Did you know that the average American consumes over 10 pounds of soup each year? This hearty Portuguese Garlic Bread Soup is about to change the way you think about comforting, flavorful soup recipes. We’ll show you how to create an authentic taste of Portugal right in your own kitchen.
I love the line from the Sade song, “King of Sorrow” where Sade says “I want to cook you a soup that warms your soul.” Well, this Portuguese Bread and Garlic Soup will do just that, trust. I wanted the soup, but with a little more fortification. My work recently has had me super busy and I wanted something to wake up the palette, fill me up with goodness and without a lot of fuss and time involved. I must say that when making the garlic and cilantro paste I was already in love with this one. The addition of some Serrano chiles and we were in heaven. This is a simplistic soup, easy to put together in a few minutes and satisfying. What more could you want? Flavor? Well this one is packed with it and will have you going back for more.
A Heartwarming Taste of Portugal
Açorda à Alentejana is a beloved Portuguese garlic bread soup recipe that hails from the culinary talents of Rosa Filipe, the chef at O Barro restaurant in Redondo, Portugal. This garlicky bread soup, affectionately nicknamed “beggar’s soup,” is a comforting dish that contains no meat or fish, making it a popular choice among vegetarian soup recipes and hearty soup recipes.
The Origin of Açorda à Alentejana
The roots of this Portuguese cuisine classic can be traced back to the Alentejo region, where it has long been a cherished staple. The dish’s simplicity and reliance on readily available ingredients like stale bread, garlic, and savory broth have made it a beloved choice among home cooks and restaurant-goers alike who seek out comforting soups that warm the soul.
A Comforting Blend of Flavors
What makes this portuguese garlic bread soup recipe so special is the way it seamlessly combines the robust flavors of garlic, the heartiness of crusty bread, and the savory richness of the broth. The result is a dish that is both deeply satisfying and utterly comforting, making it the perfect choice for those seeking a hearty soup recipe that truly captures the essence of Portuguese cuisine.
how to make portuguese garlic bread soup recipe
Ingredients Needed
To prepare this delectable Portuguese garlic bread soup recipe, we’ll need a few key ingredients. First, we’ll cut up some day old sourdough bread into 1 inch cubes and toast them in the oven until they’re golden brown. Then, we’ll pulse cilantro, garlic, Serrano chiles, salt, and pepper in a food processor until they’re roughly chopped. Slowly adding olive oil, we’ll purée the mixture into a smooth paste. We’ll then toss this fragrant garlic bread soup paste with the toasted bread cubes to coat them thoroughly.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Next, we’ll heat the remaining garlic cilantro paste in a soup pot over medium heat, cooking it for about 3 minutes. Then, we’ll add the chicken stock and bring it to a boil. While that’s happening, we’ll whisk together some eggs and slowly drizzle them into the broth, cooking until the eggs are just set, around 1 minute. Finally, we’ll shred some rotisserie chicken breast and divide it into our soup bowls. To finish, we’ll remove the soup from the heat, stir in the bread mixture, and ladle it over the chicken, serving it hot.
Variations and Customizations
This authentic Portuguese cuisine dish is incredibly versatile, allowing for all sorts of variations and customizations. You can play around with the type of bread used, swap out the chicken for a vegetarian protein, or add in additional vegetables or herbs to suit your personal taste preferences. The key is to focus on creating a hearty, flavorful soup recipe that warms the soul and celebrates the rich culinary traditions of Portugal.
The Benefits of Bread Soups
Part of being a good cook is being a resourceful cook. And being a resourceful cook, more than anything else, means finding clever and delicious uses for things that most people throw away. Take stale bread soups, for instance. After our tests earlier this week to determine the best way to store bread, we found ourselves with an excessive amount of inedibly firm bread in the kitchen. It felt too wasteful to toss it, so we considered pulverizing it into bread crumbs. But we use breadcrumbs so rarely that we knew they’d end up going stale too, and there’s no saving stale breadcrumbs.
Resourceful and Delicious
Bread soups are a resourceful and delicious way to use up stale bread, transforming it into a nourishing, comforting meal. Whether it’s a classic garlic soup or a hearty vegetarian soup recipe, bread soups offer a practical and flavorful solution to reducing food waste.
A Nourishing Meal
By incorporating stale bread into hearty soup recipes, we can create comforting soup recipes that not only reduce waste, but also provide a satisfying and nutritious meal. The bread adds body and substance to the broth, creating a bread soup that is both delicious and filling.
Serving Suggestions and Tips
To elevate the Portuguese Garlic Bread Soup, we suggest serving it with a poached egg, crisp chorizo, sliced scallions, cilantro leaves, and a drizzle of olive oil. The bread acts as a little raft for the poached egg, creating a delightful textural contrast. The garlic bread soup is the perfect canvas to showcase these flavorful toppings.
It’s important to note that the exact amount of liquid you’ll need to add to the bread and the time it will take to break down can vary depending on the type of bread and its level of staleness. Adjust the liquid quantity and cooking time as needed to achieve the desired porridge-like consistency for your hearty soup recipes. This technique ensures that you can use up any stale bread you have on hand, transforming it into a comforting and authentic Portuguese cuisine dish.
By incorporating these simple serving suggestions and tips, you can elevate your garlic bread soup experience and savor the flavors of this comforting soup to the fullest. Enjoy the warmth and satisfaction of this Portuguese-inspired dish that will nourish both your body and soul.