**Pappa al pomodoro**, a traditional Tuscan soup, is a delicious and hearty dish that is perfect for a light lunch or dinner. This classic Italian soup is made with simple, fresh ingredients like ripe tomatoes, fragrant basil, and crusty bread. It is believed that Pappa al pomodoro originated in the region of Siena, where it was a staple food for peasants and farmers. Over time, it gained popularity throughout Tuscany and became a beloved dish across Italy.
The variations of Pappa al pomodoro are endless, with each family having their own unique recipe. Some common variations include adding vegetables like zucchini, carrots, or celery, or using different types of bread, such as stale Tuscan bread or ciabatta. Some recipes also call for the addition of meat, such as sausage or pancetta, for a more robust flavor.
In this article, we will explore two delicious recipes for Pappa al pomodoro: a traditional Tuscan recipe and a more modern variation with the addition of fresh vegetables. Both recipes are easy to follow and use simple, pantry-staple ingredients. So gather your ingredients and let's cook up a pot of this flavorful and comforting Italian soup!
PAPPA AL POMODORO
Provided by Giada De Laurentiis
Categories main-dish
Time 55m
Yield 4 to 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 16
Steps:
- Heat a medium Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the olive oil and pancetta, and cook until the pancetta is brown and crispy, about 4 minutes. Remove to a paper-towel-lined plate to drain.
- Add the red onion, carrot, garlic and red pepper flakes to the pot. Reduce the heat to medium and cook, stirring often, until fragrant, 1 minute. Add the salt, canned tomatoes, chicken broth and bread cubes; stir to combine. Nestle in the basil sprigs and Parmesan rind. Bring to a simmer, then reduce the heat to maintain a gentle bubble. Stir in the pancetta.
- Cook for 25 minutes, stirring often to break apart the bread and prevent the Parmesan rind from sticking to the bottom of the pan. If the soup gets too thick, add extra broth as needed; the finished soup should be silky and thickened. Stir in the grated Parmesan.
- To serve, ladle the soup into bowls and top with a sprinkling of Parmesan, a drizzle of olive oil, and chopped basil.
PAPPA AL POMODORO
Steps:
- Heat the oil in a large stockpot over medium heat. Add the onions, carrots, fennel, and garlic and cook over medium-low heat for 10 minutes, until tender. Add the ciabatta cubes and cook for 5 more minutes. Place the tomatoes in the bowl of a food processor fitted with the steel blade and process just until coarsely chopped. Add the tomatoes to the pot along with the chicken stock, red wine, basil, 1 tablespoon salt, and 1 1/2 teaspoons pepper. Bring the soup to a boil, lower the heat, and allow to simmer, partially covered, for 45 minutes.
- Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
- For the topping, place the ciabatta cubes, pancetta, and basil on a sheet pan large enough to hold them in a single layer. Drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and toss well. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 20 to 25 minutes, until all the ingredients are crisp. The basil leaves will turn dark and crisp, which is perfectly fine. Reheat the soup, if necessary, beat with a wire whisk until the bread is broken up. Stir in the Parmesan and taste for seasoning. Serve hot sprinkled with the topping and drizzled with additional olive oil.
PAPPA AL POMODORO
Provided by Marian Burros
Categories easy, quick, side dish
Time 30m
Yield 5 to 6 servings as first course; 3 as main course
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Cut bread into large chunks. If any of the center is soft, discard it.
- Cut tomatoes in half. Squeeze out the seeds and discard. Cut tomatoes into large chunks.
- Heat oil in a large pot and saute garlic until it begins to brown.
- Stir in the tomatoes and cook for about 5 minutes, until they soften.
- Add bread and continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until bread has absorbed most of the liquid.
- Shred basil and stir in along with the pepper. Allow mixture to stand for about 15 minutes or longer. Serve lukewarm or at room temperature. If desired, serve with grated Parmigiano, about one tablespoon a serving.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 265, UnsaturatedFat 12 grams, Carbohydrate 28 grams, Fat 15 grams, Fiber 4 grams, Protein 6 grams, SaturatedFat 2 grams, Sodium 204 milligrams, Sugar 8 grams, TransFat 0 grams
TUSCAN BREAD AND TOMATO SOUP (PAPPA AL POMODORO)
Pappa means pap, which is what this soup is. If you ever needed proof that stale bread needn't go to waste, this soup is it. And this stale bread recipe can be made with canned tomatoes, so you can make it throughout the year. When the weather is hot, you can serve this at room temperature.
Provided by Martha Rose Shulman
Time 30m
Yield Serves 4 to 6
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- If your bread is too hard to cut, douse it with water first. Then remove the crusts and cut into cubes. You should have about 7 cups.
