Chicken Free Basil-Pesto Cucumber Gazpacho Shooters
Cold, vibrant, and almost impossibly refreshing, these cucumber gazpacho shooters are the kind of appetizer that stops a party in its tracks. English cucumbers get blended with bright lemon juice, a touch of apple cider vinegar, shallot, garlic, and a whisper of ground ginger before being strained into a silky, chilled base that tastes clean and alive. The real showstopper is the basil pesto swirl — just five ingredients blended into a glossy, deeply green sauce that gets dragged across the surface of each shooter in a single elegant stroke. Every element here is completely plant-based, so there's no need to scan labels or worry about hidden animal proteins sneaking into your spread. This is the kind of recipe that proves skipping meat doesn't mean skipping flavor or visual drama. Serve them in shot glasses straight from the fridge and watch them disappear before you've even set down the tray.
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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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