SPICY GAZPACHO SHOOTER WITH GOAT CHEESE CREAM

Makes 6 servings.

INGREDIENTS

2 ounces crustless bread (2 to 3 slices), cubed 1 pound tomatoes, seeded and coarsely chopped 3 tablespoons chopped bell pepper 2 tablespoons chopped cucumber 1/2 teaspoon chopped garlic 1/2 cup olive oil 1 1/2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar 1/4 cup cold water

1to11/2 teaspoons harissa, or to taste — Dash cumin 1 teaspoon salt 2 ounces fresh goat cheese — About 1/2 cup heavy cream — Freshly ground black pepper

DIRECTIONS

1 Soak bread in water to cover until soft, 5 to 15 minutes. Grind tomatoes, bell pepper, cucumber and garlic in a blender until fairly smooth. You may have to stop and tamp the mixture down once or twice to fully puree. 2 Squeeze the water out of bread, add bread to blender and puree until smooth, tamping and scraping down the sides as necessary. 3 With the blender on, add the olive oil in a slow stream. As the oil is incorporated, the gazpacho will turn from tomato-juice red to a paler, orange color. Blend in the vinegar and water. Blend in the harissa, cumin and salt. Taste and adjust seasoning. The mixture should be thick enough to generously coat the back of a spoon. 4 Pour the gazpacho through a fine-mesh strainer into a pitcher and chill until serving time. You should have about 3 cups. 5 Beat the goat cheese with a spoon until it’s smooth. Gradually beat in the heavy cream until the mixture is the texture of soft buttercream. 6 Ladle 1/2 cup of the soup into a large shot glass, demitasse cup or juice glass. Spoon a dollop of 1 to 2 tablespoons goat cheese cream into the center. Sprinkle with a generous grating of freshly ground black pepper. Repeat with the remaining gazpacho.