Creamy Gazpacho

May 30, 2011 ·

This is another entry for the Real Women of Philadelphia contest. This was submitted during appetizer week. We really, really liked this Creamy Gazpacho, and I will definitely be making it again. Super simple to throw together, not to mention healthy, AND delicious! You can even have some fun serving it, you can serve it in a bowl, or even in small glasses.

Creamy Gazpacho

Author: Jeanine Friesen

Recipe type: Appetizer

Serves: 12

This bright, refreshing soup is perfect for those hot summer days. It comes together in a matter of minutes, since it uses canned tomatoes, and the cream cheese adds a whole new dimension to the soup. It makes it taste more like a cooked soup, without all the work.

Ingredients

19 ounces crushed tomatoes
4 ounces Garden Vegetable cream cheese
19 ounces small diced tomatoes with olive oil and garlic
3/4 small green pepper, roughly chopped
1/2 cup onion, diced
1 long cucumber, seeds removed and diced
1/4 cup white vinegar
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped (plus 1 Tbsp for garnish)
1 teaspoon paprika
1 pinch of cayenne pepper
2 cups of tomato juice
2 tablespoons olive oil (to drizzle on top before serving)

Instructions

In a food processor or blender, combine crushed tomatoes and Garden Vegetable cream cheese until smooth. Pour into large bowl, and set aside.
Add diced tomatoes with olive oil and garlic, green pepper and onion to food processor. Process until a desired consistency. Pour into bowl with crushed tomatoes and cream cheese.
Pulse the cucumber in the food processor until chopped fairly fine, but not mushy. Add to tomato mixture.
Add vinegar, parsley, cilantro, paprika and cayenne pepper to the tomato mixture. Stir to combine.
Stir tomato juice into the vegetable mixture, you can add up to 3 cups, if you want a thinner soup. Season with salt and pepper.
Chill for 30-45 minutes. Serve chilled. Before serving, drizzle the top with olive oil, and garnish with fresh chopped parsley or cilantro.