This molded gazpacho salad is one of my favorite summer meals. It has all the wonderful flavors of a classic gazpacho soup, is bursting with the textures and flavors of tomatoes and summer vegetables and can be made ahead in just a few minutes of stove top cooking. My mother loved this recipe, which she got from her mother, and it often showed up on our Thanksgiving and Easter dinner table. It’s a meal all by itself with some crusty bread and a nice glass of Oregon wine. It’s hard to believe that it is one of the most reviled dishes of the 20th century when it was called by its other name – the dreaded tomato aspic.
Aspic recipes have been found that date back to the fourteenth century and I can imagine children seated at the dinner table complained about eating it as much back then as they do now. My kids wouldn’t touch it with a ten foot pole. Just say the name “tomato aspic” to them to see them shudder in disgust. I have read comments on other bloggers’ aspic posts and they are hilarious. Examples: “It’s terrifying in its nastiness” “I detest it” “Tomato aspic is disgusting” “I hope tomato aspic never makes a comeback”. You get the idea.
Bad press aside, I think this molded salad is a real jewel and I know it is probably something you will either love or hate. The texture is wonderful, not rubbery the way jello can sometimes be. If you are curious I hope you will try it…the recipe is easy to cut in half…and you can add whatever veggies you prefer. I added small shrimp to the recipe this time, but I often leave it out. My mom’s original recipe listed lemon jello as the thickener (very popular in the 50’s and 60’s) but it’s a little sweet for me so I substituted gelatin and lemon juice in my version. The recipe fills a 5-cup mold or makes great little individual salads if you have the small molds. I used tomato juice but half tomato and half V8 is delicious too.
This is my mom’s handwritten recipe. The “Mom” referred to is my grandmother Elsie. My guess is that she wrote this card in the 1950’s.
Record setting hot weather has been hard on my garden but has produced a bumper crop of tomatoes. There is nothing like stepping outside and picking a handful of warm from the sun, vine ripened cherry tomatoes (Sweet 100’s). 
I heard a strange noise outside near my patio very early Saturday morning and went outside to investigate. I looked up to see a hot air balloon hovering right over my house…so close I could say “good morning” and they said it back. I see them in the sky all the time but never that close. They could have landed in my front yard. Three of them did land one street over in a church parking lot. A dozen neighbors…me included…were out in our bathrobes taking pictures as these enormous balloons descended. What a thrill!
- 2 envelopes unflavored gelatin
- 2 tablespoon sugar
- 1 bay leaf
- 4 cups good quality tomato juice
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon celery salt
- 1 teaspoon cream horseradish sauce
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- dash Tabasco sauce
- 2 tablespoons cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- ½ cup celery, finely chopped
- ¼ cup red onion, finely chopped
- ½ cup green pepper, finely chopped
- ½ cup pimento stuffed green olives, chopped
- 1 cup cooked cocktail shrimp, optional
- In a medium saucepan combine the gelatin and sugar, mixing well. Slowly stir in 2 cups of tomato juice and the bay leaf until well combined. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until gelatin dissolves.
- Remove from heat. Stir in the rest of the tomato juice, salt, celery salt, horseradish sauce, Worcestershire sauce, Tabasco and lemon juice and vinegar.
- Transfer the mixture to a bowl and refrigerate until syrupy. Watch it so it doesn't firm up. It usually takes about 30-45 minutes. Check often.
- Gently stir the remaining ingredients into the thickened juice, pour into a mold and refrigerate until firm. Garnish with a little mayo if desired.
I love the handwritten recipe..did you see that site..Spoonflower?
they print on fabric anything..many make teatowels out of their mom’s hand written recipes..wish I had a hand written recipe..what in God’s name did we do with her things:)???
I know I was not interested in cooking and baking back then..but what posessed us to not keep recipes?
Bawling inside..
You should get a teatowel:)
I remember the aspics when my mom or her sisters entertained:)
I take your word for it..that that is NOT the aspic of those days..it’s so pretty.
