Just Exactly What is Gazpacho Soup?
Gazpacho soup is one of those dishes that's known by different names and faces throughout the world. But what they all have in common is a cold, savory, soup-like dish known for its splashes of color and its zesty flavor. The dish originated in the South of Spain, made with a variety of locally grown vegetables, and simply dressed with olive oil and vinegar and garnished with plenty of chopped parsley.
The vegetable ingredients are mixed with bread soaked in water and blended with vinegar for tartness and garlic for flavor. The result is a thick, rich base that provides a contrasting cool and refreshing effect that's more elegant vegetable coolers and chilled watery concoctions. Hot or cold, it is usually served as a first course to be eaten before a meal.
Tips for Making A Great Gazpacho!
Gazpacho is a delicious chilled vegetable soup. It originated in Spain and is a popular dish in many other countries. It’s so popular that several companies make prepackaged Gazpacho that can be purchased in many parts of the world, although it’s usually not as good as a freshly made Gazpacho.
Gazpacho is easy to make, provided that you can prepare some of the ingredients. The primary components are:
Tomatoes, olive oil, varying vegetables (onions, bell peppers, and cucumbers are popular), assorted spices, garlic, and salt.
How Long Will Gazpacho Keep for in The Refrigerator?
While Gazpacho is an excellent dish for enjoying summertime, it’s good all year round. Chilled and served cold with a creamy texture. In addition to its refreshing flavor, gazpacho is full of nutrients thanks to its high fruit and vegetable content.
You can store Gazpacho for 4-5 days in the refrigerator in an airtight container. If chunky pieces of vegetables such as red peppers or cucumber have been left in the soup, they will turn a little soggy by the second day.
All About Freezing Gazpacho
You can prepare this soup several hours in advance without worrying that it will go bad. It doesn’t contain meat, dairy products, or mayonnaise, making it ideal for an appetizer to a big meal. It’s also an excellent choice for vegetarians since it’s so flavorful. Although it’s great right out of the refrigerator, freezing makes Gazpacho even more delectable for those who want to enjoy it year-round.
How to Freeze Gazpacho?
To correctly freeze Gazpacho soup, pre-chill your bowls and food containers that you will use for freezing purposes. An hour before serving the soup, transfer the chilled soup into the freezer-proof containers and allow it to freeze. The soup can become ice-crusted in your long-term freezer, so leave some space at the top of the containers before freezing. Allow it to thaw completely in the refrigerator before serving. Gazpacho can last for months when frozen.
How Do You Serve Gazpacho?
Gazpacho is an easy summer meal to prepare because you can simply throw in the ingredients and allow the flavors to blend to perfection. When serving, garnish with diced red onion, hard-boiled egg, and a sprinkling of parsley. This soup is best when served chilled, but you can easily keep the chill with proper food storage.
You can freeze Gazpacho in airtight containers or zip-top freezer bags. It’s essential to remove the air from the container before you freeze it. Once the container is frozen, remove it from the freezer and leave it out for at least 2 hours before removing the cover. This will allow the condensation to go down. Once you freeze Gazpacho, you’re going to taste those summer vegetables year-round.
To defrost, leave the cover off and place the container in the refrigerator. Replace the lid just before serving. If you’d like, you can quickly cook the beef or make the soup meatless and add shrimp or rice to make it more filling.
Interesting Facts about Gazpacho
According to a recent study by the University of Santiago de Compostela, Gazpacho soup can be a good source of antioxidants. The study revealed that after adding three tablespoons of this locally produced cold soup, the participants experienced a 22% increase in blood levels of polyphenols, which are natural antioxidant substances with known health benefits.
Another interesting tidbit about Gazpacho is that some studies have found that it can potentially help burn belly fat. That’s because it contains a good amount of fiber, and fiber is known to help stimulate the production of enzymes that burn fat and increase digestion.
Summary
Freezing Gazpacho soup is a great way to preserve your summer garden bounty and savor it all year round. It’s tasty, nutritious, and inexpensive. You can freeze Gazpacho soup in a casserole dish for a later date or freeze individual servings for later use.
Gazpacho soup is a great way to fill up on veggies without the work of peeling or chopping. It’s also full of flavor, even though it’s very low in calories. The creamy consistency gives your mouth a pleasant feeling that could carry you through the day, especially when you’re not particularly hungry. Since it’s so simple, you can throw together a pot of homemade Gazpacho soup in about an hour.