I like gazpacho? Who knew?

[badseed1980]

As some of you know, I have a...cautious relationship with tomatoes and tomato products. I tend to like them cooked/warm or dried in anything, or even alone. Raw or cold, they are one of the very few foods in my life that are proving to be an acquired taste. I have worked to acquire that taste because tomatoes are so good for you, and they always LOOK so tasty. By now, I can truly enjoy the taste of a perfectly ripe, fresh tomato. When I was cutting my first homegrown heirloom tomato for a salad the other day, I found myself happily snacking on the plain tomato pieces, and LOVING the taste. Tomato juice, on the other hand, continues to be a stumbling block. It makes me go "ew." I always figured gazpacho would be the same.

I went to Trader Joe's this afternoon to get some stuff I needed, including a tomato-based vegetable soup meant to be served hot. I like that stuff. As always, I went to see what they were offering in the back for free samples. This time, it was little Dixie cups of gazpacho with a dollop of cilantro-chive yogurt dip. I decided to give it a whirl. Hey, it was free. I was blown away by the yum. Yesterday, putting salsa on my breakfast burrito, I thought that I could easily eat salsa with a spoon by the bowlful, though it would be easier with mild salsa. Well, this was much like a mild salsa, but with the sweetness of cucumber added. NOM. I ended up getting a container of the gazpacho and the dip (and some carrots to eat with the rest of the dip), and made a little cup of that my afternoon snack.

Now I need to make this stuff at home! With my homegrown tomatoes, when I have enough ripe ones! Hmm. The TJ's version has tomatoes, tomato juice, cucumber, bell pepper, cilantro, cider vinegar, garlic, salt, pepper, and cayenne. I can do that, easy-peasy.

So. I am in love with gazpacho. I think this is a very good thing. Talk about healthy!

Comments

[pierceheart.livejournal.com]

We need at least four more tomato plants next year, and maybe some cucumbers hanging, too.

[badseed1980.livejournal.com]

CUCUMBERS! YES!!!

[cygninae.livejournal.com]

I'm much the same - the majority of raw tomatoes that are sold seem to be these flavourless things, always promising a lush experience but proving to be insipid, watery things with little flavour. The more expensive cherry tomatoes or homegrown ones seem to have much better flavour.

As an aside, we had a glut one year, and made our own tomato sauce/ketchup - it was intense, well worth the effort of concentrating a whole heap of the things into one small jar!

[cos]

I've always loved tomatoes.
I have always disliked tomato juice, and completely tomato-based soup broth.
Chunky style gazpacho is great.

So I don't think your taste is weird or self-contradicting at all :)

[j4yx0r.livejournal.com]

This (http://blog.cookingwithtraderjoes.com/2009/07/14/gazpacho.aspx) might be a helpful reference.

~j

[badseed1980.livejournal.com]

That's definitely similar to the ready-made one they sell in their refrigerated section, though not identical. I've seen it before, though. Thanks! :)