MaryLee's Healthy Food and Easy Cooking - Gazpacho

Hello again,

During the summer I tend to not want to have hot, heavy foods that the body has to work at to digest. I much rather have easy foods that do not take a long time to prepare and less to cook.

If you have never tried Gazpacho (cold Soup) then this one is a good start.

It is refreshing and perfect for a hot summer day.

This serves 4

2 red bell peppers quartered
2 tbsp olive oil
1 onion finely chopped
2 clove garlic crushed
800 g ripe tomatoes (2 cans chopped tomatoes)
150 ml or 2/3 cup red wine
600 ml or 2 ½ cup vegetable stock

Place quarter peppers skin side up, rub will olive oil and put under grill until skins have charred. Let cool

Heat remaining oil in sauce pan add onion and garlic and cook until soft. Cut tomatoes into chunks add to pan. Scrape out pepper flesh and add to pan and cook gently for 10 minutes. Do not let it burn so stir as you go. Add the red wine and continue to cook for another 5 minutes. Add the stock and simmer for a further 20 minutes.

Let cool then bend until smooth, chill for at least 3 hour.

Serve topped with chopped chives and croutons.

To make the croutons, cut bread into cubs. Heat oil in frying pan add bread, fry until golden. Drain on paper towel and store in an airtight bag/container until needed.

You can use chicken stock rather than vegetable stock.

If you do not have stock already made then good stock is available in stores. Stock cubes will work but some of these can be very salty.

I will talk about making stocks next.