Creamy Avocado Gazpacho

I first fell in love with gazpacho during my visit to Spain (unsurprisingly). It was less “eat pray love,” more out of necessity. We visited Spain in August, when it is notoriously hot, and gazpacho (a chilled tomato-based soup popular in Spain) was the natural thing to cool down with after walking for hours in the unforgiving sun. I wasn’t vegan at that time, but I didn’t eat red meat, which made it difficult to eat a lot of the standard fare served on our tour back in 2012.

I would order bowls of it, along with bread, in an attempt to fill up (gazpacho is delicious but not very calorie-dense). When I returned to the states, I made gazpacho a few times, but I found it was never as good. I assume the tomatoes in Spain are much higher quality than most tomatoes I can find here.

But, this Creamy Avocado Pea Gazpacho doesn’t require tomatoes, and is therefore easy to make extremely delicious without sacrificing on any flavor! And while traditional gazpacho features bread as a thickener (gazpacho means “soaked bread” in Arabic), this version relies on avocados, coconut milk, and peas for its creaminess (which means it’s naturally gluten-free).

Plus, while traditional gazpacho can leave you hungry within an hour or two, this version is extremely satisfying thanks to all the healthy fats!

Why you’ll like this avocado gazpacho

10-minute meal. This creamy green gazpacho comes together in less than 10 minutes. The only prep work is (1) blanching some peas or steaming them in the microwave and (2) roughly chopping a few vegetables before they get blended.

9 ingredients. This recipe uses only 9 ingredients (not including water, salt, and pepper), so in addition to being quick, it’s also fuss-free.

Healthy yet creamy. Thanks to avocados, peas, and coconut milk, this gazpacho is surprisingly creamy, but it’s still light, healthy, vegan, and gluten-free.

Flavorful. Thanks to cilantro and chili peppers, there is some good spiced flavor in this gazpacho. No bland or boring soups here!

Ingredient Rundown

Avocados. This is the biggest source of creaminess in this soup. If you’ve ever made a sauce with avocados, you know it’s gets so lush and creamy! While gazpacho isn’t meant to be as creamy as, say, a bisque, this version is definitely creamier than most gazpachos (making it all the more satisfying). Plus, those avocados = lots of healthy fats that keep your skin and hair looking healthy.

Fresh Peas. You will get the most flavor out of fresh peas, especially while they’re currently in season.

Cucumber. A traditional ingredient in gazpacho, it makes this soup hydrating and refreshing.

Cilantro and Serrano Pepper. This is where the spiced flavor comes in, and it’s what sets this gazpacho apart, so please don’t skip these ingredients! The cilantro brings that pungent, slightly citrusy flavor. And the chili peppers add a nice subtle heat in the background that gives this soup more character and depth of flavor.

Extra virgin olive oil. A good-quality extra virgin olive oil is key in gazpacho.

Water. To thin out the gazpacho a bit. I recommend starting with 1 1/2 cups water, then testing the texture, and adding more water to reach your desired texture.

Lime juice. The lime juice really perks up this dish with some fresh acidity and plays very nicely with avocado, cilantro, and chili peppers (hello, guacamole!).

Shallots. Onions are typically used in gazpacho, but I went ahead and used shallots for a slightly milder flavor. If you don’t have shallots, use half of a small sweet onion (I find raw yellow and white onions to be too pungent).

Coconut milk. The final source of creaminess in this gazpacho. It doesn’t affect the taste (there is on coconutty taste) but just brings a bit more luscious creaminess.

How to make Creamy Avocado Pea Gazpacho

This section is going to be very short since this recipe is very easy!

First, blanch the peas. I blanch the peas in boiling water for just 90 seconds, then immediately strain them into an ice bath to stop cooking The blanching preserves the vibrant green color and ensures they don’t overcook.

If you don’t want to turn on your stove, you could also steam the peas in the microwave. Simply add 2-3 tablespoons of water to a microwave-safe container, add the peas, cover, and microwave on high. Check every 2 minutes for doneness.

Next, add all of your ingredients—blanched peas, avocado, cucumber, shallots, cilantro, lime juice, Serrano pepper, olive oil, water, coconut milk, salt, pepper—to a blender and blend until creamy and smooth. Taste for seasonings, and that’s it!

Tips for making this recipe + Substitutions

Use ripe avocados. You’ll get the most creaminess from using ripe avocados. Avocados that aren’t fully ripe have a hard flesh, which will make the soup less creamy and less flavorful.

Frozen peas. If you don’t have access fresh peas, you can use frozen peas. Just defrost them before blending. No need to blanch them, as they are pre-blanched.

