Dinner Tonight: Sopa de Ajo (Garlic Soup) Recipe

Updated October 01, 2018

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 Details

Dinner Tonight: Sopa de Ajo (Garlic Soup) Recipe

Cook 30 mins

Total 30 mins

Serves 3 servings

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

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.
Pour in the stock, bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer. Cook for 15 minutes.
Poach the eggs. Follow this guide.
Ladle some soup into a bowl and top with a poached egg.

Soups

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
374	Calories
19g	Fat
32g	Carbs
18g	Protein

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.