Le Monsieur's Gazpacho

Take a chill pill!

The heat, the haze, the humidity - awful H words that I detest. Unfortunately they are the only words used to describe the weather in Singapore at the moment. The air is heavy like in an overworked sauna. And thanks to the farmers and their forest fires in Sumatra, Indonesia, there is a faint smell of char in the hazy air. And as the PSI (Pollution Standard Index) soared, my mood soared.

Yesterday, the clouds broke and the rain poured and poured with a vengeance. Acid rain. I could only think about my bougainvilleas because they love acidic soil. My other plants would suffer and I'd have to remember to give the herbs an extra washing if I use them this weekend.

But the haze came right back after the rain, shrouding my usual office view of the tall proud buildings in the downtown area in gloom.

I asked Le Monsieur to make another of his specialities - Gazpacho - a Spanish soup of raw vegetables, served cold. The vitamins contained in the vegetables would help combat the effects of pollution. And I would be grateful for something to cool me off in this swelter!

Le Monsieur's Gazpacho - serves 4

Ingredients

The usual suspects

2 red bell peppers - de-seeded and cut into small pieces
5 medium sized tomatoes - skin removed and cut into small pieces
1 cucumber - peeled and cut into small chunks
1 large white onion, diced
2 cloves of garlic, peeled and halved
1 small red chili, cut into small pieces
Juice of 1 fresh lemon
Basil-flavoured olive oil
Basil to garnish
Salt and pepper


Preparation time: 10 mins (with 4 hours chilling time)
Cooking time: None required
Level of difficulty: Easy peasy


Add the ingredients gradually into the blender, adding the lemon juice and olive oil progressively. Continue to blitz until pulpy. Put into the fridge for at least 4 hours to chill thoroughly.

Serve as an appetiser or with toasted garlic bread for a light healthy meal.

Sometimes I put ice cubes directly into mine so that it's really cold and a little more watery. Sometimes, like today, I wish that I could soak myself inside this lovely red bath.

Ahhhhh...

*sizzle*