[2] Savory chocolate gazpacho with strawberries from Good To Know. Here’s the recipe (photo © Good To Know).

Chef Mat Schuster of San Francisco’s Canela Bistro & Wine Bar offered us this Chocolate Gazpacho recipe, which we like for Valentine’s Day. It’s a savory chocolate counterpoint to all the sweet stuff.

When most people think of savory chocolate dishes, Mexican mole comes to mind. You may have made a chili recipe with cocoa powder. It’s a popular ingredient in Mexican dishes.

(And why not? Cacao cultivation was begun by the Olmecs, the first major civilization in Mexico, located in the present-day states of Veracruz and Tabasco; and furthered by the Mayas of the Yucatán Peninsula. When the Aztecs learned about cacao from the Mayas, they made it a drink for noble or wealthy Aztecs and their warrior heroes).

If you’ve ever had an all-chocolate dinner (chocolate used in every dish), you know that it can be included in every course, from cacao nibs in the salad to cacao chèvre for the cheese course. Here are more examples, with the recipes available at Saveur.com.

 
 
RECIPE: SAVORY CHOCOLATE GAZPACHO

Ingredients

and/or croutons†

Preparation

1. PLACE all ingredients into a blender; blend until smooth.

2. ADD enough water to make the consistency you prefer, but be sure not to dilute the flavor.

3. TASTE, season with salt and pepper and chill the soup. Before serving, garnish as desired.
 
 
WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT CHOCOLATE?

Take a look at our Chocolate Glossary and other articles in THE NIBBLE’S Chocolate Section.

 
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*Picada is a Catalan-style pesto made with almonds, parsley and chocolate.

†These can be American-style croutons—small squares—or French croutons/Italian crostini, slices of baguette or similar bread, grilled or toasted with olive oil, seasonings (herbs, spices, salt and pepper) and/or optional toppings (for this gazpacho recipe, try fresh goat cheese and chives). You can float it on top of the soup or serve it on the plate under the bowl.