California Gazpacho

Every week, we’re unearthing Heirloom Recipes -- dishes that have made their way from one generation's kitchen to the next.

Today: Melina Hammer of Licking the Plate makes her favorite childhood gazpacho recipe.

I never understood what made this gazpacho particularly Californian. I was raised in Detroit by parents with California roots, so perhaps it was simply a final distinguishing flourish of the recipe. I do know that it was one of my favorite summertime dishes. Our whole family loved this gazpacho, and it has stood the test of time, earning its place as a favorite, year after year. My brother and I used to eagerly wait at our enamel kitchen table -- the kind with the pull-out leaves for when company came over -- for our mother to spoon the gazpacho into bowls and bring us the shiny, crunchy medley. Marinated overnight in the fridge, the flavors grew on each other until it was officially ready to be devoured.

There's no cooking to be done, so if you can bear with the chopping -- and I prefer this method over the food processor, because you have more control over the beauty of the finished product -- then you'll be greatly rewarded when all is done. If worse comes to worst, pour yourself a glass of crisp, chilled wine to keep you company as you patiently fill your serving bowl with colorful produce confetti.

Use the freshest vegetables you can find -- if you can, go with heirloom varieties from your local farmers market. You'll love the full-flavored, richly textured results. Though she claims it isn't authentic, my mom happily served this gazpacho with a dollop of sour cream, which is how I recommend you do it, too. 

California Gazpacho

Serves 6 to 8

6 tomatoes (preferably heirlooms) 
3 to 4 small kirby cucumbers (preferably organic) 
1 medium sweet onion
1 green pepper
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/3 cup good olive oil
1/4 cup good red wine vinegar
1 1/2 cup tomato passata
Your favorite hot pepper sauce
Sea salt
Freshly cracked black pepper
Sour cream

See the full recipe (and save and print it) here.