By Jonny and Amy Seponara-Sills
Serves 4 as a starter
2-4 lbs ripe tomatoes, in this case yellow (any color will do), skinned
2-4 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped
1 medium yellow bell pepper, or Italian-style frying pepper (Cubanelle peppers would work well also), seed pod removed and roughly chopped
1 cucumber, skinned, de-seeded and chopped roughly
2-3 slices torn-up white bread (we used a hoagie roll)
4-6 tablespoons best olive oil
2-3 tablespoons sherry vinegar
1 good teaspoon coarse salt
Good pinch of freshly ground black pepper
For garnish
10 white grapes, halved
1 tablespoon pistachio nuts, bashed into irregular pieces
2 radishes, sliced finely
1 tablespoon garlic chive blossoms
10-15 chives
For the shrimp
1 lb. large, head-on shrimp, shells removed
2 medium cloves garlic
1/4 teaspoon hot red pepper flakes
3 tablespoons olive oil
1/4 teaspoon salt
A good squeeze of lemon juice
1. In abundant boiling water, place tomatoes for five minutes. Remove and allow to cool before handling.
For the shrimp
1 lb. large, head-on shrimp, shells removed
2 medium cloves garlic
1/4 teaspoon hot red pepper flakes
3 tablespoons olive oil
1/4 teaspoon salt
A good squeeze of lemon juice
1. In abundant boiling water, place tomatoes for five minutes. Remove and allow to cool before handling.
2. When tomato skins are removed, chop roughly and place in blender jar with chopped peppers, garlic, and cucumber.
3. Starting on slowest setting, blend until mostly smooth. Pause blender and add bread, oil, vinegar, salt, and pepper.
4. Blend again until smooth and fluffy-looking. Taste and correct seasoning.
5. In a blender or food processor, blitz garlic, hot pepper, 1 tablespoon olive oil, salt and lemon juice until you have a loose paste.
6. Pour over shrimp making sure they are all well-coated with the marinade.
7. In a medium pan, heat remaining two tablespoons of oil and carefully sauté marinaded shrimp until just cooked.
8. Pour gazpacho into large bowls and garnish with shrimp, grapes, chives, blossoms, radishes, and nuts. A drizzle of your best and most fragrant olive oil and an extra dash of sherry vinegar are rather nice here too.
Read the full post on Stir It Up!
