Portuguese Bread and Garlic Soup
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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.
Portuguese Bread and Garlic Soup
The entire point of eating for me is to enjoy the experience while nurturing my body. With all the spices, herbs and various nuts that can enhance that experience the happier I am. Add to that, vegetables, fruits, grains and meat and the balanced diet comes into play.
I love trying out new recipes or replicating ones I’ve had in restaurants. This dish, known as Açorda à Alentejana, is a garlicky bread soup which hails from Rosa Filipe of O Barro restaurant in Redondo, Portugal. She claims it’s nicknamed “beggar’s soup” because it contains no meat or fish. Well not in my kitchen, at least not last night! I had some wonderful rotisserie chicken from Costco and used the breast meat for this dish.
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.
First I cut up some day old sourdough bread into 1 inch cubes, spread them on a baking sheet and toasted them in oven until golden brown. It took a few minutes under the broiler, be sure not to burn them.
Pulse cilantro, garlic, Serrano chiles, salt, and pepper in a food processor until roughly chopped. Add the olive oil slowly and purée to a smooth paste. Separate a 1/2 cup of the paste in a small bowl. Set aside.
In a bowl toss the 1/2 cup of garlic cilantro paste and bread to coat. Set aside.
Heat the remaining paste in a 6 quart soup pot over medium heat. Cook for 3 minutes. This is a very fragrant and delicious aroma!
Add the chicken stock and bring to a boil. I also added beef stock as I only had half of what I needed to make the 6 cups total.
In a small bowl whisk together the eggs. While stirring the broth, slowly drizzle in eggs. Cook until eggs are just set, about 1 minute. Similar to egg drop soup actually, and the egg picks up the puréed bits of cilantro to make sure each bite is super flavorful. Good stuff!
The soup is basically how she served it, but I wanted some chicken, too. I used rotisserie chicken for this and specifically just the breast meat. Divide the shredded chicken into soup bowls.
Remove soup from heat and stir in bread mixture, ladle this over chicken and serve hot.
This is so good. Let me know what you think if you try this one. Unique, flavorful and rustic sum up this beautiful soup. Enjoy!
Portuguese Bread and Garlic Soup
Ingredients
Cilantro Paste
Soup
- ½ cup olive oil
- 6 slices day old sourdough bread
- 8 cups chicken stock
- 4 eggs lightly beaten
- 2 roasted chicken breasts shredded
Instructions
- Pulse cilantro, garlic, Serrano chiles, salt, and pepper in a food processor until roughly chopped. Add oil slowly and purée to a smooth paste. Place 1/2 cup of paste in a bowl. Set aside.
- Cut bread into 1 inch cubes and toast in oven until golden brown. In a bowl toss the cilantro paste and bread to coat. Set aside.
- Heat remaining paste in a 6 quart soup pot over medium heat. Cook for 3 minutes. Add stock and bring to a boil.
- In a bowl whisk together the eggs. While stirring broth, slowly drizzle in eggs. Cook until eggs are just set, about 1 minute.
- Add shredded chicken into soup bowls. Remove soup from heat and stir in bread mixture, pour over chicken and serve hot.
Notes
- You will need a total of 2 cups fresh cilantro. I typically get 2 -3 small bunches of cilantro, stems included for a total of 2 cups. Once pureed with the Cilantro Paste ingredients you will get/use about a 1/2 cup for this soup.
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
Question….does the recipe call for two bunches of cilantro? Having a hard time understanding what “two leaves bunches” are.
You will need a total of 2 cups fresh cilantro. I typically get 2 -3 small bunches of cilantro, stems included for a total of 2 cups. Once pureed with the Cilantro Paste ingredients you will get/use about a 1/2 cup for this soup. Hope this helps Linda. I recently updated the recipe plugin and not all info has transferred, so I’m updating as I get notified or see myself. Thanks!
Fantastic! Can’t wait to make it. Thanks for your quick reply!
I made this recipe had this soup in Portugal with a fried egg on top instead . Was amazing to find your recipe . Thanks
So happy I could assist! Now you can make it whenever you like. With an egg on top… like I’m going to try. Thanks Caren!
Wow! This looks and sounds absolutely incredible! I just love the colors and flavors of this dish – it makes me want to dive right in.
Thanks Kathleen, it is so good, a must try!
Made a batch last night. As beautiful as your pics, smelled great and tasted even better. Rave reviews from the family, Another keeper, thanks!
Aren’t we a great team? LOL. Thanks so much, glad it was enjoyed Dave.
This is a delicious recipe and I love the easy prep. My family would definitely enjoy this soup.
Thanks Joanne, I so agree. Easy and tasty = YES.
This IS happening on Sunday night. I’ll let you know. It looks luscious!
K.
Fantastic, please do! It’s a keeper. 🙂
This looks like my kind of soup – comforting to make with all of the scents and colors and comforting to eat – warm, flavorful, hearty. Great recipe, Kevin!
Thank you Marissa, it’s definitely my new favorite for flavor and simplicity.
Looks fantastic — and the photos are great. Thank you.
Thanks Bill!
This soup looks incredible, Kevin! I love all of the sourdough bread chunks…and the garlic! This truly does look like a soup that will warm your soul…and it’s the ultimate comfort food soup for these cold days that we’re having out East right now. Thanks!!
The paste alone would make for an awesome spread! Check it out, it really is quite delicious.