Hot summer days call out for cooling relief from the heat


Garden fresh flavors of vine ripe heirloom tomatoes and sweet watermelon come together with fresh mint and basil in Tomato & Watermelon Gazpacho. The smoky and balsamic-like notes of roasted or black garlic add depth. A drizzle of olive oil adds the crowning touch.

Prep time: 25 minutes
Inactive time:1 hour
Servings:6 – 8

Ingredients

  • 4 medium Tomatoes (preferably heirloom varieties), chopped
  • 4 cups diced seedless Watermelon
  • 1 Cucumber, peeled, seeded and chopped
  • 1 Red Bell Pepper, roughly chopped
  • 1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon crushed roasted or black Garlic (about 8 – 10 cloves)
  • 1 medium Shallot, roughly chopped
  • 1/3 cup each loosely packed Basil and Mint, plus small crown leaves for topping
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground Black Pepper
  • 1/3 cup Extra-Virgin Olive Oil
  • 2 tablespoons Champagne Vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons unseasoned Rice Vinegar

Garlic drizzle

  • 1 tablespoon crushed roasted or black Garlic (about 6 – 8 cloves)
  • ¼ cup Extra-Virgin Olive Oil
  • 1 tablespoon Balsamic Vinegar

Preparation

  1. Place all ingredients through basil and mint in a large bowl. Season with 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and pepper to taste. Stir in the olive oil and vinegars.
  2. Puree the mixture in a blender or food processor in batches as necessary. If you prefer a liquid without solids, strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl, pressing to extract as much liquid as possible, then discard the solids. (Great for your compost pile!) Taste and season with additional salt and pepper as desired. Cover and refrigerate until chilled, about 1 hour.
  3. To serve, top the soup with a drizzle of EVOO and the small herb leaves.

Wine Pairing Guide

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CRISP, DRY WHITE or ROSÉ
Domestic
Texas: Albarino, Trebbiano, Picpoul Blanc, Pinot Grigio, Rosé
West Coast: Sauvignon Blanc, Fume Blanc, Rosé
Imported
Argentina: Sauvignon Blanc, Rosé
Austria: Gruner Veltliner
France: Chablis, white Bordeaux, Sancerre, Muscadet, Petit Manseng, Picpoul Blanc, Rosé
Germany: Dry Riesling
Italy: Pinot Grigio, Pinot Bianco, Frascati, Trebbiano, Vernaccia, Garganega (Soave), Orvieto, Gewurztraminer
New Zealand: Sauvignon Blanc
Portugal: Vinho Verde (Blanc or Rosé)
South Africa: Chenin Blanc, Rosé
Spain: Albarino, Verdejo, Godello, Viura, Rosé
UNOAKED, MEDIUM-BODY WHITE
Domestic
Texas: Vermentino, Semillon, Chardonnay
West Coast: Pinot Gris, Fume Blanc, Chardonnay
Imported
Austria: Gruner Veltliner
France: Chablis, Macon Village/Saint-Véran, Alsace Pinot Blanc, Picpoul Blanc
Italy: Vermentino, Verdicchio, Fiano, Greco, Cortese (Gavi)
RICH, MEDIUM to FULL-BODY WHITE
Domestic
Texas: Roussanne, Vermentino, Chardonnay
West Coast: Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Viognier
Imported
France: white Bordeaux, Puligny-Montrachet, Chassagne-Montrachet, Charlemagne, Marsanne, Viognier, Roussanne, Alsace Pinot Gris
Italy: Chardonnay
AROMATIC, SWEET and SEMI-SWEET WHITE
Domestic
Texas: Riesling, Chenin Blanc, Gewürztraminer
West Coast: Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Chenin Blanc
Imported
Argentina: Torrontes
Germany: Riesling, Gewürztraminer
France: Vouvray (Chenin Blanc) or Blanc Moelleux, Alsace Pinot Gris or Pinot Blanc
Italy: Gargenega, Moscato