CREAMY TOMATO GAZPACHO WITH CRUNCHY PECORINO

Creamy Tomato Gazpacho With Crunchy Pecorino image

At lunchtime on a steamy day, I got the unlikely idea to cross a smoothie with gazpacho. Given my languid state, I had wanted something icy and filling, but not too taxing to prepare. That's when the idea to merge a gazpacho and a smoothie crept into my head. I'd swap tomatoes for the usual berries; add garlic, oil, vinegar and salt to punch up the flavor; and keep the yogurt for heft. As the blender whirled, my stomach growled, and I nibbled on pieces of crunchy cheese cracker I had left over from a recent salad. Instead of croutons, I like to fry grated cheese until crisp, then crumble it over greens. For this batch, I had used pecorino, which seemed like a natural complement to the sheep's-milk yogurt. So I saved some for garnish.

Provided by Melissa Clark

Categories dinner, easy, lunch, quick, weekday, soups and stews, appetizer, main course

Time 20m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 12

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Ingredients

6 tablespoons grated pecorino Romano
2 large tomatoes (about 1 pound), cored and roughly chopped
1 1/2 cups (12 ounces) plain sheep's-milk or regular yogurt
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil, more for serving
12 basil leaves, roughly chopped, more for serving
2 large garlic cloves, peeled and roughly chopped
2 scallions (white and light green parts), roughly chopped
2 ice cubes
1 3/4 teaspoons kosher salt, more to taste
1 1/2 teaspoons red wine vinegar, more to taste
Pinch cayenne pepper
Ground black pepper to taste

Steps:

Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Spread 2 tablespoons cheese into a thin layer in skillet; let melt and brown on bottom, about 30 seconds to one minute. Use a spatula to flip cheese; let cook until evenly browned on both sides, about a minute more. Transfer fried cheese to a paper-towel-lined plate. Repeat with remaining cheese, working 2 tablespoons at a time. Break fried cheese into large pieces.
To make soup, place tomatoes, yogurt, olive oil, basil, garlic, scallions, ice cubes, salt, vinegar, cayenne and black pepper in a blender. Purée until smooth. Taste and add more salt and vinegar, if necessary. Pour into small bowls and garnish with pieces of fried cheese and chopped basil. Drizzle soup liberally with olive oil.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 287, UnsaturatedFat 14 grams, Carbohydrate 11 grams, Fat 23 grams, Fiber 2 grams, Protein 10 grams, SaturatedFat 8 grams, Sodium 555 milligrams, Sugar 3 grams