Gazpacho

What better way to cool off during a hot summer in Spain than with a refreshing bowl of gazpacho? This chilled tomato soup, which is usually served as an appetizer, has a lot of flavor. Simply blend fresh tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, garlic, and herbs in a blender and serve with toasted bread for a low-calorie, high-vitamin dish.

Some foreigners may find the idea of eating cold tomato soup strange, but once you've tried a traditional gazpacho on a hot summer day, you'll be hooked! Add some bread to make salmorejo, a traditional Andalusian dish.

The reddest, ripest tomatoes are blended with olive oil, garlic, bread, peppers, and cucumber until silky smooth, then chilled and poured into bowls or glasses. So tasty and refreshing. People in Andalusia, in southern Spain, drink it every day during the summer, and tapas bars always have a jug on the counter. Try Córdoba salmorejo, a thicker version that's often topped with Ibérico ham.