Best Bread Soup Recipes

TUSCAN BREAD AND TOMATO SOUP (PAPPA AL POMODORO)

Steps:

• If your bread is too hard to cut, douse it with water first. Then remove the crusts and cut into cubes. You should have about 7 cups.
• Heat the oil in a large, heavy soup pot over medium-low heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring, until tender, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, for about a minute, until fragrant. Add the tomatoes, tomato paste, sugar, red pepper flakes, and salt and pepper, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the tomatoes have cooked down, about 10 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning.
• Stir the bread cubes into the tomatoes. Add the water, half the basil, and about 1 teaspoon salt. Bring to a simmer and simmer, stirring and mashing the bread, for about 10 minutes, until the soup is thick, like oatmeal. Stir in the remaining basil, taste and adjust seasoning. Serve hot, warm, or room temperature.

TUSCAN TOMATO AND BREAD SOUP - PAPPA AL POMODORO

Steps:

• Coat a large wide pot with olive oil over medium heat and add the onions. Season with salt and crushed red pepper, to taste, and cook until the onions are soft and very aromatic, about 8 to 10 minutes. Toss in the garlic and cook for 2 to 3 more minutes. Add the wine and cook until it has reduced by half. Stir in the tomatoes, season with salt, to taste, and cook until the tomatoes are really soft and juicy, about 12 to 15 minutes. Toss in the whole basil leaves.
• Working in batches, carefully puree the tomatoes in a blender*. Return the tomato puree to the pot and add the tomato juice and the bread. Cook the soup over medium heat for until the bread has completely lost its shape and the soup is really thick, about 20 minutes. Taste the soup and adjust the seasoning, if needed.
• Ladle the soup into bowls and serve garnished with grated cheese, basil chiffonade and a drizzle of big fat finishing oil.

CHEESY BROCCOLI SOUP IN A BREAD BOWL

Steps:

• In a 6-qt. stockpot, heat butter over medium heat; saute onion and garlic until tender, 6-8 minutes. Stir in broccoli, carrot, stock, cream and seasonings; bring to a boil. Simmer, uncovered, until vegetables are tender, 10-12 minutes., Mix cornstarch and water until smooth; stir into soup. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally; cook and stir until thickened, 1-2 minutes. Remove bay leaves. Stir in cheese until melted., If using bread bowls, cut a slice off the top of each bread loaf; hollow out bottoms, leaving 1/4-in.-thick shells (save removed bread for another use). Fill with soup just before serving. , If desired, serve soup with toppings.

TUSCAN BREAD AND TOMATO SOUP

Steps:

• Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in a large, heavy soup pot over medium-low heat. Add the onion, and cook, stirring, until tender, about five minutes. Meanwhile, pulse the tomatoes in a food processor fitted with the steel blade until coarsely blended.
• Add the garlic to the pot. Cook, stirring, for about a minute until fragrant. Add the tomatoes, tomato paste, sugar, red chili flakes, and salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the tomatoes have cooked down, about 10 minutes.
• Stir the bread cubes into the tomatoes. Add the water, half the basil and salt to taste. Increase the heat, and simmer, stirring and mashing the bread, for about 10 minutes until the soup is thick, like pap. Stir in the remaining basil, and taste and adjust the seasonings. Serve hot, warm or room temperature with the remaining olive oil drizzled over each serving.

BEER CHEESE SOUP IN A BREAD BOWL WITH KIELBASA "CROUTONS"

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the kielbasa and cook until browned and crisp, 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate and set aside.
• Melt the butter in a large Dutch oven over medium-low heat. Add the carrots, celery, onion, garlic, mustard powder and cayenne. Cook the vegetables until tender and translucent, about 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, prepare the bread bowls. Using a sharp knife, slice the top off of each boule to use as a topper. Hollow out the middle with a fork or your fingers, leaving a thick bread shell. Save the removed bread for another use.
• Sprinkle the flour over the vegetables and cook, stirring constantly, about 1 minute. Add the Dijon mustard and Worcestershire. Pour in the stock and beer and simmer until the alcohol cooks out, about 5 minutes.
• Puree the soup with an immersion blender until smooth. Add the Cheddar and Gruyere and stir until the cheese is melted. Season with salt and pepper. Ladle into the bread bowls and serve immediately, topped with the kielbasa croutons and chives. Use the bread toppers for dipping, if desired.

