Gazpacho with Crispy Chickpeas
Published Jul 10, 2013•Updated Dec 27, 2022
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In the heat of summer few things are more satisfying than Gazpacho. To make this chilled Spanish-style tomato soup a meal, top it with protein-packed crispy chickpeas.
It wasn’t until recently that I started looking for an actual recipe for gazpacho. Before this, my version of gazpacho involved throwing a bunch of vegetables into the blender and turning it on until it seemed soupy. Not exactly riveting blog fodder.
Despite my lackadaisical making of this chilled tomato-based Spanish soup, I’ve never had a version that I disliked. When the weather is steamy, it always hits the spot. While I searched for recipes to test over the past couple months (it’s been hot enough here to make a weekly batch of gazpacho a very good thing), I came across all sorts of stories about ways that people enjoy gazpacho that made me feel like I should be plucking tomatoes from a plant outside my window and having leisurely summer dinners on a veranda somewhere.
It’s no secret that neither of those scenarios will be happening any time soon.
Although this Bangkok life of ours is not without its own unique charms,
and may be the most fast-paced spot in the world to purchase your next broom.
When I looked at gazpacho recipes, I came across notes from people serving it in shot glasses before meals, as a starter before brunch, or as an afternoon pick-me-up. One blogger said he had a juice glass of the stuff nearly afternoon.
I have finally moved beyond (although not entirely abandoned) my practice of throwing farmers market produce into the blender at random to make gazpacho. The addition of a few ingredients and some thought put into the ratios of vegetables produces a decidedly more balanced (and tasty) variation than the throw-whatever-you-have in the blender approach. But in testing recipes, I also fell deeply under the spell of a combination that created a spicy, more textured variety that called to mind the gazpacho at José Andrés’ Jaleo. I can’t be certain how the Jaleo version is made, but the addition of a bit of bread and olive oil combine to give the soup more substance and depth. A splash of vinegar also helps enormously in the matter of bright tomato flavor. The version below is what I’ve settled on myself, but it is so very adaptable.
I top a bowl of this soup with those Pan-Fried Crispy Chickpeas with Lime (remember weeks ago when I promised you I had a great way to use them?) for a light lunch or dinner that I absolutely love.
More Summer Recipes
- Bacon, Corn and Avocado Salad
- Slow Cooker Corn Chowder
- Summer Berry Cobbler
- Nectarine, Arugula and Crispy Pancetta Summer Salad
- Vietnamese Summer Rolls with Hoisin Peanut Dipping Sauce
- Caprese Skewers; An Easy Summer Appetizer
- Watermelon, Feta and Arugula Salad
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Gazpacho with Crispy Chickpeas Recipe
Equipment
- Blender
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds Tomatoes, roughly chopped
- 1 medium Cucumber, peeled, roughly chopped
- 1/2 Roasted Red Pepper (from a jar of roasted red peppers in olive oil)
- 3 slices Bread, torn into pieces (roughly 3 ounces)(baguette or sourdough are great, and bread that is a couple days old is ideal)
- 1 teaspoon Minced Garlic
- 2 Tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 1 Tablespoon Red Wine Vinegar
- pinch Crushed Red Pepper, to taste
- Salt and Freshly Ground Black Pepper
For serving (any of these are great):
- Sliced Avocados
- Sour Cream or Greek Yogurt
- crumbled Feta Cheese
- Pan-Fried Crispy Chickpeas with Lime (my favorite)
Instructions
- Combine the tomatoes, cucumber, red pepper, bread, garlic, olive oil, red wine vinegar, and crushed red pepper in a blender. Blend until nearly smooth. Add water if the soup seems thick. Taste and add salt and pepper, as desired.
- Refrigerate until ready to serve. Top with any of the recommendations above or set all of them out so that people can customize their bowl!
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Have you tried the version with raw red peppers? I find the ideal balance for me is 1 small cucumber, 2 tomatoes and 1 red pepper. Salt, vinegar and a very small garlic clove to season. Perfect as a snack during diets as it has close to no calories!
Yum- I haven’t, but I’ll definitely give this a try!
This looks sooo freaking good! And your photos are lovely!!
We eat a lot of gazpacho and gazpacho salad, but your lime chickpeas add some tasty crunch. I’ve stocked a lot of chickpeas onboard for hummus that will now be dedicated to Crispy Chickpeas with Lime (and gazpacho).
What a great combo. Gazpacho is the best in the Summer and love the chispy chickpeas on top for a contrast of texture. These are sure wonderful to be snack on too.
This post makes me wish that tomato season would hurry up and come already, because I’m a gazpacho snob and absolutely refuse to make it with anything but proper locally-grown ripe tomatoes.
Oh, and topping it with crispy chickpeas? Freakin’ brilliant.
Yes, I’ve been looking for a good gazpacho recipe lately and this looks awesome! I will have to make this ASAP.
Erin – as a fellow hot-climate dweller, I can imagine it’s almost always a good time to make gazpacho! Enjoy!