Mini Chilled Gazpacho Tapas Food

GAZPACHO RECIPE

Steps:

• Place the bread slices in a bowl with 1/2 cup of water. Let the bread soak while you work on the tomatoes. Squeeze the bread to ring out any water
• Place the tomatoes in a large pot of boiling water for 40 seconds or so. With a slotted spoon, remove the tomatoes from the boiling water and let them cool for about a minute or so. When they are cool enough to handle, gently peel the skins off.
• In a large food processor or blender, place the tomatoes with the cucumbers, celery, bell peppers, green onions and garlic. Top with the soaked bread. Pour 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil and the sherry vinegar. Run the processor for a few seconds then add the salt, pepper, cumin, cayenne pepper (optional) and a pinch of sugar; blend.
• Test the gazpacho and if it's too thick, add a little water and blend again until you reach the desired texture.
• Transfer to a glass container or large canning jars. Cover tightly and chill in refrigerator.
• When ready to serve, give the gazpacho a quick stir then transfer to serving bowls or small glasses. Top with olive oil and a garnish of fresh mint, cilantro and chopped green onions, if you like.

AUTHENTIC GAZPACHO

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients together in a blender or food processor. Puree for 1 minute, or until the soup reaches your desired consistency.
• Taste and season with extra salt, pepper and/or cumin if needed.
• Refrigerate in a sealed container for 3 to 4 hours, or until completely chilled.
• Serve cold, topped with your desired garnishes.

AUTHENTIC GAZPACHO RECIPE

Steps:

• Wash and dry all of the vegetables very well-if you prefer to peel the tomatoes you can, although I usually leave the skin on.
• Cut the tomatoes into 4 slices (leaving the core behind) and put into your blender.
• Halve, core, and de-seed the pepper. Cut it into a few slices and add to the blender.
• Peel the garlic and slice it in half. Remove the core (which often results in bitterness when not cooked).
• Cut the onion into a few slices and add it to the blender too.
• Peel the cucumber and cut it in half. Add half to the blender and save the other half for a topping.
• Blend the vegetables at a high speed until it is completely pureed.
• Add the salt and vinegar and, while blending on a slow speed, slowly add the olive oil.
• Taste and adjust salt and vinegar. If the texture is too thick for your liking add some cold water.
• Refrigerate and serve VERY cold! Add as many (or as few) toppings as you like.

MINI CHILLED GAZPACHO, TAPAS

Steps:

• Roughly chop tomatoes, half the cucumber, pepper and onion.
• Blend until smooth.
• Stir in vinegar and oil, taste and season with salt and pepper. Add more vinegar if needed to taste.
• Chill for two hours.
• Cut the remaining half of cucumber into sticks.
• Serve in mini glasses with a stick of cucumber.

QUICK CLASSIC GAZPACHO

Steps:

• Process 1/2 cup of tomatoes, along with the water and oil, in a blender or food processor until pureed. Transfer to a medium bowl, along with remaining ingredients. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Refrigerate until ready to serve. (Can be made several hours before serving.)

BANDERILLAS (TUNA SKEWERS)

Steps:

• Soak 8 wooden skewers in cold water for one hour.
• Cut the raw tuna into 24 even-sized cubes. Remove the zest from the lemon and cut it into thin strips. Make sure you do not cut into the white pith.
• Mix the tuna cubes, lemon zest, lemon juice and olive oil. Allow to marinate while skewers are soaking.
• When ready to cook, thread each skewer with three pieces of tuna, two caper berries and one olive, alternating each ingredient. Put into a non-metallic dish and pour marinade over the skewers.
• Broil for 4 minutes on each side, cooking until done to your liking.

GARDEN GAZPACHO

Steps:

• Place cucumber in a food processor; pulse 5 to 6 times to chop into very small pieces. Transfer to a large bowl. Repeat with red bell peppers, red onion, and celery, pulsing each into very small pieces in the food processor and transferring to the bowl.
• Combine plum tomatoes and garlic in the food processor; pulse until finely diced. Pour over cucumber mixture in the bowl.
• Pour tomato juice, white wine vinegar, and olive oil over tomato and cucumber mixture in the bowl. Add sea salt, black pepper, basil, parsley, and red pepper flakes; stir well.
• Chill until flavors combine and deepen, about 2 hours.