Creamy Gazpacho Andaluz

• tomatoes, cored (about 6 medium)↗3 lbs
• small cucumber, peeled, halved, and seeded↗1
• medium green bell pepper, halved, cored and seeded1
• small red onion, peeled and halved↗1
• medium garlic, peeled and quartered↗2
• serrano chili, stemmed and halved lengthwise↗1
• kosher salt↗
• bread, crust removed, torn into 1-inch pieces↗1 slice
• extra virgin olive oil (plus extra for garnish)↗1⁄2 cup
• sherry vinegar (or red wine vinegar, plus extra for garnish)2 tablespoons
• parsley (chives, or basil leaves, finely minced)2 tablespoons
• ground black pepper↗

Step-by-step instructions

1. 1

   Roughly chop 2 pounds of tomatoes, half of cucumber, half of bell pepper, and half of onion and place in large bowl. Add garlic, chile, and 1½ teaspoons salt; toss until well combined. Set aside.

2. 2

   Cut remaining tomatoes, cucumber, and pepper into ¼-inch dice; place vegetables in medium bowl. Mince remaining onion and add to diced vegetables. Toss with ½ teaspoon salt and transfer to fine-mesh strainer set over medium bowl. Set aside 1 hour.

3. 3

   Transfer drained diced vegetables to medium bowl and set aside. Add bread pieces to exuded liquid (there should be about ¼ cup) and soak 1 minute. Add soaked bread and any remaining liquid to roughly chopped vegetables and toss thoroughly to combine.

4. 4

   Transfer half of vegetable-bread mixture to blender and process 30 seconds. With blender running, slowly drizzle in ¼ cup oil and continue to blend until completely smooth, about 2 minutes. Strain soup through fine-mesh strainer into large bowl, using back of ladle or rubber spatula to press soup through strainer. Repeat with remaining vegetable-bread mixture and 1/4 cup olive oil.

5. 5

   Stir vinegar, minced herb, and half of diced vegetables into soup and season to taste with salt and black pepper. Cover and refrigerate overnight or for at least 2 hours to chill completely and develop flavors. Serve, passing remaining diced vegetables, olive oil, sherry vinegar, and black pepper separately.

6. 6

   Note: If kosher salt is not available, half the amount of table salt can be used.