Watermelon Gazpacho

A coveted seasonal café recipe — easy, intuitive, full of flavor and organic goodness

—

Hands down, this is the most awaited item at the café each year. Well, this and strawberry shortcake! But parting is such sweet sorrow. As we enter autumn, we bid this beloved recipe adieu for the season. I share it here with you so you can squeeze the essence out of your late seasonal harvest of fruits and veggies for as long as possible, until next summer.

My parents owned a restaurant in Queens called The Garden of Eating, and our chef from Guyana made the most delicious gazpacho. I shared this recipe with our head Chef here at the café and he put his twist on it — balancing out the spice with some natural sweetness from melon.

I have a philosophy about food. I’m not precious about recipes. In fact, I’ve found that some of my most wonderful discoveries have come from ‘mistakes’. Don’t be afraid to shake things up and experiment...you never know what you will uncover!

You can make it yourself at home and even add your special sauce to the mix (let me know if you make any amazing discoveries of your own).

Never be afraid to follow your own intuitive ideas in the kitchen (and life).

Ingredients:

• 1 jar 32 oz Knudson Very Veggie (tomato juice can be subbed)
• 1/2 red onion, chopped
• 1 cucumber, seeded 
• 1 tomato, chopped
• 1 bell pepper, chopped
• 1 jalapeño, finely chopped
• 1 bunch of Cilantro, chopped 
• Watermelon, honey dew, cantaloupe
• 1 TBS apple cider vinegar 
• 1 lemon or 1 lime
• Hot sauce of choice if you want it spicier

Directions:

1. Cube all of the above ingredients and combine
2. Squeeze the juice of the lemon or lime
3. Salt to taste
4. Add apple cider vinegar 
5. Add hot sauce if you like a little ‘kick’

Note:

Measurements are loosey goosey, depending on your desired chunkiness.

This is only gets better as it sits. I suggest you make it a couple of hours ahead before serving.

Also, infuse it with your own creativity. Mix it up and add strawberries, peaches or any favorite fruits.

—Lea Haas, Owner, The Garden Cafe Woodstock