Tuesday 4 May 2010

Pappa al Pomodoro...sort of...


Pappa al Pomodoro according to Food-Dictionary is a Tuscan bread soup with tomatoes cooked in oil, garlic and basil.

When I go grocery shoppings, I have a bad habit of not writing down what do I need to actually buy.
So that day...with the intention of making the above mentioned soup, I forgot to buy the garlic and onion *dum dum*

So, I just rummage through my pantry & freezer and chuck in whatever I can find that I think will be safe :)

Here is my version of Pappa al Pomodoro :
(there is no measurement, just put in as much or as little as you wish )
  • Canned crushed tomatoes
  • Tomatoes
  • Carrot
  • Eggplant
  • Zucchini
  • Mushrooms
  • Onion 
  • Garlic
  • Fresh basil
  • Bacon (a few rashers will do just to add a bit of fat & flavour)
  • Day old bread ( I used 3 mini baguette that has been hibernating in the freezer for few months :P)
  • Italian Seasoning Herbs Mix
  • Water 
  • Parmesan / Little Mozarella (bocconcini, ovoline, etc)
How to make it ? Very simple :
  1. Cut your vegetables into similar size, I cut mine into quarters.
  2. Slice the bacon into strips.
  3. Slice the garlic into thin slivers, add into a pot with hot oil. At this time, throw in your bacon and sliced onions as well. 
  4. Keep stirring until the onion has slightly caramelised and the bacons crispy.
  5. Add in the diced / quartered veggies except the mushrooms.
  6. Once they have browned slightly, pour in the crushed tomatoes and add in mushrooms.
  7. Add some water to get a slightly runny consistency.
  8. Continue cooking until the vegetables are cooked.
  9. Tear the bread into small pieces and throw into the pot.
  10. Season with salt & pepper.
  11. Turn off the heat.
  12. Roughly chopped or just tear off the basil , mix in well.
  13. Serve with shaved parmesan or little mozarella balls works just fine as well :)
If the soup is too thick after the bread is added (because the bread used are stale, they will absorb the moisture like a sponge), just add more water or vegetable stock.
It is supposed to be like baby food (aka mush), but yet still soupy at the same time.


Buon Apetito !

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