Recipe: Watermelon Gazpacho

With the winter season almost at an end we can look forward to warmer weather, and lighter meals.

One of my favourite warm-weather meals is home-made soup. Soup is an elegant, light alternative to the heavy meats and starches that we tend to consume all winter long.

The great thing about soup is that it is a blank culinary canvas- served hot or cold, soups can be made with almost any ingredients you like. While time-tested soups such as chicken noodle or cream of mushroom will always be family favourites, there are many more exotic and interesting options for ambitious home cooks to try. With that being said, I am providing one of my favourite soup recipes today.

Ladies and gentlemen, let me introduce you to a seasonal favourite of mine- watermelon gazpacho. Served cold like its traditional tomato-based counterpart, the light sweetness of the watermelon and its vibrant colour are what make this soup so unique. I promise you will love this light, healthy summer soup!

Watermelon Gazpacho

3 cups of fresh watermelon, cut into cubes; plus 1 cup fresh watermelon diced finely.
1 english cucumber, peeled, seeded, and diced.
1 green habanera pepper or jalapeño, seeded and diced (optional, but adds a nice heat!)
2 tsp red wine vinegar
Half of a small red onion, diced finely.
¼ cup fresh dill, chopped finely.
2 tbsp each, kosher salt and white pepper
½ cup extra virgin olive oil
4 tbsp plain yogurt

Method:

Place 6 bowls into the freezer or fridge to chill.

In a food processor or blender, combine 2 cups of the watermelon, the cucumber, and hot pepper. Pulse lightly for about 30 seconds.

Add the onion, half of the dill, and cucumber, along with the 3^rd cup of watermelon, red wine vinegar and oil. Blend until smooth. Season with salt and white pepper.

Pour the mixture into chilled bowls, and garnish with the remaining diced watermelon, dill, and yogurt.

Serve immediately.

Lizz Hill, a Toronto-based chef, runs her own catering company, called The Girl Next Door Catering. She also teaches cooking at the LCBO.

About Lizz Hill

Lizz Hill is a Toronto-based chef who has worked with some of the biggest catering companies and restaurants in the city. She has catered events for professional athletes, music videos, and artists' studio galas. Her company, The Girl Next Door Catering caters to groups of all sizes, for every type of event. Follow her on Twitter!