Easiest gazpacho

This one can be made in volume, and never disappoints.  And did I mention how healthy it is?

Mix together in a good blender the following until pureed:

• around 600g large tomatoes
• 2 large teaspoons tomato paste
• 1 large cucumber
• 1 red or orange pepper (paprika)
• 1 onion
• 1 large clove garlic or two if you want it garlicky
• juice of 1 lime
• handful of fresh basil leaves
• around 400 ml water
• 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper (to taste)
• 1 tablespoon good balsamic vinegar
• 1 teaspoon sea salt and fresh ground pepper to taste
• Optional: you can add a small bunch of fresh mint to the blender and Worcestershire sauce to taste when serving.

A great variation for ginger lovers:  reduce garlic and add two inches of fresh ginger, to taste.

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Delicious lettuce soup (as unlikely as that sounds)

Fry the following until soft in 2 tbs olive oil:

• 1 chopped red/onion
• 2 tsp coriander seeds
• 3 chopped garlic cloves
• 1 red paprika (optional)

Then add:

• 1 iceberg lettuce, sliced
• 2 tsp mixed dried (italian) herbs
• 500 ml chicken stock (from one cube)
• salt and pepper to taste

and cook for around 10 mins until done.  Add:

• 1 tbs lemon juice
• some milk/cream to taste

and liquidise with a mini-blender.  Yes it is that easy – but tastes great.

Serve with fresh brown bread.