Cucumber Gazpacho with Corn Dip + Toast Points

Active Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Why we love it:

Chilled gazpacho is made in a blender and is a win on a hot end of summer night. For bonus points, put your serving bowls in the fridge when you start “cooking.” Bookmark this recipe for when you have friends over or for a potluck! It’s classy and elegant but sneakily simple.

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Ingredients

3 English Cucumbers (if you use regular cucumbers, you should peel the waxy skin)
2 Tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil (plus more for garnish)
5 leaves Basil
2 Tablespoons Sherry Vinegar
¹⁄₂ cup Almonds (sliced or roughly chopped if whole)
¹⁄₂ cup Water (cold. And possibly more needed)
1 cup Sour Cream (divided)
1 teaspoon Honey
2 cloves Garlic
2 ears Corn
¹⁄₂ cup Feta Cheese (about 4 ounces, the firm kind in water, about half of a typical block)
2 teaspoons Mayonnaise
1 teaspoon Kosher Salt
1 Baguette
1 Tablespoon Unsalted Butter

Cooking Instructions

1. SOUP

Place all ingredients for soup in a large blender. That’s: 3 englishEnglish cucumbers (wash them and coarsely chop in a few pieces), 2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, 5 basil leaves, 2 tablespoons sherry vinegar, ½ cup almonds (save a few for garnish if you’d like), 1/2 cup cold water, 1/2 cup sour cream, 1 teaspoon of honey, 1 clove peeled garlic.

Blend! Blend until it’s very smooth. Transfer to a large storage container and place in the fridge to chill for at least 10 minutes and up to 2 days.
2. PREHEAT OVEN TO 375 DEGREES
3. CORN DIP

Shuck the corn and slice the kernels off the cob. Place in a bowl. Mince 1 clove of garlic and add to the bowl. Crumble in the feta. Add the 2 teaspoons mayo and 1/2 cup of sour cream. Add 1 teaspoon of salt. Whisk together well.

Scrape the mixture into a small ramekin or baking dish. Mini ramekins are fun too, so each diner can have their own. Or use a small shallow dish that’s about 1 quart. Another option is to use a 8” glass pie pan.

Place in the oven and bake for 15-18 minutes until just golden and bubbly at the edges.
4. TOAST POINTS

Meanwhile, slice the baguette in half. Then slice it in half lengthwise. Smear each piece with butter.

Place on a baking sheet into the oven and bake for about 6-8 minutes, keeping your eye on it, until its golden brown and delicious. Cut each quarter in half on a dramatic angle.
5. PLATING

Plate cold bowls of gazpacho. Garnish soup with torn basil leaves and extra almonds if you reserved some. Serve with corn dip and toast points for dipping.

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Substitutions

GLUTEN FREE:

use GF bread or crackers to serve with the corn dip
DAIRY FREE:

use 1 can of coconut milk instead of sour cream in the soup, and try almond based ricotta for the corn dip
COW DAIRY FREE:

use coconut milk, almond yogurt, or tofutti in the soup and sheep or goat's feta in the corn dip
ALMONDS:

omit if desired or allergic. Consider pepitas or sunflower seeds
GARLIC:

it’s raw in the soup, as is traditional. If you think this will bother you just leave it out!
BASIL:

also great with cilantro or mint, or a combination of the 3!