jalapeno pepper, 3 tablespoons of cilantro, 1/2 tablespoon lime juice, 1 teaspoon garlic, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper, and cream cheese in your food processor and process until smooth.
• When aspics have jelled, top each evenly with cream cheese mixture, then pour remaining gazpacho mixture over the tops; refrigerate until thoroughly set, at least 3 hours or overnight.
• To unmold, briefly dip molds into hot water or run a knife around the edge of the molded gelatin.
• Place one spring greens on each and turn aspics out onto greens.
• May be garnished with sliced, hardboiled eggs, cooked shrimp, or fresh herbs (if desired).

YELLOW GAZPACHO ASPIC

Steps:

• Make bell pepper layer: Feed bell pepper and red tomato through an electric juicer. Pour juice through a fine sieve into a small bowl; discard any solids. Skim foam from surface with a spoon. Stir in hot sauce, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice. Sprinkle 1 envelope gelatin over top. Let stand 5 minutes.
• Transfer mixture to a small saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until gelatin has just dissolved, about 1 1/2 minutes. Let cool slightly. Transfer bell pepper mixture to a 4-cup scalloped gelatin mold. Refrigerate until just set and still sticky, about 20 minutes.
• Make gazpacho layer: Process yellow tomato flesh, the cucumber, and scallions in a food processor until almost pureed, about 10 seconds. Transfer vegetable mixture to a large bowl. Finely chop basil; add basil, 1 teaspoon each salt and lemon juice, and the vinegar to bowl; season with salt and pepper. Set aside.
• Puree reserved yellow tomato seeds and pulp with the garlic in a food processor. Pour through a very fine sieve into a medium bowl; discard solids.
• Sprinkle remaining gelatin over garlic mixture. Let stand 5 minutes. Transfer to a saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until gelatin has dissolved, about 2 minutes. Stir garlic mixture into the reserved gazpacho.
• When bell pepper layer has just set, pour gazpacho layer on top. Refrigerate until set, about 4 hours. Aspic can be refrigerated, loosely covered, up to 1 day.
• Run the tip of a paring knife around edge to loosen. Dip mold into a bowl of lukewarm water for several seconds. Pat mold dry, and invert onto a serving plate. Garnish with tomatoes and basil.

GAZPACHO SORBET WITH APPLE ASPIC

Steps:

• Make aspic:
• Bring apple juice to a boil in a small saucepan. Remove from heat and stir in gelatin until dissolved. Pour into an 8-inch square baking dish and chill, uncovered, until firm, about 2 hours.
• Make gazpacho sorbet:
• Soften gelatin in hot water 1 minute.
• Mash garlic to a paste with salt using a mortar and pestle (or mince and mash with a large knife). Blend garlic paste, tomatoes, bell pepper, onion, cucumber, vinegar, orujo, and sugar in a food processor until as smooth as possible. Add oil and gelatin mixture with motor running, then force purée through a sieve into a bowl, pressing firmly on solids. Discard solids.
• Chill until cold, about 1 hour, then freeze in ice cream maker. Transfer sorbet to an airtight container and put in freezer to harden.
• Reduce balsamic vinegar:
• Boil vinegar in a small nonreactive saucepan until syrupy, 1 to 2 minutes, then cool completely.
• Assemble dish:
• Cut aspic into small cubes and divide among 4 plates. Drizzle aspic with balsamic vinegar, then top with a scoop (about 1/4 cup) of sorbet.

GAZPACHO

Steps:

• In a food processor, puree tomato until almost smooth. Add cucumber, bell pepper, garlic, vinegars, and oil and season with salt and pepper. Pulse until mostly smooth.
• Chill soup in the refrigerator 30 minutes (or up to 8 hours). Adjust seasoning; thin with water if necessary. Brush bread with oil. Serve soup drizzled with oil and topped with cheese, with bread alongside.

BEST GAZPACHO

Steps:

• Combine tomatoes, pepper, cucumber, onion and garlic in a blender or, if using a hand blender, in a deep bowl. (If necessary, work in batches.) Blend at high speed until very smooth, at least 2 minutes, pausing occasionally to scrape down the sides with a rubber spatula.
• With the motor running, add the vinegar and 2 teaspoons salt. Slowly drizzle in the olive oil. The mixture will turn bright orange or dark pink and become smooth and emulsified, like a salad dressing. If it still seems watery, drizzle in more olive oil until texture is creamy.
• Strain the mixture through a strainer or a food mill, pushing all the liquid through with a spatula or the back of a ladle. Discard the solids. Transfer to a large pitcher (preferably glass) and chill until very cold, at least 6 hours or overnight.
• Before serving, adjust the seasonings with salt and vinegar. If soup is very thick, stir in a few tablespoons ice water. Serve in glasses, over ice if desired, or in a bowl. A few drops of olive oil on top are a nice touch.

GAZPACHO SORBET WITH APPLE ASPIC

Steps:

• Make Aspic: Bring the apple juice to a boil in a small saucepan. Remove from heat and stir in gelatin until dissolved. Pour mixture into an 8-inch square baking dish and chill, uncovered, until firm, about 2 hours.
• Make Gazpacho Sorbet: Soften gelatin in hot water for 1 minutes.
• Mash garic to a paste with the salt, using a mortar and pestle ( or mince and mash with a large knife.) Blend garlic paste tomatoes, bell pepper, onion, cucumber, vinegar, grappa and sugar in a food processor until it is as smooth as possible. Add oil and gelatin mixture with motor running.
• Force the puree through a sieve into a bowl, pressing firmly on the solids until all liquid has been forced out. Discard solids.
• Chill mixture until cold, about 1 hour, then freeze in an icecream maker.
• Transfer the sorbet to an airtight container and put in the freezer to harden.
• Reduce balsamic vinegar: Boil vinegar in a small nonreative saucepan until syrupy, 1 to 2 minutes, then cool completely.
• Assemble Dish: Cut aspic into small cubes and divide among 4 plates. Drizzle aspic with balsamic syrup, then top with a scoop ( about 1/4 cup) of the sorbet.
• Garnish with mint.

GAZPACHO

Steps:

• Put the onion, garlic, pepper, tomatoes and bread in a food processor and blend until finely chopped, but not too smooth. Tip into a large bowl with the passata, stock, oil, vinegar, Tabasco or harissa, sugar and seasoning. Mix well, cover the bowl with cling film or foil and put in the fridge for at least 2 hrs or overnight.
• To serve, pour into small bowls or glasses, drizzle over a little olive oil and sprinkle with a few torn basil leaves.