From one of my all-time favorite The Simpsons episodes. "Lisa the Vegetarian" is about Lisa becoming a vegetarian after bonding with a lamb at a petting zoo. However, she gets ridiculed by her schoolmates and family (of course) for her beliefs. But after meeting Paul and Linda McCartney via a secret passage to the roof of Apu's Kwik-E Mart, she vows to vegetarianism. I'm smiling just thinking about how absurd this storyline is. But it is oh so funny.
[Homer fills the grill with lighter fluid and prepares to grill]
Lisa: Wait Dad! Good news, everyone! You don't have to eat meat! I've got enough gazpacho for everyone.
[Crowd murmurs]
Lisa: It's tomato soup, served ice cold!
[Crowd laughs out loud as Lisa growls and stomps off]
Barney Gumble: Go back to Russia!
If Lisa can enjoy gazpacho, my boys surely can, right? It was worth a try. It's been too damn hot to cook, and great way to get some veggies in.
Shrimp Gazpacho
Adapted from Everyday Food: Great Food Fast from The Kitchens of Martha Stewart Living
INGREDIENTS:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound medium shrimp, peeled and deveined, tails removed
- Coarse salt and ground pepper
- 6 plum tomatoes, chopped (about 3 cups)
- 1/2 small red onion, chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, chopped
- 1/2 cucumber, peeled and chopped
- 1/2 cup finely chopped, jarred roasted red bell peppers
- 1/4 cup finely chopped sundried tomatoes
- 1 1/2 cups tomato juice
- 2 tablespoons red-wine vinegar
DIRECTIONS:
- In a large nonstick skillet, heat oil over high heat, swirling to coat bottom of pan. Season shrimp with salt and pepper. Add half the shrimp; cook until browned on both sides and opaque in the center, 3 to 4 minutes. Transfer to a plate; repeat with remaining shrimp (reduce heat if browning too quickly).
- In a food processor, combine tomatoes, onion, garlic, cucumber, and half the roasted peppers; process until combined. Add tomato juice and vinegar; process until smooth. Season with salt and pepper.
- To serve, divide tomato mixture among bowls; top with shrimp and remaining roasted peppers.
The Good: Quick and easy to prepare. The boys loved the shrimp.
The Bad: Shrimp with gazpacho flavor combo had me thinking I was eating shrimp cocktail. Not necessarily a bad thing I guess!
Grade: B+. Totally refreshing, clean dish for the summer. The boys tolerated the shrimp but wanted nothing to do with ice cold tomato soup.