WHITE BEAN, BACON, AND ESCAROLE SOUP WITH DAD'S SAUSAGE BREAD

Steps:

• Place the beans in cold water to cover by about 3 inches. Soak for 8 hours or overnight, refrigerated. Drain well and set aside.
• Combine the whole garlic clove, thyme, peppercorns, and bay leaf in a cheesecloth bag. Tie the bag closed and set aside.
• Place the bacon in a large saucepan over medium heat and saute for about 7 minutes or until the fat has rendered out and the bacon is crisp. Drain off all but 1 tablespoon of the fat. Add the onion, carrot, leek, and celery and saute for about 5 minutes or until the vegetables are soft but have not taken on any color. Add the reserved soaked beans and cheesecloth bag along with the stock or broth and bring to a boil. Season, to taste, with salt and pepper. Lower the heat and simmer, stirring frequently, for about 1 1/2 hours or until the beans are very tender.
• Heat the olive oil in a large saute pan over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and saute for 1 minute. Add the escarole and saute for about 4 minutes or until the escarole is wilted. Add the escarole to the soup. Taste and adjust the seasoning with salt and, if using, crushed red pepper. Serve hot with Dad's Sausage Bread, if desired.
• Heat the water, olive oil and honey in a small saucepan over low heat to 115 degrees. Set aside and keep warm.
• Combine flour, yeast and salt in a large mixing bowl. Slowly drizzle water mixture over the flour, blending the liquid in with a wooden spoon. If the dough is too sticky to handle, add additional flour, 1/4 cup at time. Place the dough on a clean surface and knead for about 10 minutes. Cut the dough into 3 equal pieces and form each piece into a loaf shape. Cover and allow to rise for about 1 hour or until loaves have doubled in size.
• While the dough is rising, place the sausage and black pepper in a nonstick saute pan over medium heat. Cook, stirring frequently, for about 10 minutes or until nicely browned. Drain off excess fat; place the sausage on a triple layer of paper towel to drain thoroughly.
• Place 2 of the eggs in a small bowl and whisk to combine. Set aside. Place remaining egg in another small bowl and whisk to blend. Set aside.
• Combine the sausage with the mozzarella, Parmesan cheese and parsley. Add the 2 beaten eggs and mix to combine well. Set aside.
• Cut into but not through each loaf of dough, lengthwise, and open up each half. Place an equal portion of the sausage mixture down the center of each loaf. Pull the sides up and over the sausage to encase it, working the dough closed. Place the loaves, seam side down, on a greased cookie sheet or pizza stone. Cover and let rise for 20 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
• Using a pastry brush, lightly coat each loaf with remaining beaten egg. Place in the preheated oven and bake for about 45 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from the oven and allow to rest for at least 10 minutes before cutting. Serve warm.

(PANERA BREAD) BLACK BEAN SOUP

Steps:

• In a pot, combine the first six ingredients; simmer for 10 minutes.
• Add half a can of beans, salt and cumin; cook for 5 minutes.
• Puree soup (I use an immersion blender which makes it easy to do it right in the pot).
• Add the rest of the beans to the soup.
• Combine the cornstarch with 1 1/2 tablespoons of water.
• Add the lemon and the cornstarch to the soup; cook until thickened.

