Antónia’s refreshing summer Gazpacho

Vinagrada

This month Antónia from restaurant “A Vela” has chosen to share a very refreshing recipe with us. This dish can either be served on its own or accompanied by fried horse mackerel and it is called “Gaspacho á Alentejana”, or as they say in Alentejo “VINAGRADA”.
This Gazpacho is a light, casually elegant and effortless meal. It is a perfect starter and served with the fried mackerel, it is a perfect summer lunch.

Ingredients for Gazpacho with Mackerel

Ingredients for the Gazpacho: 2 persons

• 1 large ripe tomato-chopped
  1 small onion-chopped
  1 tablespoon oregano
  ½ middle cucumber-chopped
  1 l of very fresh water (you can add ice if necessary)
  Salt to taste
  Vinegar to taste
  4 tbs olive oil
  2 slices hard bread (2 days old)

Ingredients for the horse mackerel :

• Horse mackerel
  Sea salt
  Sunflower oil for frying
  Flour

Preparation:

Pour the olive oil in a deep clay bowl (Antónia always uses Alentejo clay bowls because it keeps the food cool and it looks gorgeous on the table). Add the chopped tomato, onion, cucumber and the oregano, pour cold water on top and season this with salt and vinegar to taste.

Toss everything together and check the temperature, if the water is not cold enough you can add some ice. Cut the bread into cubes and set aside.
Season the horse mackerel (without guts) with sea salt.

Heat the sunflower oil with a dash of olive oil in a frying pan and in the meantime, pass the horse mackerel through the flour.  Fry them when the oil is hot until crispy and brown. You can accompany this dish with olives, seasoned with chopped garlic, olive oil and oregano.

Put the desired amount of bread cubes on a plate and ad the Gazpacho on top. This can be served as a starter but together with the fried mackerel, it is also a perfect summer lunch.
In the Alentejo, you will not only find the art of serving fantastic food and beautiful wines. There is also the art of pottery making because they like to have their tables beautiful decorated and filled with food!

Thank you Antónia for sharing another beautiful recipe with us! And of course you can try all these beautiful dishes in Antónia´s restaurant ” A Vela”, Rua do Barranco Nº 68, Carvoeiro