Gazpacho

Directions

1. 1
   Soak in a bowl of hot water for 15 minutes: 1 dried ancho chile.
2. 2
   Drain and crush to a paste with a medium-size mortar and pestle.
3. 3
   Remove and set aside.
4. 4
   In another bowl, soak in cold water for 2 minutes: 2 cups crustless cubes of day-old country-style white bread.
5. 5
   Drain and squeeze out the excess water.
6. 6
   In the mortar and pestle, pound together into a paste: 2 garlic cloves, A pinch of salt.
7. 7
   Add the soaked bread, pound until smooth, and set aside.
8. 8
   Cut in half horizontally: 5 pounds ripe tomatoes.
9. 9
   Over a bowl, grate the cut sides of the tomatoes on the medium holes of a box grater until only the skin is left.
10. 10
    Discard the skins.
11. 11
    Pass the pulp through a strainer to remove seeds, if you like.
12. 12
    Stir the chile puree and the bread paste into the tomato pulp in a large bowl.
13. 13
    Add: 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, Salt.
14. 14
    Refrigerate until well chilled.
15. 15
    To speed this up you can set the bowl in another, larger bowl filled with ice.
16. 16
    Taste for seasoning before serving and add more salt if needed.
17. 17
    Make a relish to garnish the soup.
18. 18
    Mix together: 1/2 pound cherry tomatoes, halved, 1 cucumber, peeled and diced, 1 yellow bell pepper, seeded and diced, 1/2 red onion, diced, A handful each of chopped chervil and basil, 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar, 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, Salt, Fresh-ground black pepper.
19. 19
    Divide the chilled soup among 6 to 8 bowls and add a generous spoonful of relish to each bowl.