ITALIAN BREAD AND CABBAGE SOUP WITH SAGE BUTTER

Steps:

• Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.
• Bring the stock to the boil in a large saucepan and add the cabbage, cavolo nero and/or kale. Cook for a few minutes until softened (you may have to do this in 2 batches). Remove the cabbage to a large bowl, leaving the stock in the pan.
• Toast all but 5 of the bread slices on a hot griddle pan or in a toaster, then rub them on 1 side with the garlic halves, and set aside.
• Next, heat a large 4-inch-deep ovenproof casserole-type pan on the stove top, pour in a couple of glugs of olive oil and add your pancetta and anchovies. When the pancetta is golden brown and sizzling, add the rosemary and cooked cabbage and toss to coat the greens in all the lovely flavors. Put the mixture and all the juices back into the large bowl.
• Place 4 of the toasted slices in the casserole-type pan, in 1 layer. Spread over 1/3 of the cabbage leaves, sprinkle over a 1/4 of the grated fontina and Parmesan and add a drizzle of olive oil. Repeat this twice, but don't stress if your pan's only big enough to take layers - that's fine. Just pour in all the juices remaining in the bowl and end with a layer of untoasted bread on top. Push down on the layers with your hands.
• Pour the stock gently over the top until it just comes up to the top layer. Push down again and sprinkle over the remaining fontina and Parmesan. Add a good pinch of salt and pepper and drizzle over some good-quality olive oil. Bake in the preheated oven for around 30 minutes, or until crispy and golden on top.
• When the soup is ready, divide it between your bowls. Melt the butter in a frying pan and quickly fry the sage leaves until they're just crisp and the butter is lightly golden (not burned!). Spoon a bit of the flavored butter and sage leaves over the soup and add another grating of Parmesan. Such a great combo!
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PAPPA AL POMODORO (ITALIAN BREAD AND TOMATO SOUP)

Steps:

• Sauté the garlic and onion in olive oil with the chili pepper until the garlic has lightly browned and the onion is just getting golden; add the tomato; season with salt; add half the basil leaves torn into tiny pieces; crush the tomatoes with the back of a wooden spoon and stir; cook until the tomatoes fall apart (about 20 minutes).
• Put the bread into the sauce; the bread will soak up the sauce and it will get quite thick; add enough stock to soften the bread and to make it liquidy; add the remaining basil and cook until the bread becomes a kind of mush (this is called'pappa').
• Serve, sprinkling with parmesan cheese and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil over each serving.

TOMATO-BREAD SOUP

Steps:

• In a large saucepan or Dutch oven, heat oil over medium-high. Add onion, season with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring often, until soft, about 10 minutes. Add garlic and pinch of red-pepper flakes (if using) and cook until fragrant, 1 minute. Add tomatoes and cook, stirring often, until they begin to break down and release their liquid, 5 minutes.
• Add 3 cups water and season with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, then add bread and stir to combine. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer until bread is soft and soup thickens, about 15 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• To serve, divide soup among serving bowls, drizzle with a little oil, and top with basil leaves.

PASSATELLI DEI NONNI (BREAD AND PARMESAN CHEESE SOUP)

Steps:

• Place the bread crumbs, Parmesan, nutmeg and the lemon zest in a large mixing bowl. Add the eggs and carefully mix together with your hands until it forms a soft dough-like consistency.
• The mixture should be like a wet dough, barely holding together.
• If it seems too stiff, add 1 tablespoon water or stock. If it's too soft, add more breadcrumbs and Parmesan.
• Allow the dough to rest for approximately 20 minutes in a cool place.
• Once ready, put the dough in a food mill or ricer. Press to create short noodles (like little worms).
• Bring the meat stock to a boil and add the pasta. Once the passatelli have risen to the surface, they are ready to eat.
• Serve immediately.

