BBQ Grilling: Try Grilled Summer Cooling Puttanesca Gazpacho

  AP photo/Matthew Mead

From Denny:  Fancy a cold soup to counter the ridiculous hot heat of the summer?  Gazpacho is everyone's favorite, especially when entertaining for large groups.  This version involves grilling all those delicious veggies like red bell peppers, poblano peppers, tomatoes, onions, cucumbers and a head of fresh garlic.  

Let the charred peppers cool before removing the skins and the inside seeds and membranes. Squeeze the cooled soft garlic cloves out of their papery skins and into the food processor.  Add the delicious flavors of capers, Kalamata olives, anchovies, olive oil and balsamic vinegar.

Make the soup as chunky or as smooth as you like.  Chill well before serving.  To serve, garnish with yummy ricotta cheese and fresh torn herbs like cilantro and basil.  Then sit back and wait for the compliments to arrive!

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Recipe: Refreshing Easy Gazpacho!

Gazpacho Version with Cucumber Image by Marco Veringa via Flickr

From Denny: In this triple digit summer heat wave we all could use something cooling like gazpacho - and it's so healthy! Did you know that tomatoes alkalize your blood? Did you know that cucumbers and tomatoes both cool your liver that in turn cools your body in this heat?

Varieties of gazpacho are practically endless. Here's one faster convenience food version that uses that yummy Spicy Hot V-8 juice that does most of the work for you.

Summertime Gazpacho

From: “Culinary Secrets” by Margo Bouanchaud Hayes and Mary Ann Monsour (featured in the Comfort Food From Louisiana Amazon store, just click on the title)

Makes: 6 cups

Ingredients:

3 medium tomatoes, peeled and chopped

1 clove garlic, minced

3 cups Spicy Hot V-8 Juice, divided

2 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice (I've used bottled lemon juice and haven't died of embarrassment from it)

1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

1/4 cup olive oil

2 Tablespoons red wine vinegar

1 cup finely chopped yellow bell pepper

1 cup peeled and finely chopped cucumber

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Garnish:

Avocado, peeled and cubed

Sour cream (I find no-fat version just as tasty)

Directions:

1. Process tomatoes and garlic in bowl of food processor.

2. Gradually add half of the V-8 juice and process until smooth.

Then add lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, olive oil and vinegar.

3. Pour mixture into another container, and add the bell pepper and cucumber. Stir well.

4. In batches, purée about three-fourths of the mixture until smooth. (Leave the last fourth unprocessed to have the contrasting texture).

5. Mix in the remaining V-8 juice, combining with the puréed batches and the unpuréed. Season to taste.

6. Serve well chilled, garnished with avocado and sour cream.