This deep-flavoured soup originates from Andalucía in southern Spain and is served cold, spiked with cumin and sherry vinegar
Ingredients
- 1 tsp cumin seeds
- 200g sourdough bread, crusts removed, torn into chunks
- 1kg very ripe tomatoes
- 2 fat garlic cloves
- 2 flame-roasted red peppers, peeled and deseeded (from a jar is fine)
- 1 tbsp sherry vinegar
To serve
- 2 hard-boiled eggs, peeled
- 4 slices serrano ham
- small handful parsley
- drizzle of extra virgin olive oil
Method
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Put a small frying pan on a low heat, add the cumin seeds and toast for 1-2 mins, stirring frequently. Crush the seeds using a pestle and mortar. Soak the bread in cold water for 10 mins.
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Meanwhile, to skin the tomatoes, cut a cross in the skin on the top and bottom of each tomato, then put them in a bowl and cover with boiling water. After 1-2 mins, drain the tomatoes and plunge into a bowl of ice-cold water. The skins should now peel off easily.
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Cut the flesh into quarters and remove the seeds and pulp. Put the seeds and pulp in a sieve over a bowl and squish to release all the juices from around the seeds. Keep the juice and discard the seeds and pulp.
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Put the garlic, tomato quarters and juice, peppers and cumin in the bowl of a food processor or blender. Squeeze out the water from the bread, then add to the processor. Season and blitz until very smooth. Add the vinegar to taste, checking for a good balance of flavours, then cover and chill for at least 2 hrs.
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When ready to serve, roughly chop the eggs, serrano ham and parsley. Ladle the soup into bowls and add some of each of the toppings. Add a drizzle of your best olive oil, a grinding of pepper and serve.