During winter, we all love a bowl of hot soup. But did you know there’s a soup that’s perfect for summer? Often described as a “liquid salad,” gazpacho is a traditional Spanish chilled soup. It’s six main ingredients include tomatoes, olive oil, cucumbers, red bell peppers, onions and garlic.
Health benefits of gazpacho
Check out what’s good about gazpacho besides being delicious and refreshing.
- Regulating blood pressure
Consuming gazpacho on a regular basis can battle high blood pressure. The soup contains rich carotenes, vitamin C and polyphenols. They are all bioactive ingredients that protect arterial pressure.
- Anti-aging
Carotenes are also essential to eye health and have anti-inflammatory benefits. It acts as antioxidants which fight cancer and slow down aging process.1
Making your own gazpacho2
Ingredients
- 8 ripe tomatoes
- 2 bell peppers
- 1 cucumber
- 1 red onion
- 2 cloves garlic
- 2 slices whole-wheat bread
- 3 tablespoons white balsamic vinegar
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 4 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
Steps
- Cut tomatoes, bell peppers and cucumber into chunks. Chop red onion and garlic. Tear bread into large chunks.
- Blend tomatoes, bell peppers, cucumber, red onion and garlic in food processor.
- Add bread. Let sit for 20 minutes.
- Add vinegar, lemon juice and olive oil. Blend until all ingredients are liquified.
- Season with salt and pepper.
- Pour into bowl and cover with lid. Refrigerate overnight.
- Serve chilled.
This easy-to-make version of gazpacho will cool you off on any warm summer day! Try it out!
Sources
- https://www.thealternativedaily.com/got-gazpacho-amazing-health-benefits-from-this-cold-soup/. Viewed on 21 July 2018.
- https://www.healwithfood.org/recipes/gazpacho-healthy-nutrition.php. 21 July 2018.