Name: Tomato and Bread Soup
Yield: Makes 6 cups (1.5 liters); 6 first-course servings
Ingredients: four 3/4-inch- (2-cm-) thick slices peasant bread; 1/3 cup (80 ml) olive oil; 3 medium cloves garlic,smashed, peeled, and sliced; 1 medium onion, very finely chopped; 14 large basil leaves, washed well and cut across into narrow strips; 1 3/4 pounds (790 g) plum tomatoes, peeled and cut into 1/4-inch (.5-cm) dice; 4 cups (1 liter) chicken stock [for a vegetarian soup, use Garlic Broth ]; 2 teaspoons coarse salt, or less if using commercial broth; freshly ground black pepper, to taste; good olive oil, for serving

Recipe information

Yield
Makes 6 cups (1.5 liters); 6 first-course servings

Ingredients

four 3/4-inch- (2-cm-) thick slices peasant bread

1/3 cup (80 ml) olive oil

3 medium cloves garlic,smashed, peeled, and sliced

1 medium onion, very finely chopped

14 large basil leaves, washed well and cut across into narrow strips

1 3/4 pounds (790 g) plum tomatoes, peeled and cut into 1/4-inch (.5-cm) dice

4 cups (1 liter) chicken stock [for a vegetarian soup, use Garlic Broth ]

2 teaspoons coarse salt, or less if using commercial broth

freshly ground black pepper, to taste

good olive oil, for serving

Preparation

Step 1
Heat the oven to 225°F (107°C; less than #1/2 gas mark; less than #1/4 British regulo). Place the bread directly on the middle rack of the oven. Bake for 20 to 30 minutes, just to dry the bread out; do not brown. Break the bread into large pieces.
Step 2
In a medium saucepan, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, for 5 minutes. Stir in the basil and cook for 1 minute. Stir in the tomatoes and bring to a boil. Cook at a low boil for 13 to 15 minutes, stirring frequently.
Step 3
Stir in the stock, bread, salt, and pepper. Return to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer, stirring and breaking up the bread with the back of a spoon, for 15 minutes. The bread should break down to a mush. Remove the pan from the heat, cover, and let sit for 10 minutes.
Step 4
Serve with a few grinds of fresh pepper, and drizzled with some good olive oil.

TagsSoup Soup/Stew Garlic Root Vegetable Vegetable Onion Basil Herbs & Spices Plum Tomato Tomato Starter Dinner Lunch Vegan Vegetarian Dairy Free Nut Free Easy Simmer Cookbooks

Recipe information

Ingredients

Preparation

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

Step 4

Recipe notes