Zesty Garden Almonds Gazpacho

Ingredients

• 2 cups (500 mL) tomato juice
• 1 ½ cups (375 mL) seeded and chopped red bell pepper
• 1 ½ cups (375 mL) peeled and chopped cucumber
• ¾ cup (175 mL) ground almonds
• ½ cup (125 mL) diced fresh tomatoes
• 1 tbsp (15 mL) seeded and diced serrano pepper, more or less as desired
• 2 tbsp (30 mL) diced white onion
• 1 tbsp (15 mL) balsamic vinegar
• 2 tbsp (30 mL) almond oil, reserve ½ tbsp for garnish
• 1 tbsp (15 mL) lemon juice
• 2 tsp (10 mL) hot sauce, more or less as desired (suggested: Tabasco)
• 1 tsp (1 mL) minced garlic
• ½ tsp (2 mL) sea salt, more or less as desired
• ¼ tsp (1 mL) ground black pepper, more or less as desired
• 2 tbsp (30 mL) toasted sliced almonds