Basque Garlic And Bread Soup Sopa De Ajo Recipes

CHEF JOHN'S SPANISH GARLIC SOUP (SOPA DE AJO)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.
• Spread French bread onto the prepared baking sheet and drizzle 1 tablespoon olive oil over the top; gently stir to coat bread.
• Bake in the preheated oven until crispy and lightly browned, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Heat 1/4 cup olive oil in a heavy pot over medium heat. Cook and stir garlic in hot oil until just golden, 1 to 2 minutes. Add ham; cook and stir until heated through, about 1 minute. Add 1 to 2 teaspoons of paprika and cook for 1 minute more. Pour bread into pot and toss to coat with hot oil mixture.
• Pour chicken broth into bread mixture; add cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper and stir. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium, and stir in parsley.
• Crack each egg into a small bowl or cup. Make 4 depressions in the bread on top of the soup with a spoon. Slowly pour an egg into each depression. Cover the pot with a lid and cook until egg whites are firm and yolks are thick but not hard, 2 to 3 minutes. Ladle soup into bowls and spoon an egg on top.

BASQUE GARLIC AND BREAD SOUP ( SOPA DE AJO)

Steps:

• In a skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat.
• Add the garlic, and fry it, stirring with a wooden spoon, for 2 to 3 minutes, until it is golden.
• Take care the garlic does not burn.
• Add the bread, and turn it several times so that it absorbs the oil.
• Sprinkle it with the paprika, and toss well.
• Add the water or broth, and cook for 10 to 15 minutes, stirring, until the soup is heated through and well blended and the bread has absorbed much of the liquid.
• Season to taste with salt and, if you like, the pepper flakes.
• Just before serving the soup, crack the eggs, and slide them onto the surface of the soup, taking care not to break the yolks.
• Let the eggs cook for 1 to 2 minutes, until they are set.
• Serve the soup by spooning it gently into shallow bowls, allowing 1 egg per serving.

CASTILIAN GARLIC SOUP - SOPA DE AJO

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat.
• Add the garlic and saute until golden brown, about 1 minute. Add the wine and cook until the alcohol evaporates, about 30 seconds. Add the Spanish sweet paprika and saute for 1 minute.
• Add the bread and pour in the chicken stock. Stir together and bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer for 8 minutes.
• Add the eggs and stir with a spatula to fold them into the soup. The eggs will form long strands, almost like noodles. Simmer for 2 minutes and add salt to taste. Sprinkle parsley and serve.