By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2021
Gazpacho is my favorite warm-weather soup. It’s flavorful, fresh, thick, and creamy, and because it’s served cold, it’s so refreshing on hot Summer days. I love that I don’t need to turn on my oven to put a hearty meal on the table, and my kids love that they can drink this soup through a straw– so fun!
What’s in This Gazpacho Recipe?
This gazpacho soup is the perfect way to cool down during warm summers. It’s so delicious and really simple. Just blend up some veggies to make this cold soup. It’s filled with fresh tomatoes, bell peppers, and cucumbers, making for an incredible flavor!
- Bread: Leftover, slightly stale white bread helps thicken the gazpacho and adds a little creaminess to the soup.
- Tomatoes: Try to use really ripe tomatoes, this will add more flavor to the gazpacho. Any kind will work.
- Bell Peppers: A combination of green and red bell peppers adds body, earthiness, and a vegetal flavor to the soup.
- Cucumber: Adds body and freshness to the soup.
- Garlic: Adds an earthy and savory undertone to the soup.
- Olive Oil: Be sure to use high-quality extra virgin olive oil for this recipe. The oil will make a noticeable difference to the flavor since gazpacho isn’t cooked.
- Vinegar: Andalusia is known for its sherry vinegar, so that’s my recommendation. But if you can’t find any, red wine vinegar is the next best choice.
Why Is Gazpacho Served Cold?
This dish originated in Andalusia, the southern region of Spain. Because of the warm climate, this soup is traditionally served cold to combat hot days. You can definitely warm it up on the stove if you prefer a hot soup, but I recommend giving it a try cold as intended first. It’s so delicious!
How to Store
Store leftover gazpacho in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Enjoy chilled straight from the refrigerator for the best taste.
How to Freeze
If you want to store this gazpacho for longer periods of time, you can freeze it without compromising quality. Pour it into freezer-safe containers or resealable bags, and freeze for up to 6 months. Let it thaw overnight in the refrigerator before topping with chopped fresh veggies to serve.
Serving Suggestions
This flavorful veggie soup makes a great pre-dinner appetizer, but it also makes a beautiful main dish for lighter meals. Serve it with a salad, some bread, maybe a simple appetizer, and definitely add a glass of wine ! Try this traditional Greek salad , a classic Caprese salad , or this focaccia .
You may have caught where I said my kids like to drink it through a straw… well, it turns out that’s not that weird. In Spain, you can buy gazpacho packaged like a juice or smoothie and drink it on the go!
Notes from the Test Kitchen
- In testing, I found that removing and discarding the crust from the bread before soaking and adding it to the soup creates the creamiest texture.
- I found peeling the tomatoes to be really tedious, but it did result in a smoother soup; it’s up to you to decide whether or not it’s worth it.
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ 2 slices day old bread
- ▢ ½ cup cold water
- ▢ 3½ cups chopped fresh tomatoes plus more for serving
- ▢ 1 red bell pepper deseeded and roughly chopped, plus more for serving
- ▢ 1 green bell pepper deseeded and roughly chopped, plus more for serving
- ▢ 1 cucumber roughly chopped, plus more for serving
- ▢ 2 cloves garlic peeled
- ▢ ½ cup extra virgin olive oil plus more for serving
- ▢ 2 tablespoons sherry vinegar (not wine!)
- ▢ ½ teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
- Roughly tear up the bread, place in a small bowl with the water and leave to soak for 10-15 minutes. 2 slices day old bread, ½ cup cold water
- Squeeze it well with your hands to get rid of all the water.
- Add the squeezed bread to a food processor or blender with the tomatoes, red pepper, green pepper, cucumber, and garlic cloves. Blend until smooth. 3½ cups chopped fresh tomatoes, 1 red bell pepper, 1 green bell pepper, 1 cucumber, 2 cloves garlic
- Add the olive oil, sherry vinegar, and salt and stir well. Taste to check seasonings. ½ cup extra virgin olive oil, 2 tablespoons sherry vinegar, ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- Pass through a sieve, pressing down with a spoon to get as much of the juice out as you can. Discard the pulp.
- Pour into a bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and place in the fridge until needed. I recommend chilling for at least 2 hours for the best flavor.
- Serve straight from the fridge with a drizzle of olive oil and some extra finely chopped tomatoes, peppers, and cucumber.
Equipment
- Food Processor
- Fine Mesh Sieve
Becky’s Tips
- Add more Sherry Vinegar if needed. The ripeness of the tomatoes will alter the need for this.
- Other Serving Ideas: Chopped black olives, finely chopped Spanish ham, chopped hard-boiled eggs, or homemade croutons .
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
More Soup Recipes To Try
- Creamy Chicken Soup
- Hash Brown Potato Soup
- Creamy Chicken Tortilla Soup
- Beer Cheese Soup
- Cabbage Soup
- … Browse All Our Soup Recipes !
Gazpacho Recipe
Equipment
- Food Processor
- Fine Mesh Sieve
Ingredients
- 2 slices day old bread
- ½ cup cold water
- 3½ cups chopped fresh tomatoes plus more for serving
- 1 red bell pepper deseeded and roughly chopped, plus more for serving
- 1 green bell pepper deseeded and roughly chopped, plus more for serving
- 1 cucumber roughly chopped, plus more for serving
- 2 cloves garlic peeled
- ½ cup extra virgin olive oil plus more for serving
- 2 tablespoons sherry vinegar (not wine!)
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
- Roughly tear up the bread, place in a small bowl with the water and leave to soak for 10-15 minutes. 2 slices day old bread, ½ cup cold water
- Squeeze it well with your hands to get rid of all the water.
- Add the squeezed bread to a food processor or blender with the tomatoes, red pepper, green pepper, cucumber, and garlic cloves. Blend until smooth. 3½ cups chopped fresh tomatoes, 1 red bell pepper, 1 green bell pepper, 1 cucumber, 2 cloves garlic
- Add the olive oil, sherry vinegar, and salt and stir well. Taste to check seasonings. ½ cup extra virgin olive oil, 2 tablespoons sherry vinegar, ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- Pass through a sieve, pressing down with a spoon to get as much of the juice out as you can. Discard the pulp.
- Pour into a bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and place in the fridge until needed. I recommend chilling for at least 2 hours for the best flavor.
- Serve straight from the fridge with a drizzle of olive oil and some extra finely chopped tomatoes, peppers, and cucumber.
Notes
- Add more Sherry Vinegar if needed. The ripeness of the tomatoes will alter the need for this.
- Other Serving Ideas: Chopped black olives, finely chopped Spanish ham, chopped hard-boiled eggs, or homemade croutons .
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
