Cherry Gazpacho

Farmers Market offering

This country has an rich history with the cherry. Today, sadly 90% of our great British cherry orchards have been lost. We now import over 90% of our cherries. This is a national disaster. I realise there is no shortage of both national and international disasters and this simply sits alongside a catalogue of other British agricultural woes. Food Lover's Britain has launched a champaign, CherryAid to promote our British cherries and offers a great resource with recipes, where to pick your own, buy British cherry products and inspiring ideas. It was on this site I saw a cherry and watermelon gazpacho with crab from the Harrow Inn. This was my inspiration for an all British and local gazpacho. I did use olive oil, but save from that, everything else was from the Farmers Market at Stoke Newington.

While you're out buying more cherries than you can eat, try preserving them for an extra welcome winter treat.

1 large punnet of cherries

1 cucumber

500gms of cherry tomatoes, (mixed colours if you can)

A few generous sprigs of basil

1 decent sized shallot

1 chili

About 50ml olive oil

About 5 Tbsp cider vinegar

About 1 cup of water

1 teaspoon of very good salt flakes

Simply stone the cherries (messy job), roughly chop the tomatoes, peel and chop the cucumber, finely chop the shallot and chili and blitz in food processor with oil, vinegar and water. This is where you must use your own palate to judge the consistency and flavour. Serve very cold and drizzle a little oil as you serve.