Strawberry Tomato Gazpacho

In what seems like an eternity ago, I went to 11 Madison Park and had an amazing strawberry lobster gazpacho to open our meal.  It was a confounding gazpacho to say the least - I could certainly taste a shellfish reduction, but the strawberry puree balanced seemlessly with the pureed tomatoes.  Little chunks of lobster and vegetables provided the only texture in the soup.   

While I found the shellfish reduction interesting, I left this technique behind while making a strawberry tomato gazpacho at home.   I found bursting at the seams heirloom tomatoes, which would serve as the base of the soup.    I pureed the tomatoes with some chopped carrots, red onion, a nugget of ginger, celery leaves, salt, pepper, lemon juice and a few chopped strawberries.  The strawberry to tomato ratio is the entire key to success for this dish.   One and a half large tomatoes took only about a handful of  strawberries.   I generally thought about the strawberries as I would an herb.   You don't want to overwhelm the tomatoes with strawberries, so add less and keep adding after tasting. 

An unexpected technique that made this dish was straining the puree.  After removing all of the pulp and chilling the remaining juice, I garnished the soup with a very fine dice of each of the ingredients in the puree to garnish the gazpacho.  I also added some chopped smoked almonds, a nice wedge of avocado and a drizzle of olive oil to finish.

Whatever you do, don't toss the puree pulp once you strain.   I brought it into work and served it as a salsa with chips.   Gazpacho salsa?  Totally works.

Comments

[tami]

This could *so* be entered into the soup event on my blog :)

I'm just sayin...

[steamy kitchen]

Its almost 1am and about 80 degrees outside. I SO want a bowl now!

[Tim]

Does everything have to have fruit in it? :(

[Tim]

Does everything have to have fruit in it? :(

[James]

Is this based on the recipe in Patricia Well's latest book?

[JOE]

james, haven't seen her recipe...worth a look?

tim, news flash. summer = fruit, buddy.