Jean Anderson's
Portuguese Bread, Garlic and Egg Soup

Makes 6 servings

 

This is a classic soup of the Alentejo, a province in Portugal to the southeast of Lisbon. Throughout the Mediterranean region, there are many soups of this persuasion, some with less bread and more broth, all based on water and garlic and all with the ubiquitous poached egg floating in the middle of each bowl. Cilantro, the most widely used fresh herb in Portugal, adds character. This soup is adapted from one in Jean Anderson's The Food of Portugal. It's hearty enough to be served as a main dish, followed by a tomato salad, olives and perhaps some sliced meats.

The freshest ingredients are essential: good-quality bread, preferably from a Portuguese bakery; the fruitiest olive oil and, of course, impeccably fresh eggs.

 

4 large garlic cloves, quartered
2-1/2 cups loosely packed fresh cilantro leaves,
   plus chopped cilantro for optional garnish
   (from 1 large or 2 small bunches)
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
7 cups water
6 large eggs
6 cups 1-1/2-inch cubes day-old Portuguese,
   French or Italian bread (from a 15-to-18-inch-long loaf)
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

 

1. Using a mortar and pestle or in a small food processor, grind the garlic, cilantro leaves and salt to a paste. Transfer to a large heatproof bowl or soup tureen. Blend in the oil. Set aside.

2. Put the water in a large, deep skillet and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer. Break the eggs one at a time into a cup and slip them into the water. Cook for 2 minutes. With a slotted spoon, remove the eggs in the order you added them to the pan and place on a folded kitchen towel or paper towel. Keep the egg-poaching water at a gentle boil.

3. Add the bread and pepper to the cilantro paste and toss to mix. Add the reserved egg-poaching water, with any little bits of egg white remaining in it, and stir gently to mix. Carefully place the eggs on top of the soup. Sprinkle with chopped cilantro, if desired.

4. To serve, ladle the soup into warm bowls, placing one egg in each bowl.

Buy the Book!

 

The Good Egg:
More than 200 Fresh Approaches
from Soup to Dessert

By Marie Simmons
Houghton Mifflin Company, May 2000
Hardback, $26.00
480 pages, hardcover, two colors throughout
ISBN 395-90991-0
Recipe reprinted by permission.

 

The Good Egg

Recipes

 


 

This page created June 2000

Top


 

The Global Gourmet
Return to the
Global Gourmet®
Main Page

 

Labor Day Recipes
Labor Day Recipes

 

AddThis Social Bookmark Button

AddThis Feed Button

 

Global Gourmet®
Shopping
Gourmet Food, Cookbooks
Kitchen Gadgets & Gifts

 
Search this site:

Advanced Search
Recent Searches

 

Departments

Kate's Global Kitchen
Kate's Books
Cookbook Profiles
Global Destinations
Holiday & Party Recipes
I Love Desserts
On Wine
Shopping

new green basics New Green Basics
cooking kids Cooking with Kids

Archives
Conversions, Charts
   & Substitutions
Forums/Message Boards
Search

About the
Global Gourmet®
   Contact Info
   Advertising
   Feedback
   Privacy Statement

 

 
IACP Cookbook
Award Winners

Fish Forever
Local Breads
Asian Flavors (Jean-Georges)
Morimoto: Japanese Cooking
Chocolates & Confections
Julia Child
Cook with Jamie
The World Atlas of Wine
Food: The History of Taste
Cook Everything Vegetarian
All Cookbook Winners

JBF Cookbook
Award Winners

River Cottage Meat Book
My Bombay Kitchen
Country Cooking of France
Whole Grain Breads
The EatingWell Diet
Cooking
Geography of Oysters
All Cookbook Winners

Classic Cookbooks

Betty Crocker Why It Works
The Bon Appétit Cookbook
Joy of Cooking
Fifth Taste...Umami
The Professional Chef
New American Cooking
Vegetable Love
Vegetarian Cookbooks

 
 

 
 

Copyright © 1994-2008,
Forkmedia LLC

 

 

 
 

 

Become a Chef:
Best Culinary Schools

 

Everything Kitchens
Coffee Makers, Blenders
Espresso Machines

 

SeaBear Smokehouse

 

Groomsmen Gifts
Grooms Wedding Guide
Bridesmaids Gifts

 

Mom's Recipes

Healthy Dieting

 

Exclusive Oregold® Peaches Ripe for Ordering!

 

 

Real Goods Solar, Inc.

 

www.SurLaTable.com
Special Offers

 

Cuisinart Blender
Kitchenware
& Gift Ideas