Gazpacho

700g very ripe tomatoes, peeled and finely chopped

3 thick slices good quality stale bread, crusts removed and chopped

2-3 garlic cloves, crushed

425ml fresh tomato juice

2 roasted and peeled red peppers

110g onion, peeled and chopped

1 medium cucumber, chopped

4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

2 tbsp homemade mayonnaise optional

1 tbsp red wine vinegar

1 tsp salt

freshly ground black pepper and sugar

To garnish:

2 red peppers, de-seeded and finely diced

1 small cucumber, finely diced

4 very ripe tomatoes, finely diced

4 slices of bread made into tiny croutons and fried in olive oil

2 tbsp diced black olives or small whole olives

1 small onion, diced

salt

freshly ground pepper

1 tbsp freshly chopped mint