You’ve probably had gazpacho before, but if you haven’t, this is the perfect dish to introduce you! Gazpacho is one of the easiest and spiciest summertime soups. It’s refreshingly cold and cool, perfect for a hot summer day. And best of all? It’s easy to make.
So, what to serve with gazpacho? This post will help you create your own gazpacho side dishes in just five minutes! Get out your blender or food processor and get ready to enjoy some delicious side dishes with your refreshing soup.
What is Gazpacho?
The recipe for gazpacho, which has its roots in Andalusia in southern Spain, calls for puréed tomatoes along with other ingredients including cucumber, sweet bell peppers, onions, garlic, and olive oil. Melons can also be used to make fruit-based gazpacho or cucumber-based gazpacho. There are as many ways to create gazpacho as there are seeds in a tomato, much like with so many other fresh dishes.
9 Amazingly Delicious Side Dishes for Gazpacho
1. Arugula Salad with Red Onions and Parmesan Cheese
This salad is a great side dish to gazpacho because it’s both refreshing and tangy. The sharp arugula complements the creamy beans and tomatoes, making it a great summertime meal. Arugula is a green, leafy vegetable that has a stronger flavor than lettuce. It’s great served fresh with eggs, but it also travels well and can be used in a number of different recipes. This particular salad is simple to make and doesn’t require any fancy ingredients or techniques.
With a little olive oil and balsamic vinegar, this simple salad is ready in minutes.
You can prepare it as soon as you get home from work, or you can assemble it the night before and top it with the Parmesan cheese just before serving.
Once you have all of your ingredients, the only thing left to do is assemble your salad and enjoy.
2. Crispy Bacon Makes a Great Side Dish
If you’re into cooking, then crispy bacon is a staple ingredient in your kitchen.
Bacon is great as a side dish to gazpacho, but it can also be used in other recipes. You can slice it into thin pieces and eat it with eggs, or you can cut it thicker and grill or fry the bacon until it’s crispy and crunchy. This makes for an excellent side dish to any meal, especially breakfast.
3. Baked Potato with Sour Cream
Baked potatoes are one of the best cold weather meals you can have because they’re rich and filling.
In addition to being an excellent side dish, they make for a great appetizer. For example, you can make a few different kinds of potato salads and serve them alongside your gazpacho.
This recipe is easy to prepare and doesn’t require a lot of ingredients.
Baked potatoes are great served with sour cream, butter, or cheddar cheese. You can even top them with sour cream and bacon bits for a delicious appetizer that’s great for any party!
4. Sautéed Spinach
The one thing that makes gazpacho and spinach great is the freshness of both ingredients, especially spinach.
Spinach is great as a side dish to gazpacho, but it can also be used in other recipes. For example, you can sauté the leaves with olive oil and garlic for about two minutes at high heat. This creates a tasty side dish that is both healthy and easy to prepare.
5. Fish Sticks
Fish sticks are a delicious side dish to enjoy with gazpacho.
Fish sticks are easy and versatile, so you can serve them up in a few different ways. You can serve fish sticks as an appetizer by topping them with tartar sauce, or you can serve them as a main course by serving them with baked potatoes and steamed vegetables.
Fish sticks are made with fillets of fish, egg and breadcrumbs, so they go great for any meal.
They’re a versatile dish that you can use in sandwiches, salads, pasta dishes and more.
6. Spanish Tortilla
Tortilla is the perfect recipe to serve when you’re serving gazpacho because it’s a Spanish dish.
Spanish tortilla is a delicious potato omelet that goes great with gazpacho because the soup makes it even more appetizing.
This omelet is easy to make and only takes ten minutes. It’s made with potatoes, onions, eggs and olive oil and served with fresh vegetables or salad.
It’s cooked in a pan over medium heat until the middle turns golden brown and then flipped over onto a plate for serving.
7. Tomato Bruschetta
Tomato bruschetta is another great dish to serve with gazpacho because it’s Italian. Tomatoes go well with gazpacho, so the flavors complement each other well.
This recipe is perfect for a casual dinner. Put the bruschetta on crusty French bread and enjoy for a light appetizer or side with gazpacho.
8. Red Beans and Rice
A side dish of red beans and rice is a quick and easy option for a summer snack.
This recipe can serve as an appetizer, but it’s also good enough to serve as a side dish for gazpacho.
Simply boil the rice in chicken broth before serving hot, or leave it in the fridge until ready to serve. Try topping it with kimchi, salsa, or your favorite vegetables. This recipe makes 6 servings which is perfect for feeding 4 to 6 people.
9. Cornbread
Cornbread is another delicious side dish that goes well with any soup.
Cornbread is basically cornbread cooked in the oven, and it’s very versatile. It’s light and airy and tastes great with just about anything–especially soups like gazpacho.
It doesn’t matter what type of soup you serve it with, but to accompany a traditional cream soup, you can mix some shredded cheddar cheese into the batter for extra flavor, or add diced tomatoes for extra texture and color.
It’s best served hot with butter and honey, but it tastes great at room temperature if you prefer to let it cool first.
FAQs
What is gazpacho and how is it served?
Gazpacho is a chilled soup that is traditionally made from almonds and bread soaked in water, mixed with vegetables such as tomatoes and cucumbers, seasoned with salt, pepper, and vinegar. It’s served cold. Gazpacho can be eaten as a starter or first course on its own or served alongside other dishes. Processed gazpacho is most commonly found in cans or cartons because it can be stored for long periods of time without the risk of spoilage. Fresh, homemade gazpacho is usually served within a day or two of being prepared.
Gazpacho is traditionally served chilled but can also be served at room temperature. It can be made ahead of time and then stored in the fridge overnight or for up to a day before serving.
What Flavour is gazpacho?
The cold soup is often described as tart, but that’s not always the case. The garlic and celery are what really make it taste sour. The bread crumbs give it a light consistency and slight crunch, which makes it refreshing on a hot day. It is a very traditional Spanish starter/tapas dish and often paired with fried anchovies and black pepper or red pepper flakes. It is usually served as a first course, but can be served as a main dish, especially in Spain where it is commonly eaten for lunch with bread, meat and cheese.
Is gazpacho traditionally served cold?
Gazpacho has traditionally been served cold. Its chilled, fresh taste is perfect for summer. But gazpacho can also be served warm. If you opt for this delicious soup during colder months, these side dishes will keep it light and refreshing.
Is gazpacho eaten for lunch?
Yes, I eat gazpacho for lunch. And for dinner. It’s cold and refreshing on a hot day, it’s fruity and refreshing when you don’t want to eat anything heavy, but it can be eaten for breakfast too! Gazpacho is served cold so on a hot day there are plenty of choices to keep your food cool in addition to the gazpacho.
Final Thoughts
Since the recipe is so straightforward, it’s important to make the side dishes that accompany it as well-rounded as possible. There are no strings attached here; there are really no limits to what you can serve with this soup. It’s just about pairing complementary flavors and textures together in an effortless way.
Gazpacho is served cold but if you prefer you can also serve it at room temperature. It can be served as a starter or light lunch before desserts. This dish is also popular in Spain and there are tons of great ways to prepare it. Options for main dishes are endless and the shrimp, tuna, and smoked salmon makes for a gorgeous presentation when served on top of the salad.
The list of recipes that go with this soup is long, but it actually doesn’t have to be that difficult at all. Some foods pair better with different flavors than others. As you look through the list of side dishes here, think about which ones will work perfectly with the soup.