Zuppa Di Santa Lucia Recipes

ZUPPA DI VONGOLE: CLAM SOUP

Steps:

• Remove excess sand from clams by soaking them in a bowl of cold salted water. The clams will open up their shells and release any sand and grit that is inside.
• In a pan, heat the 1/4 cup oil and fry up 2 cloves garlic, the chili pepper, the stone, if using, and cherry tomatoes until the tomatoes soften and lose their shape, about 3 minutes.
• Add the clams, and cook for 30 seconds with the lid on, shaking the pan often.
• Add the wine to the pan, and cover with the lid until the clams have completely opened.
• The clams release some water, which is the base for the soup. Add a generous splash of white wine. You can make this more soupy by adding a little more wine or even a few spoonfuls of tomato puree.
• Add the parsley and salt, to taste. Continue cooking for another minute for all the flavors to come together.
• Rub some raw garlic on the toasted bread slices. Drizzle the bread with the extra virgin olive oil. Serve the clam soup in bowls with 2 half slices of toast per bowl.

ZUPPA DI PORCINI: PORCINI SOUP

Steps:

• In a pot, heat the extra-virgin olive oil and butter. Throw in a sprig of nepitella. Add the fresh porcini to the pot, and let cook for a minute so that the mushrooms absorb all the flavors.
• Add a ladle of vegetable broth and allow the porcini to cook for another minute, or until the broth has been absorbed. Season with salt and black pepper, and pour in the remaining broth. Bring the soup to a boil, and then lower the heat. Let the soup simmer for 30 minutes.
• Before plating, add the Parmigiano cheese and 2 eggs. Stir very well for a minute and serve hot.

ZUPPA DI SANTA LUCIA

Steps:

• Soak the porcini in a cup of warm water for at least 30 minutes. Drain the liquid, straining it through a fine strainer to remove any sand. Reserve the strained liquid, re-rinse the mushrooms, pat them dry, and chop finely.
• Place 4 tablespoons of the olive oil in a large soup pot over medium heat. Saute the onion and garlic for about 5 minutes until wilted. Add the porcini and the white mushrooms and cook for 10 minutes. Add the porcini liquid, tomatoes, salt, pepper, marjoram, thyme, and the stock. Bring to a boil, lower heat, and allow to simmer for 15 minutes.
• Combine the egg yolks, Parmesan, and pecorino in a mixing bowl, then gradually whisk 1 cup of the hot soup into the mixture to warm it. Then whisk the egg mixture directly into the simmering pot, stirring to thicken the soup. Add the parsley and cook for 5 more minutes.
• Meanwhile, brush the slices of bread with the remaining olive oil and toast them in the oven at 400 degrees F until golden brown. Place one piece of the toast in the bottom of each serving bowl, ladle the soup over the top and serve with additional grated Parmesan on the side.