Here’s a wonderfully cool and flavorful soup that your family is sure to enjoy for lunch or for dinner. What a nourishing way to beat the heat!

Gazpacho Soup

4 tomatoes, diced
½ medium white onion, diced
1 clove garlic, peeled and minced
1 cucumber, peeled and chopped
Lemon juice to taste

Place the diced tomatoes and onions, minced garlic, chopped cucumber and lemon juice in a power blender using the puree setting until the mixture is smooth. Strain the mixture­—a vegetable press is the easiest method—to remove any vegetable pieces and pits that are not fully liquefied, such as tomato skins or seeds. As an alternative to the blender, you can use a juicer with a coarse screen for your ingredients.

If time permits, chill your soup mixture overnight. When you’re ready to serve your soup, separate it into individual bowls and sprinkle your soup toppings (see below) over each serving. Now relax and enjoy your chilled soup that’s perfect for a hot summer day.

Soup Toppings

1 Tbsp virgin olive oil
1 scallion (green part of the onion), finely chopped
4 Tbsp cilantro, freshly chopped
1 red bell pepper, seeded, cored and diced
¼ cup mango, diced in small cubes

You can also swap the cilantro, red bell pepper and mango with pesto and fresh basil leaves for a varied flavor.