Italians have a knack for turning a handful of pantry basics into an effortless and comforting dinner that’s worth passing down for generations. From Spaghetti Aglio e Olio to Stracciatella Soup, you can count the ingredients for many of their most iconic dishes on just one hand. And Pappa al Pomodoro is the prime example of dinner done nonna-style: a short list of flavor-makers, all of the comfort, and none of the fuss! Like Torrijas De Leche (Spanish French Toast), Gazpacho or Panzanella, this Pappa al Pomodoro recipe is yet another way to make sure food doesn’t go to waste, but toasted fresh bread works well too. The crispy bread simmers in a tomato broth infused with garlic, onions, and fresh basil. As it melts and soaks up the flavor, it becomes silky-smooth and almost custard-like. What’s best: you can serve it hot, cold, room temperature, the next day–you really can’t go wrong.
Pappa al Pomodoro Ingredients and Substitutions
This Italian bread soup with just a few ingredients is far from fancy, but the quality of each ingredient makes a big difference. Use the best tomatoes and olive oil you can get your hands on!
Extra virgin olive oil is used both to sauté the vegetables and finish the soup, enriching the soup and adding a lovely flavor. Any good extra virgin variety will work well. I used our buttery-smooth Italian Nocellara, which you can find at our shop. Red pepper flakes add a good bit of heat, bringing a layer of complexity to the simple soup. If you’re sensitive to spice, Aleppo pepper is a milder option–read all about it in our guide: What is Aleppo Pepper? If you want to try it for yourself visit our shop. Garlic and yellow onion add sweet and savory depth of flavor. You can substitute with red onion, white onion, or shallot. San Marzano tomatoes are sweet like honey with a much lower acidity than your standard can of tomatoes, so you don’t need to add any sugar. To ensure they’re the real deal make sure they’re labeled “DOP.” If you’re working with another variety, you can add a pinch of sugar if they’re too tart. Whole basil sprigs add a strong basil flavor to the soup, and garnishing with the leaves adds an aromatic quality and freshness. The soup is rather hearty so this freshness is essential. I don’t recommend substituting with dried basil. Use a good quality vegetable broth–one that’s not too sweet or overly salted. Chicken stock or broth also works well. Ciabatta is nicely sweet, tangy, and fluffy, perfect for melting into the soup. Any fluffy rustic bread will work in its place. Kosher salt and black pepper enhance the flavor.
How to Make Pappa al Pomodoro (Italian Bread Soup)
This easy Italian soup is great for late nights, weeknight dinners, and easy lunches alike! This simple pappa al pomodoro recipe takes about 30 to make and really comes in handy when you’re hungry with a near-empty fridge! To make Pappa al Pomodoro:
Get Ready
Prepare the ciabatta. Slice about 1/2 pound of ciabatta in half lengthwise, then use your hands to pull off and tear the center into small pieces (or you can cut it into 1-inch cubes). If you’re working with very stale bread, skip to the next step. Otherwise, spread onto a sheet pan and drizzle with olive oil. Toss to coat, then broil on high until golden, about 2 minutes. Keep an eye on things so the bread doesn’t burn. Set aside. Warm the broth. Add three cups of broth to a small pot and set over low heat to gently warm. Prep the vegetables. Thinly slice 4 garlic cloves and finely chop 1 small yellow onion.
Cook, Simmer, and Serve
Soften the aromatics. In a medium saucepan, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium heat until shimmering. Add 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes and lower the heat to medium-low. Add the garlic and onions and cook over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until the mixture is lightly golden (do not let it burn or turn dark brown), 10 to 15 minutes. Meanwhile, make large rustic tomato chunks. When the onions are lightly golden, use your hands to dig out the tomatoes from a (28-ounce) can and burst them into large chunks over the pan. Pour in the juices from the can, then add the basil sprigs. Turn the heat to high to bring to a simmer. Simmer. Set aside a handful of torn bread for garnish. When the soup is simmering, stir in the remaining bread and 2 cups of warm broth. Lower the heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring occasionally and adding more broth if needed, until the bread is very soft and you have a thick porridge-like consistency—about 20 to 30 minutes. Finish and serve. Taste and season with salt and pepper to your liking. Remove the basil sprigs, then ladle the soup into bowls and drizzle with a generous amount of olive oil. Garnish with chopped basil and torn bread and serve.
What to Serve with Pappa al Pomodoro
Tuscan bread soup is meant as a humble meal to fill you up–you don’t need sides for a casual weeknight dinner or lunch, but who doesn’t love a soup and salad situation? Some of my favorite salads to serve with this pappa al pomodoro recipe are this crunchy Lemon Parmesan Lettuce Salad or Kale Salad with Roasted Pistachios. You can also make this soup as an effortless dinner party appetizer. Serve in small cups as a first dish, then follow things up savory Italian Baked Chicken Breasts. Don’t forget the Negronis, another Italian classic! For dessert, I like something light and refreshing after such a hearty meal. Baked Pears and Citrus Salad both come to mind. Browse all Mediterranean recipes.
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