Recipe: gazpacho by Angela Clutton
The best gazpachos are made with seasonal tomatoes and served super-cold

The best gazpachos have several characteristics in common, said Angela Clutton: they are made with seasonal tomatoes, they are served super-cold, and they use a really good sherry vinegar.
Serve with the sherry vinegar bottle on the table too, so that people can add that all-important finishing touch of flavour and balance. I like my gazpacho quite thick, so that is how this comes – thin it down with water, if you prefer. There is no need to skin the tomatoes as they will be blended and strained before serving.
Ingredients: serves 4-6
- 1kg very ripe tomatoes, roughly chopped
- 1 cucumber, peeled and chopped
- 1 green pepper, deseeded and chopped
- 80g slightly stale white or brown bread, torn into pieces
- 3 cloves of garlic, chopped
- 3 tbsp sherry vinegar, plus extra to taste
- 125ml extra-virgin olive oil
For the garnish (optional)
- chopped hard-boiled egg
- chopped spring onion
- chopped cucumber
- chopped mint croutons
- sherry vinegar
Method
- Place the tomatoes in a large bowl with the cucumber, green pepper, bread pieces, garlic, sherry vinegar (I recommend using a really good one, such as Valdespino at Brindisa) and half of the oil. Add a good pinch of salt, mix to combine, then cover and chill for about 2 hours.
- Transfer to a blender and combine all the ingredients, adding the rest of the olive oil.
- Season and strain into a bowl through a fine sieve, pushing with a spoon to get as much through as you can. Taste for seasoning – remember that chilling dulls the seasoning slightly – and take a look at the resulting soup. If it is too thick for your liking, you can thin it down at this stage with some water.
- Chill until needed, then serve in small bowls or cups with a drizzle of sherry vinegar on top and your choice of garnishes, arranged on the table so each person can help themselves.
- Alternative: rather than sherry vinegar, try finishing with a good balsamic, tomato balsamic, maple vinegar or cucumber vinegar.
Recipe from boroughmarket.org.uk, a website featuring recipes inspired by produce at the London food market. Angela Clutton is a food writer and presenter, and author of “Borough Market: The Knowledge”. Photography: Kim Lightbody.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Sign up for the Food & Drink newsletter for recipes, reviews and recommendations
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Why the GOP is nervous about Ken Paxton's Senate run
Today's Big Question A MAGA-establishment battle with John Cornyn will be costly
By Joel Mathis, The Week US
-
Quiz of The Week: 12 - 17 April
Have you been paying attention to The Week's news?
By The Week Staff
-
UK-US trade deal: can Keir Starmer trust Donald Trump?
Today's Big Question White House insiders say an agreement is 'two weeks' away but can Britain believe it?
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK
-
Cartier at the V&A: a 'dazzling' show
The Week Recommends A 'once-in-a-lifetime' display of the French jeweller's 'exquisite' objects
By Irenie Forshaw, The Week UK
-
What is Free Speech?: a 'meticulous' look at the evolution of freedom of expression
The Week Recommends Fara Dabhoiwala provides both history and critique while 'correcting misconceptions'
By The Week UK
-
Rupert Gavin shares his favourite books
The Week Recommends The theatre impresario picks works by Dan Jones, Annie Ernaux and Floella Benjamin
By The Week UK
-
What They Found: Sam Mendes's powerful debut documentary
The Week Recommends The Oscar-winning director's harrowing film features footage and first-hand accounts of the liberation of Bergen-Belsen concentration camp
By The Week UK
-
The Return: a 'lethally effective' Odyssey adaptation
The Week Recommends Ralph Fiennes and Juliette Binoche reunite in Urberto Pasolini's 'emotionally gripping' drama
By The Week UK
-
Critics' choice: Three takes on tavern dining
Feature A second Minetta Tavern, A 1946 dining experience, and a menu with a mission
By The Week US
-
Film reviews: Warfare and A Minecraft Movie
Feature A combat film that puts us in the thick of it and five misfits fall into a cubic-world adventure
By The Week US
-
Music reviews: Perfume Genius, Momma, Elton John & Brandi Carlile
Feature "Glory," "Welcome to My Blue Sky," and "Who Believes in Angels?"
By The Week US