FRENCH ONION SOUP WITH BAGEL BREAD PUDDING CROUTONS

Steps:

• For the bread pudding: In a bowl whisk together the heavy cream, salt and eggs. Place the bagels in a 9-by-13-inch baking pan. Pour the cream mixture over the top and set aside to soak for 2 hours.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Cover the baking pan with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove the foil from the pan and continue cooking for 15 minutes. Cool the bread pudding completely.
• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Separate the bagel pieces and place on a baking sheet. Toast until the edges turn golden brown, 5 minutes.
• For the onions: In a 14-inch skillet or a medium high-sided saute pan, heat the oil over high heat and pour in the sliced onions. Do NOT stir the onions or shake the pan. When the pan gets hot again and the onions begin to sizzle, add the salt and stir. The onions at the bottom of the pan should be brown. Reduce the heat to medium and continue stirring. The onions will begin to soften and release their juices (the natural sugars in the juices will caramelize the onions). Cook for 15 minutes, and then reduce the heat to low. Continue cooking, stirring the onions periodically to make sure they don't stick to the pan, until completely soft and a rich dark brown color, 30 minutes.
• For the soup: In a large saucepot set over medium heat, melt the butter until it starts to bubble. Add in the caramelized onions, then add the sherry and cook at a low simmer until the alcohol cooks out, 5 minutes. Add the bay leaf and stock, and cook for 30 minutes. Season with salt as the soup cooks. Portion the soup into serving bowls and top with some toasted bagel bread pudding croutons. Garnish each serving with 2 tablespoons gruyere if using, and serve.

CHEESY FRENCH BREAD ONION SOUP

Steps:

• In large Dutch oven over medium heat, melt butter.
• Add onions and sugar.
• Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, 30 minutes or until onions are tender but not colored.
• Uncover pan, increase heat slightly and continue to cook, stirring regularly until onions are rich caramel colour (10 to 15 minutes) DO NOT LET ONIONS BURN.
• Stir in flour until well blended.
• Gradually add wine; cook, stirring constantly, until mixture boils and thickens.
• Stir in beef broth and pepper; bring to boil.
• Reduce heat to low.
• Cover and simmer 15 minutes.
• Ladle soup into 6, 1-1/2 cup oven proof bowls.
• Top each with bread slice; sprinkle with swiss cheese and parmesan cheeses and paprika.
• Place bowls on jelly roll pan.
• Broil until cheese melts and bubbles.

PANERA BREAD'S CREAMY POTATO SOUP

Steps:

• Combine broth, potatoes, and spices.
• Boil on medium heat until potatoes are tender.
• Smash a few potatoes to release the starch for thickening.
• If you like it chunky just smash a small amount of potato, but if you want it smooth smash more potatoes.
• Reduce to low heat and add cream cheese.
• Heat, stirring frequently, until cheese melts.
• Ladle into bowls.
• Sprinkle a little bacon over each bowl of soup.

FRENCH ONION SOUP IN A SOURDOUGH BREAD BOWL

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Butter a baking sheet.
• Cut a hole in the top of each bread round, leaving the sides and bottoms untouched, to make the opening of the bread bowl. Pull apart the cut-out section.
• Place 1/2 cup butter and 2 tablespoons crushed garlic in a microwave-safe bowl. Heat until butter is melted, 2 to 4 minutes. Brush the insides of the bread bowls and the cut-out pieces with butter; place on the prepared baking sheet.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 3 to 5 minutes. Leave oven on.
• Melt the remaining butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add sweet onion. Cook and stir until onion has softened and turned translucent, about 5 minutes. Reduce heat to low and continue cooking and stirring until onion is very tender and dark brown, about 20 minutes more.
• Stir the remaining garlic, beef broth, chicken broth, wine, and Worcestershire sauce into the onions. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low; cook until flavors intensify, 5 to 10 minutes. Spoon soup into each bread bowl. Cover soup with Gruyere cheese.
• Bake in the preheated oven until cheese is bubbling and melted along the sides of the bread bowl, about 5 minutes.

