cauliflower gazpacho and broiled goat cheese with tomato sauce

such a good summer meal

this recipe comes from food and wine, i saw it a while ago and finally made it.

ingredients

1. 1/2 medium head cauliflower, cut into 1-inch florets
2. 2 slices of crustless white bread
3. 1/4 cup pine nuts (1 1/2 ounces)
4. 2 garlic cloves, coarsely chopped
5. 2 tablespoons sherry vinegar
6. 1 large shallot, coarsely chopped
7. 1 1/4 cups blanched slivered almonds
8. 1/2 medium seedless cucumber, peeled and coarsely chopped, plus 1/4 cup finely diced cucumber
9. 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
10. Kosher salt

directions

1. In a large saucepan of boiling salted water, cook the cauliflower until tender, about 8 minutes. Drain, rinse under cold water until cool and drain well.
2. In a blender, combine 1 1/2 cups of cold water with the cooked cauliflower, bread, pine nuts, chopped garlic, sherry vinegar, chopped shallot, 1 cup of the slivered almonds and the coarsely chopped cucumber; blend until smooth. Add the olive oil and pulse just until incorporated. If necessary, add more water to thin the gazpacho. Season the soup with salt and refrigerate until chilled, about 1 hour.
3. Preheat the oven to 350°. Spread the remaining 1/4 cup of slivered almonds in a pie plate and toast for about 6 minutes, until fragrant and lightly golden. Ladle the gazpacho into bowls. Garnish the soup with the toasted almonds and the finely diced cucumber and serve.

for this goat cheese simple wonder, just oil a ramekin or oven proof bowl. put 2-4 ounces goat cheese in the bottom, top with chopped fresh herbs and tomato sauce or brushetta. broil 10 minutes until bubbly and serve with bread. sooooooo good.