Gazpacho with Maine Lobster

Gazpacho is the famous chilled Spanish soup from Andalusia, traditionally made with fresh tomatoes, tomato juice, garlic and green bell pepper. In this version, lobster stock is used and garnished with pieces of lobster.

Recipe Ingredients:

Gazpacho:
3 to 3 1/2 pounds ripe tomatoes
1 green bell pepper, seeded and roughly chopped
2 garlic cloves, chopped
2 slices white bread, crusts removed
1 small onion, chopped
4 tablespoons olive oil
4 tablespoons red wine or basil wine vinegar
2/3 cup lobster stock
Pinch of granulated sugar
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

Garnishes:
1 cucumber, seeded and finely diced
8-ounces Maine lobster coarsely chopped into bite-sized pieces
1 small onion, finely chopped

Cooking Directions:

1. For Gazpacho: Skin the tomatoes, then quarter them and remove the cores and seeds.
2. In the bowl of a food processor fitted with a stainless steel blade, pulse the green pepper. Add the tomatoes, garlic, bread, onion, olive oil, and vinegar and process again.
3. Add the lobster stock, sugar and salt and pepper, seasoning to taste. The texture should be thick. Pour the soup into a bowl and chill for at least 2 hours.
4. To Serve: Divide the garnishes evenly between 4 chilled bowls. Add a few ice cubes to the soup and ladle the soup into the prepared bowls.

Makes 4 servings.

Nutritional Information Per Serving (1/4 of recipe): 321 calories, 18 grams protein, 30 grams carbohydrates, 15 grams fat, 388 mg. sodium, 6 grams fiber.

Recipe provided courtesy of Maine Lobster Promotion Council.