Dinner Tonight: Sopa de Ajo (Garlic Soup) Recipe

By
Nick Kindelsperger
Nick Kindelsperger is a contributing writer at Serious Eats.
Nick Kindelsperger
Nick Kindelsperger is a food critic at the Chicago Tribune.  His food writing appears in The Washington Post, Newsweek, Epicurious, Baltimore Sun, Serious Eats, Grub Street, New York Magazine, and Tasting Table, among others.
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Updated Oct. 01, 2018
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Nick Kindelsperger

Why is garlic soup so satisfying? It's one of the simplest soups to make, and yet it comes out soothing and utterly calming. Some people have chicken soup; I prefer this stuff. Which isn't to say all are created equal.

A few things really intrigued me about this recipe from Mario Batali's Spain: A Culinary Road Trip.

First was the use of bread. Often in a garlic soup, the bread is only introduced to the soup after it's finished cooking. But here the bread is sautéed in the beginning, then added to the soup with the stock. It breaks down over the course of the cooking process to create a silky, luscious body. Second is the hot pimentón. This Spanish smoked paprika adds a depth and robustness to the soup, which is totally at odds with how much time is actually spent on it.

The final flourish is a poached egg, which almost makes the soup too rich. Not bad for a bunch of pantry items.

Recipe Facts

Cook: 30 mins
Total: 30 mins
Serves: 3 servings

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Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil

  • 1/4 pound stale bread, crusts removed, cut into 1/2 inch cubes

  • 4 garlic cloves, minced

  • 1/2 teaspoon hot pimentón (Spanish smoked paprika)

  • Salt

  • 4 cups chicken stock

  • 3 poached eggs

Directions

  1. Pour the olive oil into a pot. Turn the heat to medium-high and add the cubed bread. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring often, until the bread is lightly browned. Toss in the garlic, pimentón, and a pinch of salt. Stir well, and cook for 3 minutes.

  2. Pour in the stock, bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer. Cook for 15 minutes.

  3. Poach the eggs. Follow this guide.

  4. Ladle some soup into a bowl and top with a poached egg.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
374 Calories
19g Fat
32g Carbs
18g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 3
Amount per serving
Calories 374
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 19g 24%
Saturated Fat 4g 21%
Cholesterol 195mg 65%
Sodium 839mg 36%
Total Carbohydrate 32g 12%
Dietary Fiber 1g 4%
Total Sugars 7g
Protein 18g
Vitamin C 2mg 9%
Calcium 100mg 8%
Iron 3mg 17%
Potassium 478mg 10%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

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