Gazpacho Verde

Name: Gazpacho Verde
Ingredients: 1 cup dried blueberries (4 ounces); 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon sugar; 2 teaspoons Champagne vinegar; 1 pound ripe green melon, such as honeydew, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces (3 cups); 4 Persian cucumberspeeled, seeded and chopped; 2 Hass avocados (12 ounces)peeled, pitted and chopped; 1/2 teaspoon fresh lemon juice; 1/2 cup creme fraiche; Kosher salt; 1/2 cup mild, fruity extra-virgin olive oil or grapeseed oil, chilled; 1 cup packed fennel fronds, anise hyssop or lemon balm (1 ounce); 1 small fennel bulb, inner core only, halved and very thinly sliced lengthwise; 1 Persian cucumberpeeled, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced crosswise on the diagonal; 1/2 teaspoon Champagne vinegar; Pinch of sugar; Pinch of kosher salt; Fennel pollen and mint or anise hyssop flowers, for garnish

17 ingredients

16 steps

Ingredients

1 cup dried blueberries (4 ounces)
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon sugar
2 teaspoons Champagne vinegar
1 pound ripe green melon, such as honeydew, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces (3 cups)
4 Persian cucumberspeeled, seeded and chopped
2 Hass avocados (12 ounces)peeled, pitted and chopped
1/2 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup creme fraiche
Kosher salt
1/2 cup mild, fruity extra-virgin olive oil or grapeseed oil, chilled
1 cup packed fennel fronds, anise hyssop or lemon balm (1 ounce)
1 small fennel bulb, inner core only, halved and very thinly sliced lengthwise
1 Persian cucumberpeeled, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced crosswise on the diagonal
1/2 teaspoon Champagne vinegar
Pinch of sugar
Pinch of kosher salt
Fennel pollen and mint or anise hyssop flowers, for garnish

Directions

1

Make the blueberries In a medium bowl, mix the blueberries with the sugar and vinegar.
2

Let macerate at room temperature for 1 hour, stirring occasionally.
3

Preheat the oven to 200.
4

Spread the blueberries on a parchment paperlined baking sheet and bake for 1 hour and 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thickened but still moist.
5

Let cool.
6

Meanwhile, make the soup In a blender, combine all of the ingredients, season with salt and puree until smooth.
7

Strain the soup through a fine sieve into a large bowl.
8

Cover and refrigerate for about 2 hours, until cold.
9

Make the sweet herb oil In a blender, combine the oil and herbs and puree until smooth.
10

In a sieve set over a small bowl, strain the oil through a coffee filter or a double layer of cheesecloth.
11

Make the garnish In a medium bowl, toss the fennel and cucumber with the vinegar, sugar and salt.
12

Let stand for 3 minutes.
13

Add 1 tablespoon of the sweet herb oil; toss to coat.
14

Divide the blueberries into bowls and top with the fennel-cucumber garnish.
15

Pour the soup around the bowl.
16

Drizzle with some of the remaining sweet herb oil, top with fennel pollen and mint or anise hyssop flowers and serve.