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Dinner tonight! White gazpacho with grapes

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Nothing beats the heat like a cool summer soup. For a variation on classic gazpacho, try this white gazpacho with grapes. Nicely thickened with soaked bread and ground almonds, the simple soup is further flavored with a few cloves of garlic, extra-virgin olive oil and sherry vineger. Garnish it with green grapes and dinner is served. You can find the recipe below.

The basic oil and bread emulsion is also the starting point for white gazpacho, such as ajo blanco con uvas (white garlic with grapes). Made with ground almonds, garlic, bread, olive oil and vinegar and garnished with grapes, this cold soup comes from the rich Moorish-Arabic heritage. More than the sum of its parts, ajo blanco is both unusual and delicious.

For more quick-fix dinner ideas, check out our video recipe gallery here. Food editor Russ Parsons and Test Kitchen manager Noelle Carter show you how to fix a dozen dishes in an hour or less.

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White gazpacho with grapes (Ajo blanco con uvas)

Total time: 25 minutes, plus optional chilling time

Servings: 4

Note: This gazpacho is best made with fresh almonds, shelled, blanched and skinned. To blanch and skin almonds: bring a saucepan of water to a full boil. Add the almonds and blanch them for 60 seconds. Drain. While they are still warm, slip the skins off.

6 slices day-old bread, crusts removed (6 ounces)

1 cup blanched and skinned almonds

3 cloves garlic

1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil

1/4 cup sherry vinegar

2 teaspoons salt

2 cups water, plus extra for soaking the bread, divided

12 green grapes, seeds removed if there are any

1. Soak the bread in enough water to cover until it is softened. Squeeze out the water and place the bread in a food processor or blender with the almonds and garlic. Pulse until the almonds are finely ground.

2. With the motor running, add the oil in a slow stream, then the vinegar and salt. Blend in some of the 2 cups water, then pour the mixture into a pitcher and add remaining water. This makes about 4 1/2 cups gazpacho.

3. Serve immediately or chill until serving time. Stir before serving. Serve the gazpacho in small bowls with grapes.

Each of 4 servings: 576 calories; 11 grams protein; 32 grams carbohydrates; 5 grams fiber; 47 grams fat; 5 grams saturated fat; 0 cholesterol; 6 grams sugar; 1,464 mg. sodium.

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