Black Pepper Free Garlic-Herb Cucumber Gazpacho Shooters
Cool, bright, and impossibly refreshing, this cucumber gazpacho is the kind of appetizer that stops conversation the moment it hits the table. Fresh English cucumber forms the base, blended smooth with garlic, parsley, mint, and chives for a flavor that's herbaceous and clean without any heat or sharpness from black pepper. A splash of apple cider vinegar and a touch of ground ginger give it just enough edge to keep things interesting, while good extra-virgin olive oil rounds everything out into something that feels genuinely elegant. The mixture gets strained until silky, then chilled until ice-cold — so each little shooter is as polished as anything you'd find at a catered event. For anyone navigating a sensitivity to black pepper, this recipe is a genuine find because the seasoning is built entirely around salt, ginger, and acid, with zero compromise on complexity or depth. Serve them in shot glasses with a thin cucumber round on top and a pinch of fresh parsley, and they look as good as they taste. These are the kind of bites guests reach for twice before they even realize what they're doing.
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Learn more →Ingredients
8 servings
- 2 large english cucumbers (about 2 lb total), roughly chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, peeled
- ¼ cup fresh parsley leaves, loosely packed
- ¼ cup fresh mint leaves, loosely packed
- 2 tbsp fresh chives, roughly chopped
- 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- ½ tsp fine sea salt, plus more to taste
- ¼ tsp ground ginger
- ¼ cup cold water, plus more as needed
For serving
- 1 tbsp fresh parsley, finely chopped (optional)
- thin cucumber rounds, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Combine the chopped cucumber, garlic, parsley, mint, chives, olive oil, apple cider vinegar, salt, ground ginger, and cold water in a blender.
- 2
Blend on high speed until completely smooth, about 60 seconds. If the mixture is too thick to pour easily, add cold water 1 tbsp at a time and blend briefly until it reaches a pourable, slightly viscous consistency.
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