My daughter Mylène..Noah..Alain, Giuliana and a friend went to a hot air ballon festival this Sat..they LOVED it..
apparently the words..:”your mom would love this ..” came out..I think hot air ballons are magical.
Monique recently posted..La récolte~
Hi Monique – I went immediately to Spoonflower and ended up spending an hour there looking around. That’s a new site for me. Thanks. It’s impossible to know what will interest years down the line. There are many things of my Mother’s that sadly disappeared along they way. I love hot air balloons and was overwhelmed at seeing them so close. I could have invited them in for coffee.
Cathy at Wives with Knives recently posted..Molded Gazpacho Salad
I’ve never tasted one. I do love me some tomatoes. I’d probably like it, but the bell pepper. Absolutely hate them.
One of the nice things about this salad, Ramona, is that you can leave out something you don’t like. I love tomatoes too. The vine ripened ones are such a treat.
Cathy at Wives with Knives recently posted..Molded Gazpacho Salad
This looks & sounds so refreshing, Cathy! I would love to try it & I even have a little copper mold that looks just like the one you used.
I have a wonderful gazpacho salad recipe that is done in a compote & I’ve been meaning to make it for years, because it is so pretty & tastes great. I bet this is very similar in flavor.
Did you know that hot air balloons have the right of way, wherever they need to land? Yep, since they have so little control, they get to put it down wherever they can manage.
Rettabug recently posted..Six Months Have Passed….
Hi Rett – It’s so nice to hear from you. I hope your summer is going well. Those copper molds were so popular years ago. My mother’s disappeared along the way so I had to buy some on ebay. They are fun to use. I’m not surprised that the balloons have the right of way. It must be difficult sometimes to pick a precise landing place. They sure are fun to watch.
Cathy at Wives with Knives recently posted..Molded Gazpacho Salad
Somehow molded gazpacho sounds better than aspic. I have a feeling I’d be a fan, too 🙂 The kids might have other thoughts—they won’t eat gazpacho, either!
Liz recently posted..Triple Chocolate Chip Cookies #TwoSweetiePies
Silly kids – Sometimes they just don’t know whats good. Mine have a phobia about jello for some reason. I used to make a fruit and jello salad for them when they were kids. Now they won’t touch it.
Cathy at Wives with Knives recently posted..Molded Gazpacho Salad
I do remember tomato aspic from my childhood. Love gazpacho, so thinking I might like this. My grandmother was Elsie too. The recipe card looks so much like ones I have from my mom. And hot air balloons too. How fun on an early morning.
I bet you would enjoy this recipe, Marilyn. The flavors are really delicious. Isn’t it interesting how names go in and out of style. I bet there isn’t a single person my children’s ages who is named Elsie. I’ve always liked it.
Cathy at Wives with Knives recently posted..Molded Gazpacho Salad
Your name does sound much more appealing! I’ll bet it’s a very refreshing summer meal Cathy-enjoy:@)
Hi Lynn – Sometimes a name can make a big difference! Thanks for your comment.
Cathy at Wives with Knives recently posted..Molded Gazpacho Salad
Cathy,, I remember making aspics in Home Ec. class years ago. It something never served at home, so it was a treat. We love Gazpacho, so this would be a beautiful hot weather salad. I hope to give it a try. Thanks.
susan recently posted..Trout’s Other Art Endeavor
Hi Susan – It’s interesting how foods go in and out of fashion. I haven’t make anything with jello in years. I think you would really like this salad. The flavors are outstanding. Hope you are enjoying your summer. Are you in Montana.
Cathy at Wives with Knives recently posted..Molded Gazpacho Salad
I like Molded Gaspacho salad much better too. Aspic sounds like a dreaded disease 😉 So pretty and so refreshing for a hot summer day. I love that you have your mother’s recipe card! I scanned my mother’s and threw them away 🙁
Susan recently posted..Cherry Tomato and Cucumber Salad
Beautiful colors, and very festive. Love it.
Amy recently posted..Lemon Mould
I just love resurrecting recipes and this is a great one. This reminds me of something that might have been on the table when I was growing up. I can’t wait to give this one a try. Thanks for this recipe!