Refreshing and full of flavor, gazpacho is the perfect late-summer dish. A blend of vine-ripened tomatoes, cucumbers, and green peppers, brightened with sherry vinegar and finished with extra virgin olive oil, this chilled soup captures the essence of the season. Try this recipe created by Paula Montagna, MS, RD, CDN, CNSC, Director of Clinical Nutrition at Stony Brook Southampton Hospital, and savor farm-to-bowl freshness in every spoon.

Ingredients:

• 3 pounds ripe plum tomatoes – cut into quarters (ripe heirloom or vine-ripened garden fresh tomatoes may also be used)
• 1 green bell pepper, seeds removed and cut into chunks
• 2 Kirby, English or Persian cucumbers, peeled, cut into chunks (and seeds removed, as needed)
• 1-2 cloves garlic, peeled
• 1 small shallot or ¼ cup diced red onion
• ½ – ¾ cup extra virgin olive oil
• ¼ cup sherry vinegar or red wine vinegar
• 1-2 teaspoons sea salt, to taste
• Garnish – ½ cup diced cucumber, 6-8 halved cherry tomatoes, or ½ cup diced green pepper, drizzle of extra virgin olive oil

Directions:

• Wash and prepare all vegetables and place them in a prep bowl.
• Work in 3-4 batches, adding vegetables and ⅓ of oil and sherry vinegar to a food processor or blender, and puree ingredients until well blended.
• Pour into a pitcher or large mason jar and blend the next batch.
• When the batches are combined, add 1 teaspoon of salt. Taste a spoonful, adjust seasoning as desired. (Note: If it tastes too strong, add another cucumber, or a tomato, or a little more sherry vinegar. If you would prefer it a little thinner, you can always add ½ – 1 cup of water.)
• Chill ½ – 1 hour before serving.
• Serve in a bowl with a garnish of cherry tomato halves, diced cucumbers, or green peppers and a drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil. Or for an easy low-calorie appetizer, serve as a flavorful drink in a goblet.

Gazpacho can keep refrigerated for 3 days, if it lasts that long! Yield: 4-6 servings

Join Stony Brook Southampton Hospital for an evening dedicated to women’s wellness on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, at “How to Survive the Change of Life: Healthy Aging for Women After 40” from 5–8 PM at The Greek Orthodox Church of the Hamptons in Southampton. This free event features Stony Brook Medicine physicians and women’s wellness specialists, with light refreshments provided.