Showing posts with label Mediterranean. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mediterranean. Show all posts

Tuesday, May 7, 2019

Easy Gazpacho Recipe


Gazpacho is a refreshing, nutritious and a tangy blend of delicious raw vegetables, where tomatoes are the key ingredient. This is a delicious wellness meal that is healthy, vegan and gluten-free, that comes together in 10 minutes (or less!).



Gazpacho Soup Recipe



How to make easy, vegan and gluten free gazpacho?



Gazpacho is one of the many foods which i never knew that it existed before visiting a restaurant, which specialises in Mediterranean food. My first impression of gazpacho was not the best, but it left me craving for more.

However, the Traditional Gazpacho Recipe is made from raw vegetables like tomatoes, cucumber, red or green bell pepper, onion and garlic cloves, as these are the most common ingredients, that are readily available in Spain, although olive oil, lime juice, balsamic vinegar, salt, cumin and black pepper also go into the making of the Classic Gazpacho Soup.

Gazpacho is a refreshing, nutritious and a tangy blend of delicious raw vegetables, where tomatoes are the key ingredient. Since my garden is overflowing with tomatoes of every variety, I decided to try my hand at making the Spanish Gazpacho Soup. This soup is full of garden fresh flavor and can be made in less than 10 minutes.

To make the gazpacho, you need to chop the veggies and add them into the blender (or a juicer), along with a glass of water and blend it until you get a thick liquid. Next, you need to add the crushed stale bread, and toss it along with the olive oil, lime juice, balsamic vinegar and cilantro in a blender, and, blend until it's smooth. Season it with salt, pepper or cumin and enjoy! (Also, you can skip salt and balsamic vinegar to keep the sodium in check.)

Drink it immediately to enjoy a host of wonderful antioxidants that flush out the system of toxins or refrigerate it for at least one hour before serving.

Gazpacho is healthy soup rich in minerals, fiber, nutrients, vitamin A, C, E, iron, potassium, manganese and zinc. Red tomatoes, for example are the major dietary source of lycopene, a powerful antioxidant, that is a great way to boost the immune system and helps to regulate the digestive system. This fresh delicious soup keeps the body hydrated and gives the instant energy. Also, it gives glow to the skin and can be a great help in reducing the risk of bladder, gastric, colon and prostate cancer.

Today the diners want to eat healthy food, and yet don't want to compromise on taste so, what's better than this delicious wellness summer drink which is dairy-freevegan and gluten-free. Gazpacho is a healthy soup, that comes together in 10 minutes (or less!).

If you guys remember my mom made tomato soup last year, and, as you know i'm super obsessed with soups this time we wanted to make something different and unique so made gazpacho soup instead! Did I mention already, how much I love this soup!

Guys, give this recipe a try and let me know what are your thoughts in the comments below! I'd love to hear from you!


EASY GAZPACHO SOUP




Serves: 6 People
Preparation time: 10 minutes
Freeze time: 60 minutes
Author: The Food Root




Ingredients



7 Red tomatoes, blanched
2 Green tomatoes, blanched
1 English cucumber, peeled, chopped
1 Red or Green bell pepper, deseeded, chopped
1 Red onion, chopped
2 Garlic cloves, chopped
1 Stale bread, crushed
1 glass water
1 tbsp salt
1 tbsp sugar (optional)
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp cumin
1 tbsp freshly squeezed lime juice
2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
3 tbsp olive oil
handful of fresh parsley, chopped


Method



1. Make a cross sign across the bottom of each tomato, using a knife, and drop them into the boiling water. Blanch the tomatoes for around 1 minute and transfer them into a bowl of ice-cold water. Leave it for 2 minutes, then drain. Peel off the skin and cut them into half. Next, pull off the seeds, chop and set them aside.

2. Cut off the top of the red or green bell pepper, deseed, and cut it into small pieces.

3. Peel the cucumber, red onion and garlic cloves, and finely chop.

4. Place the chopped tomatoes, bell peppers, cucumber, onion and garlic cloves in a blender or a juicer and add a glass of water. Puree for 1 or 2 minutes, or until the soup reaches the desired consistency.

5. Add a crushed stale bread and toss it along with olive oil, lime juice, balsamic vinegar, sugar (optional) and cilantro in a blender and blend until it's smooth. Season it with salt and pepper or cumin if needed.

6. Transfer the gazpacho in a bowl and let it chill in a refrigerator for at least one hour. Garnish the gazpacho with fresh parsley just before serving and enjoy!


