Nothing beats a bowl of gazpacho when the air feels oven-hot and you’d rather keep the hob off. Blending ripe tomatoes with cucumber, red pepper and a slug of olive oil turns peak-summer produce into a chilled, silky soup that doubles as drinkable salad.

Beyond the instant cool-down, each ladle carries real nutrition. Tomatoes supply lycopene, a carotenoid now linked to wide-ranging antioxidant and cardio-protective effects in recent reviews. Cucumber is 96% water, which helps top up fluids while adding almost no calories. A single 100 g portion of red bell pepper delivers well over the daily reference intake for vitamin C, and extra-virgin olive oil contributes polyphenols associated with better blood-lipid profiles and reduced blood pressure. Cool, refreshing, and genuinely nourishing—no stove required.