Summer Recipe: Gazpacho

Summer meals often revolve around meat on the barbecue and the ice cream shop. But there's no rule that says you have to sacrifice flavor for healthier options when it comes to your warm-weather meals.

By taking advantage of the abundance of fresh, seasonal produce, you can cook delicious food that is good for you too. Karen Ansel, MS, RDN, CDN, spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and author of The Calendar Diet: A Month By Month Guide to Losing Weight While Living Your Life, weighs in on the health benefits of a nutritious and delicious summer recipe.

Gazpacho 

This classic Spanish recipe is a cool, refreshing and flavorful dish to start a summer meal. Rich in vitamin C, gazpacho keeps the immune system strong, and skin looking great by supporting collagen production, says Ansel.

Ingredients:

• 1 cucumber, sliced into chunks
• 4 large ripe tomatoes
• 1/2 bell pepper, any color
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1 celery rib, chopped
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1/2 sweet onion, quartered
• 3 tablespoon red wine or balsamic vinegar
• 1/2 teaspoon Himalayan pink salt
• Dash black pepper
• 1 teaspoon chopped fresh parsley
• 1 teaspoon chopped fresh basil
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional) 

Instructions:

1. Simply combine all the ingredients in a blender or food processor, except the fresh herbs, and process until smooth.
2. Stir in the fresh herbs.
3. Serve with chunks of tomatoes, cucumber, parsley, carrots, celery and a whole avocado.