“Soup,” declared the French gastronomer, Grimod de la Reyniere, “is to a diner what a portico or a peristyle is to a building… not only the first part of it but must be made in such a manner as to set the tone of the whole banquet, in the same way as the overture of an opera makes known the subject of the work.”

Tomatoes, both raw and cooked, play such a tremendous part in our diet that it is hard to believe that they have been in the general category of edible vegetables for only about a hundred years.
Tomatoes, cucumber, and peppers from the basis of the classic, Gazpacho soup. Add a spoonful of lemon thyme and chunky roasted cherry tomatoes for a refreshing summer appetizer. This is quite a substantial soup, so follow with a light main course, such a broiled fish or chicken.

Gazpacho with Lemon Thyme and Smoked Paprika
Ingredients
- 6 ripe tomatoes, peeled and chopped
- 1 purple onion, finely chopped
- 1 cucumber, peeled, seeded, chopped
- 1 sweet red or green bell pepper, seeded and chopped
- 1-2 Tbsp. chopped fresh parsley
- 2 Tbsp. chopped fresh chives
- 1 Tbsp. chopped fresh lemon thyme
- 2 clove garlic, minced
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- 2 Tbsp. freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 Tbsp. freshly squeezed lime juice
- few drops of Tabasco sauce to taste
- 2 cup tomato juice
- Salt and fresh ground pepper to taste
Instructions
Place all ingredients in a food processor or blender.
Blend until mixed but still chunky.
Season well.
Cover and chill for at least one hour before serving.
Notes
If you wish to peel tomatoes, hold them over a gas flame, turning constantly, or blanch them in boiling water for a minute. When cool, the skins will slip off without any trouble. Remove the stem ends. If you are planning to use the tomatoes for seasoning a dish, cut in quarters and remove the seeds. This means that you will have the essence of the tomatoes without the additional liquid that results from the cooking of the seeds.

8 Comments
Medeja
August 12, 2012 at 11:40 pmLooks delish.. 🙂 though I am not a fan of soup this is a really gourmet thing 🙂
Yelena
August 12, 2012 at 11:45 pmThank you, Medeja! I appreciate your comment. Sure thing is this soup is soo delicious and very tasty with a spicy twist.
Marina
August 13, 2012 at 3:40 amMmm, delicious! I love smoked paprika with tomatoes, such a great flavor!
Angie's Recipes
August 13, 2012 at 5:06 pmWhat a lovely summer soup! And those clicks are really GREAT!
Nami | Just One Cookbook
August 13, 2012 at 6:23 pmI love how summery these photos look! It looks light and perfect for summer meals. I love fresh summer tomatoes and it's a wonderful idea to use it for the soup. What a treat!
Spicie Foodie
August 14, 2012 at 3:18 pmI simply could not live without tomatoes. They are a huge part of our diet in my house. I don't just love eating them but also love reading and learning about Tomatoes. Your gazapacho looks so mouthwatering and gorgeous!
Claudia Annie Amore Vero
August 15, 2012 at 10:33 pmyou have a beautiful blog! now following you! a kiss 🙂
Claudia Annie Amore Vero
August 16, 2012 at 7:42 amHello dearYelena! thanks for becoming my followers! if you want to work with my magazine, you can write here:
creativita@openkitchenmagazine.com
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