The better tomatoes you use the better your gazpacho will be. Juicy tomatoes -like plum tomatoes, or any other of the kind used for sauce- work best. If desperate for gazpacho but with no fresh tomatoes at hand, use tomato juice, tomato puree or canned tomato is not recommended, though once you have tried the real thing you will find the taste very different. The second most important ingredient for flavor is olive oil. If there is no time to chill the gazpacho, add ice cubes, though you might find the taste too strong; gazpacho improves with some rest. Prepare your gazpacho the day before, or when you get up in the morning, it will be perfect for your lunch or evening meal.
Prepared tomato sauce is really convenient. The problem most of them come seasoned with Italian herbs, great for pasta dishes, but not suited to other dishes -basil is not our favorite herb for fish, as an example. This home made basic tomato sauce can become Italian, by adding basil and oregano; French cuisine, by adding herbs the Provence and capers; good for game, by adding thyme and rosemary; good for fish, adding bay leaf and white wine.
