This is a delicious summery soup, rather like gazpacho, and it requires no cooking. With a little help, even young children can make it and it is a good group activity.
INGREDIENTS
1 litre tomato juice; 2 cloves garlic; 2-3 fresh tomatoes; a piece of cucumber about 8cm long; 2-3 spring onions; 1 red pepper; 2 rounds of stale (dry) wholemeal bread; dash Worcestor sauce; 1 teaspoon tomato ketchup.
EQUIPMENT
Choppping boards; sharp knives; mixing bowl; small bowl; large spoon; teaspoon; small saucepan
METHOD
- Tip the tomato juice into a bowl. Peel the garlic cloves so the children can chop them into tiny pieces and drop them into the juice. (If they can also crush the pieces with the flat of the knife, even better.) If possible, leave to marinate, covered, in the fridge overnight.
- Next day, prepare all the other ingredients and add them to the tomato juice. Chop the cucumber into very small pieces. Cut the pepper in half, remove the seeds, then chop it into tiny pieces. Slice the onions into very thin rings. Finely crumble the dry bread.
- The tomatoes will be much nicer if they are skinned, though an adult may have to do all of this. The easiest way is to bring a saucepan of water to the boil, remove it from the heat and then drop in the tomatoes. After ten seconds lift the tomatoes out and cool them in a bowl of cold water to set the skins. After a minute or so, peel off the skins. If they don't come away easily, return the tomatoes to the hot water for a few seconds. The children can chop the tomatoes into small pieces and then add them, along with all the juice, to the mixing bowl. Stir in the seasonings.
- Although adults may enjoy having iced soup in summer, children cannot cope with very cold food. Aim to serve the soup just slightly cold.