TOMATO AND GARLIC-BREAD SOUP

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300°F. Mix 1/2 cup olive oil and 3 minced garlic cloves in large bowl. Add sourdough bread pieces and toss to coat. Arrange bread in single layer on large baking sheet. Bake until golden, stirring once, about 20 minutes. Set garlic-bread croutons aside.
• Heat remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil in heavy large pot over medium heat. Add onions and sauté until very tender, about 25 minutes. Add remaining minced garlic and cook 1 minute. Add chicken stock, crushed tomatoes and 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese. Simmer soup uncovered 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Add garlic-bread croutons to soup and cook 1 minute. Ladle soup into bowls. Sprinkle with thinly sliced basil and Parmesan cheese shavings.

BAKED ONION SOUP WITH A GRUYÈRE CHEESE BREAD CRUST

Steps:

• Heat 4 tablespoons of butter and the oil in a heavy-based saucepan, add the onions, garlic, thyme and bay leaf, cover with wet baking (parchment) paper and a lid and cook over a very low heat for 1 hour, until the onions have turned golden and are meltingly soft. During the cooking, stir the onions from time to time, to prevent them burning. Season to taste. Add the wine, stock and sugar, then bring to the boil and simmer for 15 minutes. Preheat the oven to 400ºF. If the saucepan is ovenproof (if not, transfer to an earthenware soup tureen), place the bread slices on top, sprinkle with Gruyère and then drizzle the remaining butter, melted, over the cheese. Bake in a hot oven for 15 minutes or until bubbling and golden. To make this in a slow cooker: Heat the butter and oil in a heavy-based saucepan, add the onions, garlic, thyme and bay leaf and cook over a medium heat for 10 to 12 minutes, until the onions have started to soften and colour. Transfer to your slow cooker, cover with wet baking (parchment) paper and a lid and cook on low for 5 to 6 hours. Turn the slow cooker to high and cook, uncovered, for 20 minutes to darken the onions, stirring from time to time. Add the wine, stock, sugar and seasoning, cover and cook for 40 minutes. Then continue with step 4 above.

BREAD AND TOMATO SOUP

Steps:

• 1. Heat the oil in a large, deep saucepan over low heat.
• 2. Sauté the garlic until just fragrant, then add the bread, stirring until all the oil is absorbed and the bread is toasted.
• 3. Add the tomatoes, stock, basil, and salt.
• 4. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat. Simmer until the bread breaks down, about 20 minutes. Remove the garlic and serve.

TOMATO AND BREAD SOUP

Steps:

• Heat 4 tablespoons olive oil in a large stockpot over medium heat. Stir the pepper flakes into the oil and add the bread cubes. Cook the bread cubes until lightly brown. Remove bread cubes to paper towels, reserving the oil in the stockpot.
• Pour 2 tablespoons olive oil into the stockpot. Cook the garlic and onion in the oil until the onion has softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in the tomatoes, basil and drained bread cubes; cook about 10 minutes. Add the broth, parsley, and Parmesan cheese to the tomato mixture; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer 20 to 30 minutes. Garnish with basil before serving.

ITALIAN RIBOLLITA (VEGETABLE AND BREAD SOUP)

Steps:

• Place the olive oil in a deep pan and heat over medium-high heat. Stir in the onion, and cook until transparent, about 5 minutes. Mix in the carrots, celery, potatoes, zucchini, and leek. Stir and cook 5 minutes more. Pour in the hot water to cover the vegetables. Stir in the Swiss chard, Savoy cabbage, and kale. Cover, reduce heat to medium, and simmer for 1 hour.
• Place 1 can of beans in a blender or food processor bowl. Blend until smooth. Stir pureed beans into the vegetable mixture along with the second can of beans. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Reduce heat to low, and simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in the tomato puree.
• Prepare the soup by layering slices of bread with the vegetable mixture in a casserole or soup dish. Cover, and refrigerate for at least 8 hours, or overnight.
• To serve the soup, place in a pot, and reheat over medium heat. Serve hot.