Commonwealth's Watermelon Gazpacho Recipe By Jason Fox

Name: Commonwealth's Watermelon Gazpacho Recipe By Jason Fox
Prep time: 15 min
Total time: 15 min
Ingredients: 8 cups coarsely chopped seedless watermelon, plus ½ cup finely diced seedless watermelon; ½ loaf country bread, crust removed and torn into small pieces (about 4 cups); ½ cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling; ⅓ cup tomato juice, preferably low-sodium; ⅓ cup water; 2 tablespoons sherry vinegar; 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice; ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper; Salt; 4 toasted bread rounds; Piment d'Espelette (or mildly hot paprika), for serving

Jason Fox gets a jump-start on gazpacho season

By Ashley Gartland/July 1, 2010 6:49 pm EST

As he prepares to open his new restaurant, Commonwealth, in the coming weeks, San Francisco chef Jason Fox can't wait to make gazpacho. And why should he when juicy watermelon is an inspired substitution for still-ripening tomatoes? The chef's watermelon-based version is as refined and refreshing as Commonwealth itself, where culinary innovation will run headlong into deeply satisfying cooking. At home, this vibrant gazpacho will make a splashy dinner-party starter all summer long–so save those tomatoes for salad.

Recipe adapted from Jason Fox, Commonwealth, San Francisco

Watermelon Gazpacho

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Jason Fox's watermelon gazpacho recipe from San Francisco's new restaurant Commonwealth

Prep Time

minutes

Cook Time

minutes

Servings

servings

Total time: 15 minutes

Ingredients

8 cups coarsely chopped seedless watermelon, plus ½ cup finely diced seedless watermelon
½ loaf country bread, crust removed and torn into small pieces (about 4 cups)
½ cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
⅓ cup tomato juice, preferably low-sodium
⅓ cup water
2 tablespoons sherry vinegar
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
Salt
4 toasted bread rounds
Piment d'Espelette (or mildly hot paprika), for serving

Directions

In a food processor, puree the 8 cups of coarsely chopped watermelon. Pass through a fine-mesh strainer into a medium bowl (you should have 4 cups of watermelon juice). Discard the remaining pulp.
Return the watermelon juice to the food processor along with the bread, olive oil, tomato juice, water, vinegar, lemon juice and cayenne. Puree until smooth and strain into a large bowl. Season to taste with salt, cover and refrigerate until well chilled, about 4 hours.
Divide the gazpacho among 4 shallow bowls. Garnish each bowl with about 2 tablespoons of the finely diced watermelon. Place a toasted bread round on top. Finish with a drizzle of olive oil and a light dusting of piment d'Espelette and serve.

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