Creamy Green Gazpacho

Name: Creamy Green Gazpacho
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients: 1 1 medium tomato, cored and cut into quarters; 1 1 small cucumber, peeled and cut into large chunks; 1 Flesh from 1/2 avocado, cut into large chunks; 1 3 large basil leaves; 1 1/2 jalapeño (optional); 1 3/4 cup lightly packed watercress or baby spinach leaves; 1 1 small celery stalk (optional); 1 1 clove garlic, crushed; 1 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar, or more to taste; 1 1 tablespoon honey; 1 2 ice cubes; 1 Filtered water (optional); 1 Kosher or sea salt; 1 Freshly ground black pepper; 1 1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil

From the kitchen of Carly

A chilled green soup that's bright without being bitter. Avocado and watercress create the creamy base, while basil and a whisper of jalapeño keep things interesting. Serve it cold on hot days, topped with the reserved vegetables for texture and freshness.

Prep: n/a
Cook: n/a
Total: n/a
Servings: 4
Difficulty: medium

Ingredients

4 servings

11 medium tomato, cored and cut into quarters
11 small cucumber, peeled and cut into large chunks
1Flesh from 1/2 avocado, cut into large chunks
13 large basil leaves
11/2 jalapeño (optional)
13/4 cup lightly packed watercress or baby spinach leaves
11 small celery stalk (optional)
11 clove garlic, crushed
11 tablespoon red wine vinegar, or more to taste
11 tablespoon honey
12 ice cubes
1Filtered water (optional)
1Kosher or sea salt
1Freshly ground black pepper
11 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil

Instructions

Reserve one-quarter of the tomato, two cucumber chunks, two avocado chunks, and one basil leaf. Combine and finely chop for garnish.
Stem and seed the jalapeño half and reserve the seeds. Cut the jalapeño into several pieces. Combine one or two pieces of the jalapeño with the remaining tomato, cucumber, avocado, and basil and the watercress or spinach, celery, garlic, red wine vinegar, honey, and ice cubes in a blender or the bowl of a food processor; puree until smooth. Add 1/4 cup or more water to thin the mixture, if necessary.
Taste and season with salt, pepper, and more vinegar, if needed. If you want the soup spicier, add more of the jalapeño, a little at a time, as well as some of the seeds if desired, blending and tasting after each addition. Refrigerate until cold, then pour into a bowl and top with the reserved chopped tomato, cucumber, avocado, and basil and a drizzle of olive oil, and eat.