One of the Tuscan dishes most popular and appreciated in Italy, la pappa col pomodoro is a tomato and bread soup that takes a very thick consistency. La pappa is so popular it even has a song dedicated to it.
Pappa commonly refers to the semisolid food given to infant and toddlers when they first start eating and in this context refers to the texture of the dish which is rather thick and not all that soupy.
There are different versions of this dish, the more traditionals require you to start by roasting the bread in the oil, adding the tomatoes and cooking everything down. The faster and lighter versions have you cook a tomato soup and add the bread at the end of the cooking time. I am going for the fast, lighter version.
Ingredients
- 2 lb tomatoes
- 1/2 lb toasted or even stale bread
- 1 quart broth
- 1 clove garlic
- basil
- extra virgin olive oil
Directions
- Roast the garlic clove whole in a drizzle of oil in a pot, when the garlic has browned add in the tomatoes roughly diced. Let them cook for a couple of minute so they can absorb the garlic flavor.
- Add in enough broth to cover the tomatoes and let it come to a boil, turn the heat down so the soup is just simmering and cook it for as long as you want. 30 to 40 minutes is a reasonable time, you can cook it more if you have time or less if you are in a hurry (10 minutes are technically enough to make the tomatoes soft).
- At the end of the cooking time add the basil and blend using an immersion blender until the soup is smooth. At this point add in the bread cut in 1 inch cubes and let it soak in the soup until it becomes soft.
- Serve the soup warm with a drizzle of oil and some black pepper.
- As for most soups resting it only makes it better, so if you have time cook it in advance!
Hi! I'm PolaM, the Italian cooking in the Midwest.
This sounds fantastic… been meaning to make some tomato soup and don't know why I kept putting it off this summer. Better make it before it's too late!
Come non pensare a Gian Burrasca (e a Rita Pavone)! This is a delicious, hearty meal.
Hahaha appena l'ho vista ho pensato anch'io a Gian Burrasca… quanto mi piaceva quel libro, me lo ricordo ancora, il mio aveva la copertina verde! I never had it either (sooo bad of me!) and it looks delicious!
@Giulietta | Alterkitchen One of my favorite childhood books!
This sounds amazing! So delicious and comforting!
@Paolo That makes me feel better about having never made limoncello
As strange as it may sound, I have never had it… I must fix that ASAP. Looks really good – it would be perfect if I had it here right now
un ottima proposta tradizionale italiana, hai fatto bene a pubblicarla, piacerà a tutti! Buona giornata e grazie per essere passata da me….
I love pappa al pomodoro, and it always reminds me of Gian Burrasca!
Very Comforting especially for raining days like today..great recipe!!
@Cucina49 I almost always use beef broth, because I like its full bodied taste, but any broth would work. Just use your favorite!
@Curry and Comfort It is indeed a very comforting dish and it is also rather "sunny" perfect to relieve those fall blues…
We have the same blog template! This would be a terrific winter meal–what sort of broth would you use?
@Angie's Recipes here is plain cold, we are down to 5C….
@Nami | Just One Cookbook Well I bet you can still make some and have your kids eat it! Tomatoes and taleggio apparently were the only things I ate as a child….
@Biren @ Roti n Rice No kidding I was getting used to the nice weather and now suddenly is winter!
This looks so rich and yummy! It's raining right now and cold… I could really use a bowl of this goodness!
Warm and delicious. Perfect for the rainy days we have over here.
Very comforting dish and I wish I knew this dish when my kids were still baby so that adults and babies can eat the same dish!
This sounds delicious and very comforting especially for the much, much cooler weather now.