Name: Ajo blanco
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 10 min
Yield: 6
Ingredients: 200 gm crustless, day-old sourdough bread, coarsely chopped; 400 gm blanched almonds (2½ cups); 4 garlic cloves, coarsely chopped; 100 ml olive oil; 50 ml sherry vinegar, or to taste; To serve: small green seedless grapes, thinly sliced; To serve: almond oil (see note)

Chilled soups. You either love ’em or hate ’em. My theory is that the haters have never tried ajo blanco because one small sip of this iced beauty is enough to turn anyone to the light side. And when sampled after a long day’s work in the Spanish fields, one can only imagine how truly satisfying this creation would have been under a hot sun.

Translating as white garlic, ajo blanco is also sometimes known as white gazpacho. It’s Malaga’s version of Andalucía’s gazpacho and, instead of using ultra-ripe tomatoes and green and red capsicum, it makes use of the region’s famed almonds. From there, it’s similar to Andalucían gazpacho in that it’s puréed with garlic, thickened with day-old bread and spiked with a hint of sherry vinegar. Sweet slivers of white grapes, used as garnish, are the icing on the proverbial cake and the sum of these parts add up to an elegantly simple whole.

The key to a perfect ajo blanco lies in thorough chilling. In the old days, the chilling was accomplished by adding ice-cold water from the well (which also served to thin the concoction), but these days a good chilling in the refrigerator will do the trick. Under no circumstances, according to the purists, is ice to be added.

The origins of the soup is a bone of some contention. Some say it dates back to the Islamic conquest; others claim it was a peasant dish adapted for city tastes some time during the 19th century. Once pounded by hand in a mortar and pestle, modern technology makes puréeing a cinch. So there’s really no excuse not to try this one, perhaps paired with a nice glass of sherry. And, after that? No doubt a good siesta.

Keep your cool and refresh your palate with a sip of this classic soup, inspired by the Spanish sun.

Ingredients

200 gm crustless, day-old sourdough bread, coarsely chopped

400 gm blanched almonds (2½ cups)

4 garlic cloves, coarsely chopped

100 ml olive oil

50 ml sherry vinegar, or to taste

To serve: small green seedless grapes, thinly sliced

To serve: almond oil (see note)

Method

Main

1.Process bread, almonds, garlic, olive oil and 1 litre of water in a blender until smooth. Season to taste with sherry vinegar, sea salt and freshly ground white pepper. Transfer to a jug. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until well chilled (2-3 hours). Makes 1.5 litres.

2.Stir soup, then ladle among bowls, scatter with grape slices, drizzle with almond oil and serve immediately.

WHERE TO TRY IT
Movida
When the weather turns hot, MoVida’s take on this hits the spot. While you’re at it, check out their new sherry bar, MoVida Next Door. 1 Hosier La, Melbourne, Vic, (03) 9663 3038. Almond oil is available from the health food section in supermarkets and health food stores.
Notes

Styling by Adelaide Lucas

Styling by Vanessa Austin

Ingredients

Method

Main

Related stories