Ingredients

GAZPACHO

1. 2 pounds ripe plum tomatoes (about 10), cut into chunks
2. 8 ounces cucumber (1 cucumber), peeled and cut into chunks
3. 3 ounces green pepper, in large pieces
4. 1 garlic clove
5. 1 tablespoon sherry vinegar
6. Spanish extra-virgin olive oil
7. Salt

GARNISH

1. 1 tablespoon Spanish extra-virgin olive oil
2. 1 slice rustic white bread
3. 6 plum tomatoes, with the seeds, prepared as "fillets"
4. 8 cherry tomatoes, halved
5. 1 cucumber, peeled and cut into cubes
6. 4 pearl onions, pulled apart into segments
7. 2 tablespoons Spanish extra-virgin olive oil
8. 1 tablespoon sherry vinegar
9. Sea salt
10. 4 chives, cut into 1-inch pieces

Directions

1. MAKE THE GAZPACHO: In a blender, combine the tomatoes, cucumber, green pepper, garlic and sherry vinegar and blend until the mixture becomes a thick liquid. Taste for acidity; this will vary with the sweetness of the tomatoes. If it's not balanced enough, add a little more vinegar. Add the olive oil, season with salt, and blend again. Strain the gazpacho into a pitcher and refrigerate for at least half an hour.
2. While the gazpacho is chilling, prepare the garnishes: In a small pan, heat the olive oil over moderately high heat and fry the bread until golden, about 2 minutes. Break into small pieces to form croutons and set aside.
3. To serve pour gazpacho into each of 4 bowls. Place 4 croutons, 2 "fillets" of tomatoes with seeds, 4 cherry tomato halves, 3 cucumber cubes and 3 onion segments into each bowl. Add a few drops of olive oil to each onion segment and drizzle a little more around each bowl. Add a few drops of vinegar to each cucumber cube and drizzle a little more around each bowl. Sprinkle sea salt on the tomatoes and sprinkle the chives over the soup. Serve when the gazpacho is refreshingly chilled.

Notes

José's tips: If you want to be original, buy yellow or even green tomatoes. Also, if you want to save time, you can simplify the garnishes: Just use a few cubes of cucumber, tomato and green pepper.