If summer had a flavor, it might taste a lot like gazpacho. At its most basic, gazpacho is a blended Spanish soup consisting of perfectly ripe tomatoes, a little vinegar, and salt. It’s likely the oldest version of gazpacho consisted of nothing more than stale bread, water, vinegar, oil and salt—nowadays though, you’ll find them made of all kinds of veggies, like summer squash, bell peppers, cucumbers, and more. Oh, and before we forget to mention: this summer soup is served COLD. Wait, what? Trust us. When you find yourself needing a refreshing dinner or snack during summer's long hot days and nights, turn to our 10 super-refreshing summer gazpacho recipes to cool off.
If you’re unfamiliar, the concept of gazpacho might sound a little strange, but people have been sipping it to keep cool for hundreds of years. If a recipe has stuck around that long, you know it’s good. If you’re just dipping your toes into cold soup, try our most classic gazpacho recipe. If you’re already a connoisseur, try branching out into making it with different veggies. Cucumber or summer squash are great choices paired with tomato, or all on their own. You could even make your soup with fruit—try swapping out your tomatoes for watermelon (we wouldn’t judge serving this after dinner as a unique twist on dessert when it’s too hot out for chocolate). Whether you want your soup completely smooth or a little chunky is up to you, though we will say, a little texture is good for turning gazpacho from a snack into a meal. Another great way to achieve that? Add some protein, like shrimp or traditional serrano ham (known as salmorejo). Though it’s not traditional, a little cream is also a nice addition—if you don’t want to sully your soup with it, try serving toasts on the side topped with a little goat cheese or whipped feta on the side of your soup.
You know what goes great with soup? Salad! Check out our top healthy dinner salad ideas and summer salad recipes too.
Easy Gazpacho Soup
When late summer rolls around and the tomatoes turn juicy and sweet, we can't get enough of them. When we're not busy scarfing them down in caprese salad form, we love them in this classic summer soup. Our version not only has tomato, but also uses red bell pepper and cucumbers to really up that summer cornucopia flavor.
Get the Easy Gazpacho recipe.
Gazpacho
Plum tomatoes, cucumbers, and red onion come together with white vinegar, garlic, and olive oil to make this super easy and delicious summer soup. Garnish with green onions, a swirl of olive oil, and plenty of freshly ground black pepper for a restaurant-level presentation.
Get the Gazpacho recipe.
Watermelon Gazpacho
Though we'll always love a classic, tomato-based gazpacho, the addition of watermelon gives the soup a delicious subtle sweetness we can't get enough of. Full of juicy, bright fruits and veggies, this no-cook soup is equal parts satisfying and refreshing.
Get the Watermelon Gazpacho recipe.
Tomato Gazpacho with Avocado and Grilled Shrimp
This classic summer soup gets an awesome upgrade with grilled shrimp for protein and avocado for extra creaminess. Don't be alarmed if your soup turns out a different color—each soup will be unique depending on the color of your heirloom tomatoes.
Get the Tomato Gazpacho with Avocado and Grilled Shrimp recipe.
Golden Gazpacho with Minted Cream
Fresh, mint-flecked cream is an elegant final touch to this summery soup of yellow tomatoes, peppers, and squash.
Get the Golden Gazpacho with Minted Cream recipe from Country Living.
Cucumber Gazpacho with Watermelon and Mint
Refreshingly light and just a little bit sweet and spicy, this cool, colorful soup is a novel twist on classic gazpacho.
Get the Cucumber Gazpacho with Watermelon and Mint recipe from Country Living.
White Gazpacho with Tomato Toasts
Country white bread, cucumber, green grapes, and almonds give this blender dinner its rich texture and signature hue. For a no-fuss side, just spoon grated tomatoes over toasts.
Get the White Gazpacho with Tomato Toasts recipe from Good Housekeeping.
Spicy Gazpacho with Serrano Ham
This recipe is a GREAT way to turn stale bread into something incredible—add tomatoes, chiles, and ham for a soup that's good as a side or a meal.
Get the Spicy Gazpacho with Serrano Ham recipe from Good Housekeeping.
Squash Gazpacho
This summertime classic gets a sunny makeover thanks to summer's finest yellow squash and yellow bell peppers. The goat cheese toasts aren't strictly necessary, but they pair perfectly with the fresh, smoked-paprika-dusted cold soup.
Get the Squash Gazpacho recipe from Good Housekeeping.
End-of-Summer Gazpacho
This 15-minute heart-healthy soup is extra delicious when cantaloupe and tomatoes are in season, and is perfect for cooling off during those long, hot summer days.
Get the End-of-Summer Gazpacho recipe from Woman's Day.
