Spanish Summer Soup

This zesty chilled soup from southern Spain is Mediterranean peasant food at its healthiest and best. It doesn’t take any cooking at all, which is a real boon on a hot day. Healthful garlic, along with bread, almonds, and green grapes, make a white gazpacho that will boost your immune system and delight your taste buds.

Read the no-cook, no-fuss recipe here:

INGREDIENTS

1 cup blanched almonds
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
2 garlic cloves, coarsely chopped
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 pound French or Italian bread, crusts removed, sliced
4 cups ice water
About 40 green grapes

1. Put the almonds, vinegar, garlic, and salt into a blender. Soak the bread slices briefly in a bowl of water, then squeeze out the excess water and add the bread to the blender. Add about 2 cups of the ice water to the blender. Blend mixture until smooth.

2. Pour the soup into a bowl and stir in the remaining ice water. Chill soup thoroughly, then divide it among the serving bowls. Add a portion of the grapes to each bowl, and serve.

Serves 6.