Watermelon Gazpacho

Chilled fruit soup is refreshing and delicious--and takes only minutes to whip up. Plus, watermelon is a heart-healthy fruit, loaded with vitamins, but low in calories.

Serves: 4

Prep Time: n/a

Cook Time: n/a

Nutrition Score per serving:

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Ingredients

4 cups watermelon, chopped and seeded
1/3 cup cranberry juice
½ cup cucumber, peeled, seeded, and diced
½ cup apple, peeled, seeded, and diced
1 teaspoon lime juice
1 tablespoon sherry vinegar
pinch salt
1 teaspoon fresh mint, chopped (optional)

Directions

Start off by pureeing 3 cups of watermelon and cranberry juice in the blender. Then strain the mixture through a sieve into a large bowl.

Stir in the remaining watermelon, cucumber, apple, sherry vinegar, and salt. Cover and refrigerate until chilled--this should take about one hour. Finally, garnish with mint and serve with fresh bread.

Added nutritional bonus: Researchers from the USDA Agricultural Research Service found that watermelon raises levels of arginine, an amino acid shown to improve blood-vessel function in the body. Study subjects who drank three glasses of watermelon juice a day had 12 percent higher levels of arginine than those who didn't drink any. But arginine isn't the only heart-smart ingredient: Watermelon is also one of the best sources of lycopene, an antioxidant that can lower harmful LDL cholesterol and reduce the risk of certain cancers. So do your health--and taste buds--a favor and enjoy this nutritious dish.