This is my entry this month for yet another food blogging event called “No Croutons Required,” sponsored by Tinned Tomatoes from Scotland. The theme this month is spicy vegetarian soups or salads. The round-up of the inaugural event is here.

I love the idea of gazpacho - mixing together the pungent flavors of garlic, onions and peppers with tomatoes - but I don’t really enjoy the sharp flavors of these ingredients raw. So I cook them! Then the flavors are mellowed and I enjoy it much more. So my entry is “Hot Gazpacho.” It’s also good chilled - still cooked, not raw

btw, I left out the traditional cucumber, since it’s a cooked soup. Hm, maybe I ought to try it, though … or maybe I’ll serve a cucumber salad on the side next time. Yeah, that’s the ticket.

Hot Gazpacho

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and chopped
1 green, yellow, and red bell pepper, seeded and chopped
1 large onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, chopped
Salt and pepper
1 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes
1 14-oz. can diced tomatoes
2 cups vegetable stock
3 tablespoons chopped cilantro or flat-leaf parsley
sour cream
cilantro sprigs

Heat a medium soup pot over medium-high heat. Add 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, jalapeno, bell peppers, onions, and garlic. Season with salt and pepper, then saute veggies 5 minutes.

Add crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes and stock and bring soup to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer and stir in cilantro. Garnish with sour cream and cilantro.

A St. Patrick’s Day wish for you:

May there always be work for your hands to do,
May your purse always hold a coin or two,
May the sun always shine on your windowpane,
May a rainbow be certain to follow each rain,
May the hand of a friend always be near you,
All the luck o’ the Irish I’m happy to send you,
With a wish that good fortune & joy may attend you!

Have a great day!