History of Gazpacho: Spain Food Tours

September 9, 2021 | By Peg Kern

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We have tasted some amazing gazpacho recipes over the years, recipes that we’ve learned during our culinary tours in Spain. But what is gazpacho? Just a cold tomato soup? Or is there more to this refreshing summer dish?

Gazpacho comes from the south of Spain in the Andalusia region, but by now you can find it throughout Spain on our Spain culinary tours and Portugal as well during our Portugal food tours. At its root it is a cold puree of uncooked vegetables.

Did you know that traditional varieties of gazpacho include bread? The bread is pureed into the soup, giving it a thicker consistency. And originally gazpacho did not include tomatoes, as these were only introduced after European explorers brought them back from Central America. This is a hard fact to believe given that so much of the gazpacho you’ll see on a gastronomic tour of Spain will include tomatoes!

Nowadays you can find versions of gazpacho on our Spain culinary tours that include many different fruits, including avocados, watermelon, grapes, and cucumbers, as well as different herbs, seafood, and more.

The fruits and vegetables are still traditionally raw, minced fine or pureed in a blender or food processor. Olive oil, vinegar (or some type of acid), and salt are necessary ingredients, and gazpacho is usually served with garnishes that can be placed on top to one’s tastes. These might include different types of peppers, herbs, diced tomatoes or cucumbers, chopped ham, or even hard boiled egg.

Read an interview with one of our favorite chefs in Spain.

Gazpacho Recipe

Here is a wonderful gazpacho recipe with two variations from our culinary tours in Spain:

Andalusian Gazpacho Recipe

Gazpacho is not the only cold soup you can find on our culinary tours in Spain. You can find salmorejo, gazpacho, porra antequerana, and ajoblanco on a culinary tour Spain, or Arjamolho on a Portugal food and wine tour.

Are you ready to try your hand making gazpacho on a Spain food tour or our wines tours Spain? See our list of wonderful culinary tours in Spain and your dream can become a reality!