/ 22 August 2023

What’s On My Table – With Alexandra Dudley

Alexandra Dudley is a food columnist, cookbook author and host of the Come For Supper podcast. In this monthly column, she takes us inside her east London kitchen to show us what she’s cooking and the tools she’s loving. This time, it’s a summer lunch idea – plus, three of her top table accessories…

Alexandra Dudley

Save To My Favourites

Traditionally made with tomatoes and peppers, gazpacho is best eaten ice cold and hence, I recommend chilling this before enjoying. In this version I use frozen peas, yellow pepper and cucumber. The result is a vibrant green refreshing soup that’s perfect for summer days.

I like to serve this with this sauvignon blanc from Villa Maria. New Zealand wine is having a real moment and I have been loving this white. Crisp and cool, it pairs beautifully with this creamy bright gazpacho.

Green Gazpacho

Serves

Total Time

15 Minutes plus chilling time

Ingredients

INGREDIENTS

500g of peas

1 cucumber

½ yellow pepper, deseeded

1 clove of garlic, finely grated

1 cup ice cold water

Salt & pepper

5 tbsp of olive oil

Greek yogurt, to serve

Method

Step 1

Blanch the peas and refresh in ice cold water.

Step 2

Remove the seedy centre from the cucumber using a teaspoon and roughly chop. Roughly chop the yellow pepper.

Step 3

Place all the ingredients into a high-speed blender or food processor and blend until smooth. A food processor will provide a slightly textured gazpacho which is delicious; if you would like a smooth texture, I recommend using a Vitamix or Nutribullet. You may need to do so in batches if you use a Nutribullet.

Step 4

Chill for at least two hours then serve with a drizzle of olive oil, freshly cracked black pepper and a spoonful of yogurt if you like.

THE THREE THINGS ALEXANDRA'S LOVING THIS MONTH

Waves Glass Tea Light Holder, €19.95 | Anna & Nina

I find tealights work better than candlesticks on an outdoor table. There is less danger of the wind blowing out the flame and they make a table glow beautifully when they’re dotted about. I just bought these and can’t wait to use them.

Visit Anna-Nina.nl

Leather Coasters, €30 | Truffle Bee

Having stuffed my kitchen cupboard with table linen, my latest collecting obsession is coasters. I love these bright orange ones, especially against a simple white tablecloth. They are faux leather which means they are incredibly easy to clean.

Visit Truffle-Bee.com

Magique Ocean Breakfast Plate, €24.95 | Anna & Nina

I love the hand-painted edge of these sweet breakfast plates. I tend to fill these with nostalgic sweets such as Smarties or Jelly Babies and put them on the table at the end of a dinner party.

Visit Anna-Nina.nl

AND OFF THE TABLE…

Gelato at Gelupo

I need little excuse to eat ice-cream regardless of the season, but summer is perhaps the most joyous time to enjoy a scoop of creamy gelato. On the narrow streets of Soho is my favourite spot. Gelupo makes gelato fresh daily and, alongside stand-out signatures such as sour cherry with ricotta and bitter chocolate, you’ll always find a few seasonal flavours on the menu. My favourite is the mint stracciatella which has a sensational vivid creamy green colour owing to the kilos of fresh mint leaves which are blanched and blended each morning before being churned into the ice-cream with shards of dark chocolate. Recently, I’ve been enjoying a scoop of my favourite alongside a seasonal special, summer berry and yogurt. It is a delicious combination and one that I highly recommend. You can hear a little more about Gelupo from the founder Jacob Kenedy, who SL’s Heather Steele and I chatted to (over gelato) on the SheerLuxe Show.

Visit Gelupo.com

For more from Alexandra, follow her @AlexandraDudley or visit AlexandraDudley.com