BHA & BHT Free Basil-Pesto Cucumber Gazpacho Shooters
Cold, bright, and impossibly fresh, these cucumber gazpacho shooters are the kind of appetizer that stops a party in its tracks. Every ingredient here is whole and unprocessed — crisp English cucumber, fresh lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, shallot, garlic, and a drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil — so there's no need to scan a label for synthetic preservatives like BHA or BHT. The pesto swirl is equally clean, built from packed fresh basil, more olive oil, garlic, and lemon, blended until it turns a vivid, almost electric green. Straining the gazpacho through a fine-mesh sieve gives it a silky, restaurant-quality texture that feels far more impressive than the effort involved. A quick toothpick drag through the pesto creates that gorgeous swirl on top, turning each little shooter into something genuinely beautiful. Serve them straight from the fridge and watch them disappear in about one sip.
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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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