Coconut milk. If you don’t love coconut milk or don’t want to use it, feel free to omit, but I recommend using less water so that the gazpacho isn’t too watery. Or, you can sub another unsweetened plant-based milk, such as almond milk or cashew milk.

Don’t forget to garnish! This gazpacho loves garnishes, so don’t be shy. I love fresh cilantro and mint on top, as the subtle sweetness of the mint pairs beautifully with the slight spiciness and pungent cilantro. I also added hemp seeds and a few fresh shelled raw peas for a bit of texture.

Serving and storage You can serve this soup immediately after blending (at room temperature), or if you prefer your gazpacho chilled, pop it in the fridge for an hour or so. This gazpacho is best on the day it’s made, but you can store leftovers in an airtight container for 1-2 days (the avocado will start to go bad afterwards).

More delicious avocado based recipes

I looooove avocados. If you’re looking for even more delicious avocado based recipes, give these a try:

• Easy Mango Avocado Salsa
• Creamy Mushroom Smashed Avocado Toast
• 15 Minute Creamy Avocado Pasta

That’s all you need to know about this Creamy Avocado Pea Gazpacho! If you make it, please leave a comment below or on Youtube with your feedback! And of course, tag me with your remakes on Instagram!

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Creamy Avocado Pea Gazpacho

Nisha Vora

5 from 28 votes

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This Creamy Avocado Pea Gazpacho is made with wholesome ingredients like avocados, peas, cucumbers, lime juice, cilantro, and coconut milk, but is surprisingly creamy and satisfying. The perfect no-cook, 10-minute lunch or light dinner for hot days.

Prep Time: 20 minutes mins

Cook Time: 5 minutes mins

Total Time: 25 minutes mins

Course: Appetizer, Lunch, Side Dish

Cuisine: Spanish-Inspired

Diet Vegan

Serving size: 3 to 4 (as main) or 6 to 8 (as appetizer/side)

Ingredients

• ▢ 2 cups (280g) fresh peas, shelled (I used English shelling peas)
• ▢ 2 medium-large ripe avocados
• ▢ 2 tablespoons good-quality extra virgin olive oil
• ▢ 1 Serrano pepper, stem removed and sliced in half (de-seed for a mild version, but I think the seeds are key for bringing some interest to this soup, and it’s not overly spicy)
• ▢ 1 medium shallot, peeled and chopped in half
• ▢ 1 medium English cucumber, very roughly chopped
• ▢ 1 cup fresh cilantro (you can use the leaves and tender stems)
• ▢ 3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice, plus more to taste
• ▢ 1 1/2 – 2 cups (360 – 480 mL) water, plus more as needed
• ▢ 1/2 cup (120 mL) full-fat coconut milk, plus more as needed (you can use lite coconut milk, or for a non-coconut milk, try unsweetened oat milk)
• ▢ A generous amount of kosher salt or sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper
• ▢ Optional Garnish Ideas: fresh cilantro and mint leaves (recommended), fresh shelled peas, hemp seeds, cucumber ribbons.

Instructions

• Blanch the peas. Bring some water to a boil in a saucepan. Prepare an ice bath (a large bowl of ice water). Add the shelled peas to the boiling water. Wait for the water to return to a boil, then set a timer for 90 seconds. Immediately after, transfer the blanched peas to the ice bath to stop cooking and cool down. Once the peas are cold, drain them.

  1. NOTE: you can also steam the peas in the microwave. Simply add 2-3 tablespoons of water to a microwave-safe container, add the peas, cover, and microwave on high. Check every 2 minutes for doneness.

  2. NOTE: If using frozen peas, you need to defrost them but no need to blanch them.
• Add the blanched and drained peas to a blender. Add the avocado flesh, olive oil, Serrano pepper, shallot, cucumber, cilantro, lime juice, 1 1/2 cups (360 mL) water, and coconut milk. Blend until completely smooth and creamy. If it’s too thick, add the remaining 1/2 cup (120 mL) water to thin out.
• Season to taste with salt and pepper. Add more lime juice for acidity or more cilantro for pungency. Taste again, and add more salt or pepper as needed.
• Serve immediately at room temperature, or transfer to the fridge to serve chilled. This gazpacho is best on the day it’s made, but you can store leftovers in an airtight container for 1-2 days (the avocado will start to go bad afterwards).

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Nutrition Info

Calories: 476kcal | Carbohydrates: 33g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 38g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 20g | Sodium: 399mg | Potassium: 1195mg | Fiber: 15g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 1427IU | Vitamin C: 63mg | Calcium: 73mg | Iron: 4mg