Wazpacho AKA Watermelon Gazpacho
Wazpacho AKA Watermelon Gazpacho is a summer twist on the classic cold Spanish soup. This melon version is just as delicious and a nice change of pace on a hot day.
Why You Must Make
- If you’re a fan of gazpacho, you’ll love this watermelon twist.
- It’s a cool and refreshing soup, so it’s fun for summer entertaining!
- A simple chopped garnish make it restaurant (or at least company) worth!
I fell in love with gazpacho with my first spoonful, long long ago on a family summer vacation spent nestled in Aspen’s mountain valley. My dad was surely on a hiking adventure, so my mom bravely took me and my three younger sisters to lunch in what looked like a Swiss chalet…that’s where we sampled this delicious soup.
My resourceful mom was able to get a recipe in the days before the Internet, probably at the Pitkin County Library. So once back home, we’d make homemade garlic croutons and chop veggies to garnish our bowl full of summer goodness.
I still make my mom’s version, but my sister, Mary, shared this watermelon gazpacho recipe a few summers ago. As the heat and humidity seemed to soar into the 90’s, I decided it was a gazpacho kind of day. I made my own version of wazpacho which was tweaked from her recipe.
Frequently Asked Questions
Gazpacho is a cold, blended, raw vegetable soup that hails from the Andalusia region of Spain. The gazpacho I grew up eating was composed of tomatoes, tomato juice (not so traditional), green pepper, onion, cucumber, some red wine or sherry vinegar and olive oil. All of these were pureed and then served with a garnish of vegetables and homemade croutons. This is a pretty typical classic gazpacho recipes although some include stale bread.
As you can imagine, there are variations galore! I’ve seen corn, avocado and peach gazpacho along with those garnished with seafood like grilled shrimp and lobster. My favorite is the classic, but for a slightly sweeter, summertime treat, a watermelon gazpacho hits the spot.
Typically, when making wazpacho, about 2/3 of the tomatoes are replaced by seedless watermelon. You must use the ripest, sweetest tomatoes and peak of season watermelon for the most flavorful results. Only half the cubed watermelon is added for the first puree in my recipe, and the other half pulsed in at the end to give a thicker consistency.
PRO-Tip: As with regular gazpacho, this soup gets better as it sits in the refrigerator. I like adding half of a jalapeno and a pinch of cayenne for a boost of flavor as the watermelon doesn’t offer the same punch as tomatoes.
You May Also Like:
- Tomato Soup with Thyme
- Grilled Shrimp Scampi
- Watermelon Feta Basil Salad
- Gazpacho Shooters
- Gazpacho Spinach Salad
- More of My Best Soup Recipes
Wazpacho AKA Watermelon Gazpacho
A tasty twist on the classic Spanish gazpacho using watermelon!
Ingredients
- 2 cups sweet watermelon, seeded and diced, divided
- ½ pound good tomatoes, vine-ripened, garden, or heirloom, peeled, seeded, and chopped
- ½-1 jalapeno pepper, seeds removed
- 1 tablespoon good quality vinegar (I used sherry vinegar)
- 2 tablespoons minced red onion
- ½ cucumber, seeded and minced
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon freshly ground pepper to taste
- A pinch of cayenne pepper or dashes of hot sauce to taste
- Cilantro sprigs, diced watermelon, cantaloupe, red onion, cucumber to garnish, optional
Instructions
- In a blender or food processor, pulse or puree half the watermelon and the rest of the ingredients until smooth.
- Add the rest of the watermelon and pulse a few times. Chill thoroughly before serving.
- Garnish with small diced watermelon, cantaloupe, peeled cucumber, avocado, thinly sliced chives, minced garlic, and/or homemade croutons.
- Taste for seasonings and add more salt, pepper, or cayenne to taste.
Notes
Adapted from my sister, Mary.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
4Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 161Total Fat: 14gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 11gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 141mgCarbohydrates: 10gFiber: 1gSugar: 7gProtein: 1g
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14 Comments on “Wazpacho AKA Watermelon Gazpacho”
I love watermelon and trying new things Liz; so you can imagine this one is calling my name. It’s such a nice bright touch with the more savory elements and sure is pretty too. I like pretty food. 🙂
Have heard of watermelon gazpacho but have never tasted one. Getting some great watermelon this year, so I’m going to give this recipe a try. It looks fabulous and love that like bit of spice with the jalapeno. 🙂
This is so lovely! I LOVE a good gazpacho and a watermelon and tomato gazpacho sounds divine! It’s heating up here again so plan to try this very soon!
Love the name of this! Neat dish, too. Great way to use watermelon. I’m big fan of gazpacho, so you know I’ll enjoy this creatie take on it. Thanks!
I have always wanted to try a watermelon gazpacho, Liz. And yours looks fantastic! A cool and refreshing way to beat this summer’s heat! 🙂
I adore watermelon gazpacho and your version sounds especially refreshing. I don’t remember the first time I tried gazpacho, but like your experience, I’m sure it was classic-style. Now I’m all about trying new variations – like this one.
First of all, it’s just fun to say Wazpacho! I’m always up for gazpacho, but have never had this melon version – sounds absolutely amazing! Perfectly refreshing for these summer temperatures that are pushing into the 100s lately!
This is a fascinating recipe! I’ve never heard of a watermelon version before but know I would love it. Thanks for this Liz – I have watermelon in the fridge!
I like Gazpacho a lot, I know I will love wazpacho, such a great idea. And guess what I have in the fridge to make this tonight!
Watermelon and tomatoes are wonderful together. This sounds so tasty, and the garnish is gorgeous!
This is a PERFECT summer dinner!
Very summery! Sounds great:@)
Thanks, Hilary! Hope you enjoy~
Liz – I can’t wait to try this recipe. Savory with a bit of sweetness – yummy! Beautiful photos too.