Sopa De Ajo Al Tomate Recipes

SOPA DE AJO AL TOMATE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450°F. Place a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the olive oil and garlic cloves and cook, stirring occasionally, until the garlic is softened and lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Stir in the tomatoes and bay leaf and continue stirring until the tomatoes begin to break down, about 5 minutes. Pour in the chicken stock and bring to a boil; lower the heat and simmer for 20 minutes. (You can prepare the dish up to this point and let sit for a few hours or cover and refrigerate for up to a day; reheat before proceeding.)
• Meanwhile, prepare the soup bowls. Place the bread slices in the bottom of 4 individual heatproof dishes and then break an egg over each slice.
• When the soup is ready, season with salt and pepper, then strain the soup into the individual bowls. Sprinkle the parsley on top of the soup and bake for 5 minutes. Serve piping hot.
• The meager, ultra simplified version, which is still quite good. Omit the tomatoes and use water in place of stock. Omit the eggs; instead, toast the bread (better still, fry it on both sides in extra virgin olive oil). Finish with freshly grated Parmesan cheese.
• Omit the bread and eggs. Finish the simple soup with about 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves and loads of fresh lime juice.

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.