Beef Free Basil-Pesto Cucumber Gazpacho Shooters
Cold, bright, and almost impossibly refreshing, these cucumber gazpacho shooters are the kind of appetizer that stops a party in its tracks. English cucumbers get blended smooth with fresh lemon juice, a touch of apple cider vinegar, shallot, garlic, and a whisper of ground ginger, then strained until the liquid is silky and clean. The result is a chilled soup that tastes like a garden in a glass — light, herbaceous, and just a little tangy. The real showstopper is the basil pesto swirl on top: blended with olive oil, garlic, and lemon until it's a vivid, glossy green, it gets dragged into a delicate pattern across each shooter with nothing more than a toothpick. Because every single ingredient here is plant-based and naturally free of any meat, this is one of those recipes where eating around a restriction doesn't feel like a compromise at all — it just feels like good cooking. Serve them straight from the fridge for maximum impact, and don't skip the fresh basil garnish if you want that extra pop of color and aroma.
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Learn more →Ingredients
8 servings
For the gazpacho base
- 2 large english cucumbers (about 2 lb total), roughly chopped
- ¼ cup fresh lemon juice (from about 2 lemons)
- 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 small shallot, roughly chopped
- 1 clove garlic, roughly chopped
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- ½ tsp fine sea salt, plus more to taste
- ¼ tsp ground ginger
For the AIP pesto swirl
- 2 cups packed fresh basil leaves
- ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 clove garlic, roughly chopped
- 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- ¼ tsp fine sea salt
For serving
- thin cucumber rounds, for serving (optional)
- fresh basil leaves, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Combine the chopped cucumbers, lemon juice, 2 tbsp olive oil, shallot, garlic, apple cider vinegar, 1/2 tsp salt, and ground ginger in a blender. Blend on high until completely smooth, about 60 seconds.
- 2
Pour the blended gazpacho through a fine-mesh strainer set over a large bowl, pressing gently with a spatula until only dry pulp remains. Discard the pulp. Taste and adjust salt. Cover and refrigerate until thoroughly chilled, at least 30 minutes.
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