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Strawberry Gazpacho
This recipe, adapted from The Silver Palate Cookbook, was served at our Vineyard Bloom Picnic June 29, 2002. It received rave reviews.

3 large ripe tomatoes
2 quarts strawberries
2 sweet red peppers
2 medium yellow onions
2 large shallots
2 large cucumbers
1/2 cup red wine (we recommend Lailey Vineyard Zweigelt 2001)
1/2 cup olive oil
1 and 1/2 cups canned tomato juice
3 eggs lightly beaten
pinch of cayenne pepper
salt, freshly ground black pepper, to taste
1/2 cup chopped fresh dill
Wash and prepare the vegetables and strawberries. Core and coarsely chop tomatoes; save the juice. Core, seed and coarsely chop peppers, hull strawberries and cut into halves. Peel and coarsely chop onions and shallots. Peel, seed, and coarsely chop cucumbers.

In a bowl whisk together wine, olive oil, reserved and canned tomato juice, and eggs.

In a blender or a food processor fitted with a steel blade, puree the vegetables and strawberries in small batches, adding tomato-juice and wine mixture as necessary to keep blades from clogging. Do not puree completely; the gazpacho should retain some of its crunch.

Stir in cayenne, salt and pepper to taste, and dill. Cover and chill for at least 4 hours.

Serve in chilled soup bowls or mugs. Serves 8 to 10 people.

Serve with Lailey Vineyard
Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling or Vidal
(all of these wines will work wonderfully, just make sure the wine is as cold as the soup)
www.laileyvineyard.com