- Heat the oil in a large, heavy soup pot over medium-low heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring, until tender, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, for about a minute, until fragrant. Add the tomatoes, tomato paste, sugar, red pepper flakes, and salt and pepper, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the tomatoes have cooked down, about 10 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning.
- Stir the bread cubes into the tomatoes. Add the water, half the basil, and about 1 teaspoon salt. Bring to a simmer and simmer, stirring and mashing the bread, for about 10 minutes, until the soup is thick, like oatmeal. Stir in the remaining basil, taste and adjust seasoning. Serve hot, warm, or room temperature.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 278, UnsaturatedFat 6 grams, Carbohydrate 45 grams, Fat 7 grams, Fiber 5 grams, Protein 10 grams, SaturatedFat 1 gram, Sodium 903 milligrams, Sugar 9 grams, TransFat 0 grams
PAPPA AL POMODORO
Steps:
- Cut the 2 garlic cloves in half and brown in 2 tablespoons of oil. As soon as they start to turn color, add the tomatoes, plenty of basil, salt and pepper, to taste. Cook for 15 minutes and then add the boiling stock. When this has reached boiling point again, add the thinly sliced bread and continue cooking for 15 more minutes, stirring frequently. Remove from heat. After 1 hour, stir all rigorously so that the bread completely disintegrates. Serve hot or lukewarm, adding a touch of extra-virgin olive oil and fresh basil leaves. No cheese.
PAPPA AL POMODORO
If you have bright summer tomatoes and some day-old bread, you're already most of the way to this dish, a Tuscan bread stew. The tomatoes are puréed, then cooked down with onions and garlic and finished with crumbled bits of the bread, and served at room temperature. It's ready in 30 minutes for a satisfying summer dinner.
Provided by Florence Fabricant
Categories side dish
Time 30m
Yield 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Cut the tomatoes in half horizontally and squeeze the halves gently to remove the juice and seeds. Coarsely chop the tomatoes, removing the cores. Place in a food processor and process to a finely chopped but not a pureed consistency.
- Heat half the oil in a large saucepan or skillet. Add the onion and cook until soft but not brown. Stir in the garlic, saute briefly, then add the tomatoes. Cook about 10 minutes, until the tomatoes have softened and are thick.
- Soak the bread briefly in cold water, squeeze out the water, then crumble the bread into the tomato mixture. Mix, then add the basil and season to taste with salt and pepper. The mixture should be thick.
- Serve at room temperature garnished with basil leaves and with the remaining olive oil drizzled over the top.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 220, UnsaturatedFat 15 grams, Carbohydrate 13 grams, Fat 19 grams, Fiber 3 grams, Protein 3 grams, SaturatedFat 3 grams, Sodium 618 milligrams, Sugar 7 grams
PAPPA AL POMODORO
The soup equivalent of dipping your bread into tomato sauce, this rustic dish is summer's comfort food.
Categories Bread Soup/Stew Garlic Tomato Bon Appétit
Yield Makes 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 450°. Toss tomatoes, garlic, fennel seeds, and 3 tablespoons oil in a large baking dish; season with salt and pepper.
- Roast, stirring occasionally, until the tomatoes are browned and the juices thicken, 30-35 minutes.
- Transfer tomato mixture to a large saucepan; add basil, 1 cup torn bread, and 4 cups water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer, stirring occasionally and breaking up bread and tomatoes a little, until bread is softened and soup has thickened slightly, 8-10 minutes; season with salt and pepper.
- Meanwhile, tear remaining 1/2 cup bread into smaller pieces; toss on a baking sheet with 3 tablespoons oil; season with salt. Toast, tossing often, until crisp, 5-8 minutes.
- Serve soup topped with toasted bread and drizzled with more oil.
Tips:
- Use ripe, flavorful tomatoes for the best flavor. If you can't find fresh tomatoes, you can use canned tomatoes instead. Just be sure to drain them well and rinse them before using.
- Don't be afraid to experiment with different types of bread. A traditional pappa al pomodoro is made with stale bread, but you can also use fresh bread or even croutons.
- If you want a thicker soup, add more bread. If you want a thinner soup, add more broth.
- Serve pappa al pomodoro with grated Parmesan cheese and a drizzle of olive oil.
- Pappa al pomodoro is a great way to use up leftover bread.
- You can also add other vegetables to the soup, such as zucchini, carrots, or celery.
Conclusion:
Pappa al pomodoro is a delicious and versatile soup that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. It's a great way to use up leftover bread and vegetables, and it's also a healthy and affordable meal. So next time you're looking for a quick and easy soup recipe, give pappa al pomodoro a try. You won't be disappointed.
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