Chilled tomato soup as flavorful as gazpacho, with half the ingredients

Andalusian Tomato and Bread Soup (Salmorejo)

By Diane Unger

Appears in July-August 2019

15 minutes Plus chilling

Free

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If peak-season, perfectly ripe tomatoes are available, use them in this simple but richly flavored, no-cook chilled soup, a spin on gazpacho from Andalucia, in southern Spain. Campari or cocktail tomatoes also are a good choice, as they are dependably sweet year-round. Excellent results also require high-quality extra-virgin olive oil, so make sure the oil you use does not have bitter or harsh notes. Bread helps thicken the soup and gives it its creamy consistency; choose a crusty, country-style loaf with a relatively soft interior so the bread blends easily into the soup, but remember to remove the crust. To keep the soup chilled for as long as possible at the table, we like to refrigerate the serving bowls.

4

Servings

Tip

Don't forget to taste the soup for seasoning after chilling, just before serving. Chilling blunts flavor, so though the soup may have initially tasted fine, after chilling it likely will need additional salt and pepper.

15 minutes

Plus chilling

2 pounds ripe tomatoes (see note), cored

2½ ounces country-style white bread (see note), crust removed, torn into small pieces (about 1½ cups)

½ medium red bell pepper, stemmed, seeded and chopped

1 medium garlic clove, smashed and peeled

1 teaspoon white sugar

3 tablespoons sherry vinegar, plus more to serve

Kosher salt and ground black pepper

¾ cup plus 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, plus more to serve

4 thin slices prosciutto (2 ounces), torn into pieces

4 hard-cooked eggs, peeled and quartered (optional)

¼ cup finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

Ingredients

2

pounds ripe tomatoes (see note), cored
2½

ounces country-style white bread (see note), crust removed, torn into small pieces (about 1½ cups)
½

medium red bell pepper, stemmed, seeded and chopped
1

medium garlic clove, smashed and peeled
1

teaspoon white sugar
3

tablespoons sherry vinegar, plus more to serve
Kosher salt and ground black pepper
¾

cup plus 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, plus more to serve
4

thin slices prosciutto (2 ounces), torn into pieces
4

hard-cooked eggs, peeled and quartered (optional)
¼

cup finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

Andalusian Tomato and Bread Soup Horizontal

Directions

01

In a blender, combine the tomatoes, bread, bell pepper, garlic, sugar, vinegar and 1 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Blend on high until completely smooth and no bits of tomato skins remain, about 1 minute. With the blender running, gradually add ¾ cup oil. Transfer to a large bowl, then taste and season with salt and pepper. Cover and refrigerate until well chilled, at least 2 hours or up to 4 hours.

See Demo
02

While the soup chills, in a 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon oil until shimmering. Add the prosciutto and cook, stirring occasionally, until crisp, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel–lined plate and let cool completely, then roughly chop; set aside.

See Demo
03

Taste the soup and season again with salt and pepper. Ladle it into chilled bowls. Top with the prosciutto, hard-cooked egg (if using) and parsley. Drizzle with additional oil and vinegar as desired.

See Demo

Tip: Don't forget to taste the soup for seasoning after chilling, just before serving. Chilling blunts flavor, so though the soup may have initially tasted fine, after chilling it likely will need additional salt and pepper.

Mains

Sweet-and-Sour Stir-Fried Pork with Pineapple

Pan-Roasted Winter Vegetables with Miso, Ginger and Honey

Vietnamese-Style Lemon Grass Tofu

Braised Chicken with Apricots and Pistachios

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Simple, Bold Recipes

Andalusian Tomato and Bread Soup (Salmorejo)

Get Ready to Cook

4

Servings

15 minutes

Plus chilling

Tip

Ingredients

2

pounds ripe tomatoes (see note), cored
2½

ounces country-style white bread (see note), crust removed, torn into small pieces (about 1½ cups)
½

medium red bell pepper, stemmed, seeded and chopped
1

medium garlic clove, smashed and peeled
1

teaspoon white sugar
3

tablespoons sherry vinegar, plus more to serve
Kosher salt and ground black pepper
¾

cup plus 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, plus more to serve
4

thin slices prosciutto (2 ounces), torn into pieces
4

hard-cooked eggs, peeled and quartered (optional)
¼

cup finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

Blend Soup Mixture

pounds ripe tomatoes (see note), cored

2½

ounces country-style white bread (see note), crust removed, torn into small pieces (about 1½ cups)

medium red bell pepper, stemmed, seeded and chopped

medium garlic clove, smashed and peeled

teaspoon white sugar

tablespoons sherry vinegar

teaspoon kosher salt

teaspoon black pepper

cup extra-virgin olive oil

In a blender, combine the tomatoes, bread, bell pepper, garlic, sugar, vinegar and 1 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Blend on high until completely smooth and no bits of tomato skins remain, about 1 minute.

With the blender running, gradually add ¾ cup oil. Transfer to a large bowl, then taste and season with salt and pepper. Cover and refrigerate until well chilled, at least 2 hours or up to 4 hours.

Cook Prosciutto

tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

thin slices prosciutto (2 ounces), torn into pieces

While the soup chills, in a 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon oil until shimmering.

Add the prosciutto and cook, stirring occasionally, until crisp, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel–lined plate and let cool completely, then roughly chop; set aside.

Taste the soup

hard-cooked eggs, peeled and quartered (optional)

cup finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

extra-virgin olive oil to serve

sherry vinegar to serve

Taste the soup and season again with salt and pepper. Ladle it into chilled bowls. Top with the prosciutto, hard-cooked egg (if using) and parsley. Drizzle with additional oil and vinegar as desired.

Andalusian Tomato and Bread Soup (Salmorejo)

This recipe is free until September 12, 2024. Start your 14-day free trial to access every Milk Street recipe. Learn More.

4

15 minutes

Mains

Simple, Bold Recipes

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