Teresa's Recipes
Pappa al Pomodoro
Experience a taste of Tuscany with Pappa al Pomodoro, a traditional bread and tomato soup. This rustic, hearty dish, often referred to as 'Tuscan Bread Soup', is a perfect comfort food for cold winter nights. Made from simple, fresh ingredients, it has a rich, flavorful tomato base, accentuated by aromatic basil and garlic, and thickened with chunks of stale bread. This is a recipe that truly showcases the Italian philosophy of making the most out of simple, high-quality ingredients.
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons, plus extra for drizzling Extra virgin olive oil
- 2 cloves, finely chopped Garlic
- 1 medium, finely chopped Onion
- 1 handful, finely chopped, plus extra for garnish Basil leaves
- 1 (28-ounce) can, crushed Canned tomatoes
- 4 cups, torn into pieces Stale bread
- to taste Salt
- to taste Black pepper
Dietary Notes
- Servings: 4
- Dish Type: Soup
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Calories: 260
- Fat: 8g
- Carbs: 40g
- Protein: 6g
- Sodium: 780mg
- Sugar: 9g
Instructions
- Heat the extra virgin olive oil in a large pot over medium heat.
- Add the finely chopped garlic and onion to the pot. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion becomes soft and translucent. This should take about 5-7 minutes.
- Stir in the chopped basil leaves and crushed canned tomatoes. Let the mixture simmer for a few minutes to allow the flavors to meld together.
- Add the torn pieces of stale bread to the pot. Stir the mixture until the bread has fully absorbed the tomato juice.
- Season the soup with salt and pepper to taste. Let the soup simmer for about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
- Serve the Pappa al Pomodoro warm. Drizzle a little extra olive oil over each serving and sprinkle with fresh basil for a garnish. Enjoy this traditional Tuscan comfort food!
Tips
- For an authentic touch, use Tuscan bread if you can find it. However, any hearty, rustic bread will work well in this recipe.
- If your bread isn't stale, you can quickly 'age' it by toasting it in the oven at a low temperature until it dries out.
- Feel free to add other herbs like oregano or thyme to add more depth to the flavor.