Sunny Barefoot Contessa’s Gazpacho & Goat Cheese Croutons Recipe

On a sweltering summer day, this refreshing Barefoot Contessa easy gazpacho & goat cheese croutons recipe will instantly cool you down.

Vibrant vegetables blend into a silky smooth soup that bursts with fresh Mediterranean flavors.

The combination of ripe tomatoes, crisp cucumbers, and tangy bell peppers creates a symphony of taste in every spoonful.

Topped with crunchy goat cheese croutons, this dish brings a gourmet twist to a classic Spanish cold soup.

Each ingredient is carefully selected to maximize flavor and nutrition.

The simple preparation method makes this recipe accessible for home cooks of all skill levels.

Dive into this delightful summer sensation that promises to refresh and satisfy your taste buds.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 2 minutes

Total Time: 22 minutes

Calories: 220 kcal

Servings: 6

Ingredients for Easy Gazpacho & Goat Cheese Croutons

• Tomatoes: Juicy foundation that brings vibrant summer freshness, choose ripe, deep red tomatoes for maximum flavor.
• Spring Onions: Adds sharp, clean bite and light onion essence, select crisp green tops with no wilting.
• Cucumber: Provides cool, refreshing texture and subtle green notes, pick firm specimens without soft spots.
• Onion: Delivers robust depth and aromatic complexity, opt for sweet varieties like Vidalia for gentler taste.
• Garlic: Introduces bold, pungent undertones that elevate overall soup profile, choose firm, plump cloves.

• Vinegar: Creates tangy brightness that balances vegetable flavors, select high-quality white or sherry vinegar.
• Olive Oil: Contributes silky richness and smooth mouthfeel, use extra virgin for best taste.
• Celery Salt: Enhances savory background with subtle herbal undertones, ensures balanced seasoning.
• Red Pepper Flakes: Introduces gentle heat and spicy complexity, adjust quantity for personal preference.
• Tomato Purée, Tomato Juice: Intensify tomato essence and adjust soup's consistency, choose pure, natural products.

• Baguette: Creates crispy, rustic base for cheese topping, select fresh, crusty bread.
• Goat Cheese: Delivers creamy, tangy element that complements cold soup, choose soft, spreadable variety.
• Olive Oil: Helps bread achieve golden, crisp texture when grilling, use light coating.

Tools for Gazpacho with Goat Cheese Croutons

• Food Processor: Essential for quickly puréeing vegetables into a smooth, coarse mixture.
• Large Bowl: Perfect for mixing and whisking gazpacho ingredients together.
• Cutting Board: Sturdy surface for chopping tomatoes, cucumber, and onions.
• Sharp Knife: Crucial for precise vegetable cutting and slicing baguette.
• Baking Tray: Used for toasting and grilling bread slices with goat cheese.
• Whisk: Great for blending vinegar, oil, and seasonings into gazpacho.
• Grater/Mandoline (optional): Helpful for uniform vegetable chopping.
• Ladle: Convenient for serving chilled gazpacho into bowls.

Making Easy Gazpacho & Goat Cheese Croutons

• Fresh Garden Gathering

Chop ripe tomatoes, crisp spring onions, juicy cucumber, and sharp onion into rough chunks. Toss everything into a food processor with fragrant garlic and pulse until beautifully chunky.

• Flavor Fusion

Pour pureed vegetables into a spacious mixing bowl. Splash in tangy vinegar, fruity olive oil, zesty celery salt, spicy red pepper flakes, rich tomato purée, and bright tomato juice. Whisk everything together with a generous pinch of seasoning until well combined.

• Chill Time

Cover the bowl and let the gazpacho rest in the refrigerator, allowing flavors to dance and mingle for several hours or an entire night.

• Cheesy Crouton Magic

Slice a crusty baguette on a diagonal. Brush each slice with golden olive oil and toast under the broiler until edges turn crispy and golden. Spread creamy goat cheese on top and warm for an extra minute.

• Elegant Serving

Ladle the chilled gazpacho into beautiful bowls. Crown each serving with a warm, cheese-topped crouton and finish with a delicate drizzle of olive oil.

Gazpacho Croutons: Ideas for Creative Twists

• Experiment with different herbs like basil or cilantro to add a fresh twist to the classic recipe.
• Swap or add roasted bell peppers, jalapeños, or fennel for extra depth and complexity in flavor.
• Use a blender for a smoother consistency or keep some chunks for a rustic, chunky gazpacho that adds exciting texture.
• Gazpacho keeps well in the refrigerator for 3-4 days, allowing flavors to meld and intensify overnight – making it an ideal make-ahead summer dish.
• Try different cheese options like feta or blue cheese instead of goat cheese, or add crispy bacon bits for an extra flavor punch on your croutons.

