Ajo Blanco | view more Recipe

Ajo Blanco

'1 green apple (such as Granny Smith), peeled, cored, chopped', '1 large garlic clove, chopped', '3 cups crustless 1" cubes day-old white country bread', '1 cup seedless green grapes, halved', '1/2 cup whole blanched almonds', '1/2 cup whole milk', 'Kosher salt', '3/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil plus more', '3 tablespoons red wine vinegar plus more', 'Freshly ground black pepper', '1/2 cup sliced almonds'

Combine apple, garlic, bread, grapes, blanched almonds, milk, and 2 cups water in a medium bowl; season with salt. Cover and chill for at least 6 hours and up to 1 day. Transfer soup base to a blender and purée, adding water by tablespoonfuls if too thick, until smooth. With motor running, gradually add 3/4 cup oil and 3 tablespoons vinegar and blend until soup is emulsified. Season with salt, pepper, and more vinegar, if desired. Strain soup through a fine-mesh sieve into a large bowl; cover and chill until very cold, about 2 hours. DO AHEAD: Soup can be made 1 day ahead. Keep chilled. Preheat oven to 350°F. Spread sliced almonds on a rimmed baking sheet and toast, tossing occasionally, until golden, about 4 minutes. Let cool. Divide soup among bowls; top with toasted almonds; drizzle with oil and vinegar.