Garden Gazpacho

From the Star Tribune, 22 July 2010

Ingredients

• 2 lb. tomatoes, washed, seeded
• 1 red bell pepper
• 1 green or yellow pepper
• 3 cucumbers, divided
• 1 large shallot, peeled
• 2 garlic cloves, peeled
• 2 TB olive oil
• 2 TB red wine vinegar or sherry vinegar
• 1 TB hot red pepper sauce
• 1 ¾ c. tomato juice or vegetable juice
• 1 ear fresh corn, kernels removed
• fresh basil leaves, sliced in shreds
• salt and pepper to taste
• 2 tsp sugar
• 4 to 6 green onions or 1 sweet onion, thinly sliced

Directions

1. Roughly chop about three-fourths of the tomatoes. Place in a food processor fitted with the metal blade or a blender. Dice the remaining tomatoes and set aside.

2. For the bell peppers, roughly chop half of each one and add to the food processor. Dice the remaining bell peppers and set aside.

3. Peel, seed and roughly chop 2 cucumbers and add to the food processor. Leave the peel on the remaining cucumber, slice in half lenghwise, scoop out the seeds and dice; set aside.

4. Add the shallot, garlic, olive oil, vinegar and hot pepper sauce to the food processor. Process until smooth, about 1 minute.

5. Transfer to a glass bowl (or leave in the blender jar). Stir in the tomato juice, corn, basil, remaining diced tomatoes, salt and pepper to taste, sugar and half of the onions. Adjust seasoning as necessary.

6. Chill for 2 hours. Serve in cups, bowls and garnished with a bit of the diced bell peppers, diced cucumbers and remaining green onion slices.

Serves 8