Serving Up Gazpacho with Goat Cheese Croutons

• Elevate Your Gazpacho Experience: Pair this chilled soup with crisp white wine for a refreshing summer meal.
• Texture and Temperature Contrast: Place the warm, creamy goat cheese crouton atop the cold gazpacho to create an exciting sensory experience.
• Mediterranean-Style Plating: Garnish with fresh basil leaves or chopped chives to add a pop of green and enhance the visual appeal of the dish.
• Protein Boost Option: Top with diced grilled shrimp or crumbled crispy bacon for those wanting extra protein and complexity.

Planning & Storing Gazpacho with Goat Cheese Croutons

• Refrigerate Quickly: Store gazpacho in an airtight container immediately after chilling, keeping it fresh for up to 3 days in the refrigerator.
• Separate Croutons: Keep goat cheese croutons at room temperature, loosely covered, and consume within 24 hours to maintain crispy texture.
• Prep Ahead Strategy: Prepare gazpacho base one day before serving to enhance flavor depth and allow ingredients to meld together beautifully.
• Freeze with Caution: Avoid freezing gazpacho, as fresh vegetables will lose their crisp texture and become watery upon thawing.

Vibrant Gazpacho & Goat Cheese Croutons Recipe

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4.8 from 20 reviews

• Total Time: 22 minutes
• Yield: 6 1x

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Description

Summer’s refreshing gazpacho highlights garden-fresh vegetables blended into a cool Spanish soup. Crisp goat cheese croutons add delightful crunch, making this recipe perfect for warm afternoons you’ll savor with friends.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 2 cans (800 g / 28.2 oz) whole peeled tomatoes, drained
• 360 ml / 12 fl oz tomato juice (preferably Sacramento)
• 120 ml / 4 fl oz red wine vinegar
• 120 ml / 4 fl oz good olive oil
• 1 large red onion
• 4 spring onions
• 1 baguette
• 115 g / 4 oz garlic and herb goat cheese (such as Montrachet)
• 6 garlic cloves
• ¼ seedless cucumber, unpeeled, seeds removed
• 2 tbsps tomato purée
• Olive oil (for brushing and drizzling)
• ½ tsp celery salt
• ¼ tsp crushed red pepper flakes
• Sea salt
• Freshly ground black pepper

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Instructions

1. Vegetable Preparation: Coarsely chop ripe tomatoes, spring onions, cucumber, and onion into uneven pieces. Add peeled garlic cloves to a food processor and pulse until a rough, textured purée forms with visible chunks.
2. Flavor Infusion: Transfer the vegetable mixture to a large mixing bowl. Whisk in vinegar, extra virgin olive oil, celery salt, red pepper flakes, tomato purée, and tomato juice. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper, ensuring thorough distribution.
3. Chilling Process: Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for a minimum of 4 hours or overnight, allowing flavors to meld and intensify.
4. Crouton Crafting: Preheat broiler to high heat, positioning the rack 5-7 inches from the heat source. Slice a baguette diagonally into 6 pieces, brushing each with olive oil. Broil for 1-2 minutes until golden and crisp.
5. Cheese Topping: Flip croutons and spread a generous layer of soft goat cheese on each slice. Return to the broiler for an additional minute until the cheese becomes slightly melted and fragrant.
6. Serving Finale: Ladle the chilled gazpacho into serving bowls, crowning each portion with a warm goat cheese crouton. Drizzle a small amount of extra virgin olive oil over the top for added richness and flavor complexity.

Notes

• Chill for Maximum Flavor: Refrigerate gazpacho for at least 4 hours or overnight to allow ingredients to develop a deeper, more complex taste profile.
• Choose Ripe Tomatoes: Select fully ripe, deep-colored tomatoes for the most vibrant and intense gazpacho flavor and texture.
• Control Texture Carefully: Pulse vegetables in food processor to maintain a rough, chunky consistency rather than creating a completely smooth purée.
• Broiler Watching: Keep a close eye on croutons during broiling, as they can quickly transition from perfectly golden to burnt in seconds.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 2 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
• Method: Blending
• Cuisine: Spanish

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 6
• Calories: 220
• Sugar: 6 g
• Sodium: 450 mg
• Fat: 18 g
• Saturated Fat: 5 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 18 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 5 g
• Cholesterol: 15 mg