Apricot Gazpacho ~ this uber refreshing summer starter is a playful riff on the classic Spanish cold soup. The sweetness of the apricots is balanced with a touch of fresh lime and sherry vinegar, along with a little sharp bite from red onion. A drizzle of evoo, some fresh cracked black pepper, and an ice cube completes the experience!
apricot gazpacho might be just what your summer is missing!
Fruit soup ~ if the idea scares you don’t run off just yet, fruit soups are traditional in cuisines all over the globe, including Scandinavia, Eastern Europe, the Mediterranean, Latin America, and beyond. The idea of a cold apricot soup doesn’t seem quite so crazy when you consider that tomatoes are also a fruit, and tomato gazpacho is one of the greatest dishes ever invented.
simple ingredients for an incredible chilled soup
To make this simple but oh-so refreshing soup I used some very ripe black velvet apricots. Black velvet apricots are a cross between apricots and plums, and so they’re a little more juicy than regular apricots, and perfect for this soup. If you’ve got juicy regular apricots, or plums, you can use those too. Besides the apricots, you’ll need:
- olive oil
- sherry vinegar
- lime
- salt
- minced red onion and some baby herb leaves (cilantro, mint, or basil work well)
I peeled the fruit and squished them through my fingers to break them up and remove the pits. The fruit was so ripe it didn’t resist. I used about 8 apricots for 2 servings of soup.
how to serve apricot gazpacho and other chilled soups
Chilled soups make a wonderful light lunch or appetizer in the summer. I like the idea of serving this apricot gazpacho in small shooter glasses as a party starter, too (the flavor is like a burst of sunshine, and a little goes a long way.) I loved this soup so much that I’m now praying for triple digits, just to have an excuse to make more!
other fruits to use for fruit gazpacho ~
- strawberry
- raspberry
- watermelon
- pineapple
- cantaloupe or honeydew
- grapes
- cherries
- peaches
- plums
Make this apricot gazpacho your own ~
- Make it spicy ~ add some minced jalapeño peppers on top.
- Make it with other fruit, see the list of suggestions above.
Apricot Gazpacho
Ingredients
- 8-10 black velvet apricots, peeled, pitted, and crushed (to make about 1 1/2 cups puree)
- 1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
- 2 tsp sherry vinegar, more to taste
- juice of 1/2 lime
- salt
garnish
- minced red onion
- baby basil, cilantro, or mint leaves
- freshly crushed black pepper
- drizzle of extra virgin olive oil
- ice cubes
Instructions
- Pulse the crushed apricots in a food processor a few times to create a rough puree. Don’t puree completely, a little bit of texture is fine.
- Add the oil, vinegar, lime juice, and a pinch of salt to the puree. Taste to adjust any of the seasonings, Chill for at least an hour or 2 before serving.
- Serve in small bowls garnished with minced red onion, basil, cilantro, or mint leaves, fresh pepper, drizzle of oil, and an ice cube, if desired.
Oh yum, need I say more!? ?
Wow! What a creative idea and so lovely and refreshing for this time of year!
What a refreshing summer soup Sue! And that color is just beautiful. So pretty for a girl’s summer luncheon!
This one will definitely enrich our menu; i used to make sour cherry soup and it was excellent so this one is beautiful, refreshing idea for these extreme weather conditions ! Thank you !
Extreme temps call for extreme refreshment!
Fruit soups are really good, aren’t they? You can use so many different spices with them, and turn them into a savory delight. Speaking of which, this looks delightful! 🙂 Thank you.
Thanks John!
Fascinating recipe Sue! It must taste like summer and be so refreshing. Would love to have a bowl with you on this hot summer day.
I was so pleasantly surprised, Tricia, I love the sweet savory combo, and it really hits the spot in this horrible heat we’re having.