Vegan Watermelon Mint Gazpacho (Printable Version)

Vibrant chilled soup blending sweet watermelon, crisp cucumber, zesty lime, and fresh mint for a refreshing summer dish.

# Ingredient List:

→ Fresh Produce

01 - 5 cups seedless watermelon, cubed
02 - 1 large cucumber, peeled and chopped (about 1½ cups)
03 - 1 medium red bell pepper, chopped
04 - ½ small red onion, chopped
05 - ¼ cup fresh mint leaves, plus extra for garnish
06 - 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro leaves (optional)

→ Citrus

07 - Zest and juice of 2 limes

→ Pantry

08 - 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
09 - ½ teaspoon sea salt, or to taste
10 - ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

→ Garnish

11 - Diced cucumber, watermelon, and mint leaves

# Directions:

01 - In a blender, combine the watermelon, cucumber, red bell pepper, red onion, mint leaves, cilantro if using, lime zest, and lime juice. Blend until smooth.
02 - Add olive oil, salt, and black pepper. Blend again until fully combined and silky.
03 - Taste and adjust seasoning. For a thinner consistency, add a few tablespoons of cold water and blend again.
04 - Transfer to a bowl or pitcher, cover, and chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours to allow flavors to meld.
05 - Stir well before serving. Pour into bowls and garnish with diced cucumber, watermelon, and fresh mint leaves.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It's ready in 20 minutes with zero cooking, which means you can make it right when the heat hits and serve it an hour later.
  • The flavor balance is almost magical once it sits—the mint doesn't overpower, the lime cuts through the sweetness, and somehow everything tastes more like itself.
  • It's the kind of dish that makes people say yes to seconds and asks for the recipe, even though they think gazpacho has to be tomato-based.
02 -
  • Don't skip the chilling time—I tried serving it right after blending once, and it tasted thin and one-note. Those two hours in the cold transform it into something completely different.
  • Watermelon varies wildly in water content depending on the season and how ripe it is, so that adjustment step with cold water isn't optional, it's your safety net. Trust your instincts on thickness.
03 -
  • If your blender struggles, work in batches instead of forcing everything in at once—better control and a smoother result.
  • The moment you taste lime hitting cold watermelon is when you'll understand why this recipe works, so don't be shy with the citrus.
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