Notes



1. You can skip salt and balsamic vinegar to keep sodium in check.

2. Chill the gazpacho soup in the refrigerator for at least one hour before serving.

3. You can avoid the blanching of tomatoes, instead you can directly chop and blend them along with the other vegetables.

Tuesday, July 11, 2017

MEDITERRANEAN CHICKPEA SALAD

In a large bowl, combine chickpeas, tomatoes and cucumber. Pour Cumin-Dijon flavored vinaigrette dressing over the top and toss it well. Season with salt and pepper, and garnish it with grated beets. Serve immediately!

Brighten your day with this fresh and colorful Mediterranean chickpea salad - packed with nutrients and taste! Filled with cooked chickpeas, cherry tomatoes, crisp cucumber, fresh beets and tossed in a vinaigrette flavored dressing with cumin and dijon. This recipe is completely vegan and gluten-free. Lately I've been a bit obsessed with chickpeas salads. This Mediterranean Chickpeas salad was a pure bliss. It has all my favorite Mediterranean flavors. It's super addictive and super satisfying!

Chickpeas are used in varieties of vegetarian recipes and are mostly added in Indian, Mediterranean and South American cuisines. They are very versatile and easy to cook. They can be added in salads, dips, soups, curries, ground into a flour to make variety of snacks like falafel, fritters, sev, boondi, and many more. Chickpeas are one of the best sources of protein, carbohydrates and fiber. 1 cup of cooked beans = 15 grams of protein


To prepare the chickpeas, soak the beans overnight or quick soak for about 4 hours. Add salt, water and pressure cook it for 15 minutes, over medium-high heat. When done, drain the chickpeas in a strainer and let it cool for a while. I usually cook the whole bag of chickpeas (500 grams) at once and use them up within a week. These are much more tastier and healthier than the canned one's.

This salad is particularly delicious if served when chickpeas are slightly warm. If it has been refrigerated, just be sure to allow it to come to room temperature before serving. To make this salad, you can cook chickpeas ahead of time. This salad has an endless combinations. You can pretty much throw in whatever you like. I love beets, cherry tomatoes and cucumber so I added that. Make a simple vinaigrette dressing, drizzle over the top and toss it well. Season with salt and pepper, and serve immediately! 



MEDITERRANEAN CHICKPEA SALAD

Serves: 2-3 people
Soaking time: 4-5 hours
Preparation time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 15 minutes
Author: The Food Root


INGREDIENTS

1 cup or 200 grams dried white chickpeas (kabuli chana or safed chole)
2 medium size tomato, chopped
1 medium size cucumber, chopped
1 small size beetroot, grated
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon salt or as per taste 

For the Dressing 

3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons white wine vinegar (or apple cider, black wine, balsamic, rice)
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1/2 teaspoon cumin, roasted
1 tablespoon lime juice
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon sugar or honey

DIRECTIONS


1. Cook chickpeas : Wash and soak the chickpeas overnight, or quick soak for about 4 hours in enough water. Drain the water, rinse it again with cold water. Add 1/2 tablespoon of salt and 2 cups of water and pressure cook it for around 15 minutes, over medium-high heat. When done, remove from heat and let it cool for sometime. Drain the chickpeas in a strainer and keep it aside. You can also refrigerate it for a while.

2. Chop raw veggies : Chop your favorite raw veggies and refrigerate until they are ready to use. You can pretty much throw in whatever you like. I added cherry tomatoes, cucumber and garnished it with fresh beetroots.

3. Prepare the dressing : Whisk all the ingredients - (olive oil, white wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, cumin, lime juice, minced garlic, dried oregano, salt, black pepper, sugar or honey) in a bowl until well blended. Refrigerate until ready to serve. The dressing keeps well for 3-4 days.

4. Assemble : In a large bowl, combine chickpeas, tomatoes and cucumber. Pour Cumin-Dijon flavored vinaigrette dressing over the top and toss it well. Season with salt and pepper, and garnish it with grated beets. Serve immediately! Enjoy!

NOTES

1. Wash and soak the chickpeas overnight, or quick soak for about 4 hours in enough water.
2. Chop your favorite raw veggies and refrigerate until they are ready to use.
3. You can make generous amount of dressing and keep it in the fridge for 3-4 days.
4. Whisk the vinaigrette 2-3 times, before serving.
5. This salad is particularly delicious if served when chickpeas are slightly warm.
6. If the chickpeas has been refrigerated, just be sure to allow it to come to room temperature before serving.