Watermelon Gazpacho

I actually got this recipe from a classmate Christina Dwyer and she got this recipe from the Food Network.  It is super easy.  It is perfect for hot hot days that are 90+ and also days with a killer hangover.  I cooked it this week because of the weather, no hangover for me : ) 

The recipe has a great taste and the ingredients blend well together.  I would suggest if you are cooking for yourself to make a small portion.  Although it tastes amazing, around the third day of eating this I was soooo sick of it.  As a single cooker, I try to make things that I don't get tired of eating.  This is not one of those recipes. So impress your friends, make this as an appetizer for a dinner party.  They will love it!


Watermelon Gazpacho
Level: Easy
Yields: 4 servings
Cooking Time: 15 min
Source: Food Network

Ingredients:
1 large tomato or 2 small Plum Tomatoes
½ Serrano Chile, finely diced
2 cups cubed fresh watermelon
1 tsp red wine vinegar
¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
2 tbsp minced red onion
½ cucumber, seeded and minced
2 tbsp minced fresh dill, plus more for garnish
Kosher/Sea Salt and Black Pepper to taste

Directions:
In a blender/food processor, puree the tomatoes, and ½ of the watermelon. Pour in the red wine vinegar and olive oil. Pulse to mix. Add the onion, cucumber, dill, salt and pepper. Puree until smooth. Pour into chilled bowls, sprinkle with dill, and the remaining watermelon.

Ingredient Analysis:
Tomatoes: Sweet, sour, cold; ST, LI; Promotes Fluids, Clears heat, Promotes urination, supplements the KD
Chile Peppers: Hot, pungent; SP, HT; Warms middle jiao, expels cold, invigorates blood, dispersing esp. for the LU
Watermelon: Sweet, cold; UB, ST, HT; Relieves summerheat, generates fluids and relieves thirst, promotes urination, reduces jaundice, clears heat toxins
Red Wine Vinegar: Warm, sour, bitter; promotes circulation, removes stagnant blood and qi, reduces accumulations in the LV, relieves dampness, stops bleeding, astringent
Olive Oil: Sl. Warm, sweet; moistens dryness, anti-inflammatory
Red Onion: Acrid, Warm; LU, ST, LI; promotes circulation of qi, expels cold, promotes sweating, diuretic
Cucumbers: Cool, sweet; HT, SP, ST, LI, LU; Promotes urination, Clears heat toxins, lifts depression, cleanses the blood, moistens the LU, purifies skin, Treats summerheat
Dill: Digestive aid, eradicates flatulence, detoxifies LV, reduces toxins and carcinogens in the body
Salt: Salty, cold; KD; clears heat and cools blood, eases bowel movement, nourishes KD
Pepper: Warm; Stimulates the flow of qi, esp. warming for the middle jiao, treats diarrhea and watery stool, opens the pores, counteracts food poisoning and indigestion

Overall Recipe Analysis:

Summer Heat/ Damp Heat Disorders

The main bulk of ingredients in this recipe are the watermelon, tomatoes, and cucumbers. These three ingredients are all cold or cooling , so are most likely to be used for conditions that are hot in nature. Watermelon and tomatoes are the predominant ingredients, so they will help clear heat, and resolve dampness by promoting urination.This is why I suggest it for hangovers.  It will clear out the toxicity of the alcohol will engendering natural fluids of the body. Watermelon is by far the best summer fruit to clear sweating, ravenous hunger and just that feeling of heat you get on the 90 degrees and up days.  If you suffer from loose stools meaning you having any bowel movements that are not formed, watery or you find undigested food or phlegm this recipe is NOT for you.  It WILL make these symptoms worse.