Sunday Soup #64: Green Gazpacho

A hot summer evening, a friendly dinner party, a refreshing cold soup, and... MURDER?!?! Well, not premeditated, so maybe just a little attempted negligent manslaughter? So, lesson learned... When you are naming off ingredients in the soup, and you forget to mention one ingredient, and that is the one ingredient that your wife is very allergic to, so your wife then eats a bowl of it and spends the rest of the evening fighting anaphylactic shock, it can put a damper on the night. But, hey, the soup was great!!

This recipe came from: This recipe is not online; I got it from a terrific cookbook called "Paleo Soups & Stews: Over 100 Delectable Recipes for Every Season, Course, and Occassion" by Simone Miller (https://www.amazon.com/Paleo-Soups-Stews-Delectable-Occasion/dp/1628601078/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1532398987&sr=8-1&keywords=paleo+soups+and+stews)

*Pic 1 - From "Paleo Soups & Stews: Over 100 Delectable Recipes for Every Season, Course, and Occassion" by Simone Miller

First, the recipe (since you can't find it online):

• 2 English cucumbers (about 1.5 pounds), halved lengthwise and roughly chopped
• 1.5 pounds of green grapes, plus more for garnish
• 1 avocado, peeled, pitted, and quartered
• 1 small shallot, chopped (about 1/4 cup)
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
• 1/4 cup white wine vinegar
• 1 tsp salt
• Handful of mint leaves, roughly chopped, plus more for garnish
• 1/4 cup salted roasted almonds, finely chopped, for garnish

1. Place all of the ingredients except the almonds in a blender and blend until smooth.
2. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours, until very cold.
3. Serve the chilled soup topped with sliced grapes, almonds, mint leaves, and a drizzle of olive oil.

Variations from Recipe as Written: I made 1.5 times the recipe. I followed everything else exactly.

General Thoughts: We had friends over for a casual dinner party, and I was looking for something to serve as a unique side (along side a main course of carnitas). It was 90+ degrees outside, and I know I always say, "Hot soup is great, even on a hot day," but this time I thought a cold soup might be a cool, refreshing change of pace.

This recipe calls for common ingredients, none of which were particularly expensive, and the blender did most of the heavy lifting on the prep. However, despite the simplicity of the recipe, the end result was elegant, with a surprisingly complex flavor.

*Pics 2 & 3 - Pictures from when I made it

This soup was a perfect choice for the hot Summer day, and it delivered on its promise to be cool, crisp, and clean. I was able to taste almost every ingredient in each bite: the fresh cucumbers, the sweet grapes, the savory garlic, the creamy avocado, the smooth shallot, and the rich olive oil. It was beautifully balanced!

The consistency was also a nice surprise, as the dish felt more substantial than I expected from a blended soup. As I mentioned, I made it as a side dish (actually, more of a bonafide soup course, since the main course ran a little late), so we served it in smaller mugs rather than full bowls. So, while a big bowl of it would have gone down just as well, a mug-full perfectly hit the spot.

Finally, a quick note about the garnishes (the sliced cucumbers, halved grapes, almonds, chopped mint, and olive oil drizzle)... They weren't vital to the soup's taste, but they added a lot to the presentation, provided some texture variety, and contributed greatly to my enjoyment of the dish.

Potential Improvements? This recipe was REALLY good the way it was, but my audience made a couple of suggestions... Someone suggested possibly add a jalapeño or two (to keep with the green theme and add a little spice). Another guest thought that adding a bit more acidity in the form of some lime juice could be a positive change, too. I, myself, sprinkled a little smoked paprika over one of my bowls, which added some additional savory depth, but I realize that might not be for everyone.

Polling the Fam: I loved this one, pure and simple... One of my favorites so far, and I will definitely make it again! Becky ate her cup and said, "I liked it... It was much better than I thought it would be. Hey, is anybody else's throat starting to itch?" (*She is allergic to avocados. Oops.) Hunter did not care for it, saying it tasted like thin guacamole... I think the concept of a cold soup just threw him for a loop. Lisa said, "This is possibly one of the best things I've ever put in my mouth." Moving on... Jayson liked it. Ken liked. Kim liked it. Trevor liked it. Ashley liked it. Basically, unless you are my weirdo oldest child, everybody liked it (even my allergic wife). :-)

Verdict: Loved it! (5 stars)