Coastal Gazpacho ~ The Southern Scoop’s Recipe of the Month

Visit the beach this summer and cool off with our favorite chilled soup, Coastal Gazpacho ~ The Southern Scoop’s Recipe of the Month.  This summer soup is a spinoff from the classic Spanish  soup, typically made with tomatoes, cucumbers, and a few other notable veggies. We like it because it incorporates one of summer’s most popular fruits while giving a nod to our early coastal settlers. This recipe goes from raw ingredients to a ready-made dish for the whole family in a snap! Additionally featuring fresh fruits and vegetables, vitamins and antioxidants are plentiful in this exotic Summer soup.

What you’ll need for your Gazpacho (Scale portions according to how many you are serving)

**Most if not all of the ingredients can be found at our local supermarkets such as Publix, Whole Foods, or Fresh Market.

~6 cups of cubed, seedless watermelon

~1 peeled, seeded, and chopped cucumber

~2 tablespoons chopped red onion, split fresh basil, and apple cider vinegar

~1 tablespoon olive oil

~1 small chopped and seeded jalapeño

~1/2 teaspoon sea salt

~1/8 teaspoon of cayenne pepper

Kitchen items you’ll need

~Large cutting board

~Appropriately sized knife

~One mixing bowl

~Blender

Preparation

~Simply blend watermelon, cucumber, onion, half the basil, vinegar, olive oil and jalapeno until smooth. Gently stir in the salt, cayenne and vinegar

~Cover and chill for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to really meld together. Even longer is great since it’s best served ice cold!

~Pour into small glasses or bowls and garnish with fresh basil. Enjoy!

We hope you like our Coastal Gazpacho ~ The Southern Scoop’s Recipe of the Month. If you haven’t seen our other recipes make sure you check the Gulf Coast blog! Since we’ve got you covered from Panama City, Florida to Gulf Shores and Fort Morgan Alabama, make sure to browse on over to our events page to find out about what’s happening in your vacation area! Thank you for being a part of the Southern family, and we’ll see you next month with another delicious quick recipe!