Salmorejo: the traditional recipe for a creamy Spanish cold soup

Salmorejo (pronounced saal-mow-reh-how) is a traditional cold tomato soup from Cordoba (Andalusia), in southern Spain. Also known as ardoria or ardorío, it is made of tomato, bread, oil, garlic, and sherry vinegar, it is garnished with diced serrano ham and hard-boiled eggs, and it is served cold. It become popular around 1990s when José Andrés showed this dish on American television.

For this pink-orange recipe, people usually use the so-called pan de telera, a bread with a dense, white crumb and a thin crust which is perfect for soaking in water. It is said this kind of bread was used as a base for cold soups since Mesopotamian times, then the Romans came along and added olive oil and vinegar to the recipe.

Salmorejo vs Gazpacho

Salmorejo and gazpacho are both two types of cold Spanish tomato-based soups very popular in the area of Andalusia, in the south of Spain. The difference between the two recipes is basically in the texture. Salmorejo is creamier and thicker than gazpacho because it tends to use more bread and olive oil, unlike gazpacho which also calls for other vegetables.

Tips

If you can't find sherry vinegar, you can also use red wine vinegar.

You can also use canned tomatoes, but make sure to choose high-quality ones.

Make sure to serve salmorejo cold.

For vegetarian salmorejo, you can leave out serrano ham.

How to store Salmorejo

You can store salmorejo in the refrigerator, in an airtight container, for maximum 1-2 days. After a few hours, it tends to become pasty. In this case, you can dilute the soup with a drop of water.

Instructions

Step 1

Step 1

In a bowl, soak the bread in cold water for few minutes. Let it sit, then drain and squeeze the water from the bread.

In a bowl, soak the bread in cold water for few minutes. Let it sit, then drain and squeeze the water from the bread.

Step 2

Step 2

Wash and cut the tomatoes in four parts, then squeeze out the seeds.

Wash and cut the tomatoes in four parts, then squeeze out the seeds.

Step 3

Step 3

Place tomatoes in a food processor.

Place tomatoes in a food processor.

Step 4

Step 4

Add the garlic.

Add the garlic.

Step 5

Step 5

Add the soaked bread, salt, and sherry vinegar.

Add the soaked bread, salt, and sherry vinegar.

Step 6

Step 6

Pour the olive oil.

Pour the olive oil.

Step 7

Step 7

Blend ingredients together. Let it refrigerate for 2 hours.

Blend ingredients together. Let it refrigerate for 2 hours.

Step 8

Step 8

Garnish with hard-boiled eggs and serrano ham slices. Enjoy!

Garnish with hard-boiled eggs and serrano ham slices. Enjoy!