Cold soups are a great way to stay cool in the summer. Alex and I are huge fans of Spanish gazpacho, a cold soup made of ripe summer tomatoes, basil, cucumbers, and garlic. So why not add watermelon to the mix? Turns out, the sweet and savory mix of watermelon gazpacho is out of this world good. This unexpected pairing could not be more refreshing! With summer in full swing, we found a huge watermelon at our farmers market to use in this watermelon gazpacho. Here’s how to make it!
Watermelon gazpacho ingredients
Pairing watermelon with tomatoes, cucumbers, and hot sauce might sound a bit unexpected, but it’s seriously good. This watermelon gazpacho is as refreshing as that first splash into the pool on a 100 degree summer day! The savory ingredients are just the right balance for the sweet, and the hint of spice adds complexity without too much heat. Here’s what you’ll need for this summery soup:
Ripe watermelon (make sure it’s at its peak! See below)CucumberTomatoShallot or red onionFresh basilRed wine vinegarHot sauce
Make this soup 2 to 3 hours before you want to serve it!
You’ll want to serve this watermelon gazpacho chilled. So, make sure to think ahead and blend up a batch several hours before you want to serve it. It’s not at its peak at room temperature. Even if you use chilled watermelon, you’ll still need a few hours to chill it. Because of this, it’s easy to make in advance. The flavors get even better in the refrigerator! We recommend making it only 1 day in advance.
What to serve with watermelon gazpacho
We enjoyed this watermelon gazpacho as a starter for a summer-themed meal with friends, along with summer pasta with zucchini and some cornbread. We ended the meal with some frosty vegan chocolate ice cream. It was the perfect pairing to celebrate summer! This watermelon gazpacho would also be a fantastic starter for any grilled meal, such as:
Grilled veggie burgersGreek portabello burgersGrilled vegetarian stuffed zucchini
How to choose a ripe watermelon!
Because this watermelon gazpacho is so simple, it’s important to buy the best quality ingredients. Here’s how to make sure a watermelon is ripe when you buy it:
Look for the field spot. Most watermelons should have a yellow patch on them, which is where they were resting on the ground before being picked. This yellow patch turns creamy in color when the watermelon is ripe. Feel the weight. You’ll want a watermelon that feels heavy for its size (that means there’s lots of juice inside!).Give the melon a good thump. Yes, you will feel slightly odd doing this. Embrace it! A ripe, juicy watermelon should sound deep and hollow.
What to do with leftover watermelon rind? Make Pickled Watermelon Rind!
This watermelon gazpacho recipe is…
Vegetarian, gluten-free, vegan, plant-based, and dairy free.
Looking for more summer recipes?
Outside of this watermelon gazpacho, here are a few recipes perfect for summer: 5 from 1 review
Tomato & Grilled Eggplant Stacked SandwichGrilled Corn on the CobClassic Nicoise SaladGrilled Cheese with Tomato & BasilGreek Grilled Veggie SkewersFrench Potato SaladGrilled Eggplant ParmesanCucumber Salad with VinegarWatermelon Cucumber JuiceWatermelon Drink Ideas Caprese Grilled Portobello MushroomsClassic Potato Salad RecipeGrilled Romaine LettuceGrilled Shrimp and Vegetable SkewersStrawberry Summer Salad
Last updated: April 2020
