Tuscan Tomato Soup Recipe (Pappa al Pomodoro) (2024)

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Pappa al Pomodoro – a rustic authentic Tuscan Tomato Soup made with bread; wholesome, hearty, warming and filling.

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Tuscan Tomato Bread Soup

Traditionally made with the last of summer’s San Marzano tomatoes, lots of day old bread, garlic and herbs. No beans allowed here, make a minestrone or ribollita instead if that’s what you are after.

I did a bruschetta spin on this classic and chose to grill some crusty Italian bread instead of stale bread. I’m pretty sure this is the only way to make Tuscan tomato soup from this day on.

You start by creating a flavor base of sauteed onions, garlic, spicy red chile pepper in a light drizzle of olive oil. Add a little touch of fresh rosemary but go easy with this herb as it can be very strong and pungent, so make sure to taste as you go.

The Tomatoes

Tomatoes play a huge roll in Tuscan soups and cuisine, so I’m insisting on San Marzano tomatoes that you can quickly blanch and peel and add to your soup. But, since you probably don’t have any growing in the backyard either, we’ll need to use the canned variety.

Not to worry as this makes your life easier as they are already blanched and peeled and ready to go. Use about 10 of those tomatoes and your soup will be amazing. Do NOT use the sauce they come canned in. A Tuscan soup has a thinner consistency that will be thickened up with the addition of the stale bread or in our case bruschetta.

I like to make my own vegetable stock for this and pretty much just do a nice fridge clean up. Simmer together carrots, onion, garlic a bunch of thyme, a couple of bay leaves, some peppercorns, half a bell pepper, whatever needs using up. Really delicious of course but you can use any store bough veggie stock you like.

The Bread for Tuscan Tomato Soup

While my soup is simmering away and making the shack smell like a small Tuscan town on a chilly day, I start on the bruschetta. You know how we love our bruschetta around here.

So I grill thick slice of Italian bread and rub it with garlic on both sides before lightly brushing it with olive oil. Hit it with some sea salt and wait for your soup to be ready.

When ready to eat just use the best kitchen utensils of all times (your hands), and tear the bruschetta into rustic pieces and add them to the pot of soup. Cover with a lid and let it sit for about 10 minutes for the bread to soak up the broth, thicken it up and the flavors to mingle together. Instant dumplings baby!

More Italian Soups

  • Roasted Tomato Soup
  • San Marzano Tomato Soup
  • Roasted Red Pepper Tomato Soup
  • Italian Vegetable Soup with Farro
  • White Bean Soup
  • Zuppa Toscana
  • Italian Red Lentil Soup
  • Escarole Soup
  • Ribollita
  • Kale Soup

how to make Pappa Al Pomodoro

Tuscan Tomato Soup Recipe (Pappa al Pomodoro) (5)

4.80 from 5 votes

Tuscan Tomato Soup Recipe (Pappa al Pomodoro)

Pappa al Pomodoro - a rustic Tuscan tomato bread soup made with day old bread, tomatoes and herbs.

Print Recipe

Prep Time:10 minutes mins

Cook Time:35 minutes mins

Total Time:45 minutes mins

Ingredients

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • In a medium size heavy bottom pot add a good lug of olive oil.

  • Add the onions and red pepper flakes and sauté together for about 5 minutes until translucent. At this point stir in the rosemary and garlic and give it a good stir.

    1 small onion, 5 cloves garlic, 1.5 tsp red pepper flakes, 1 tbsp Rosemary

  • Crush the tomatoes with your hands and add them to the pot (Reserve the sauce from the can for another recipe, do not use here). Pour in the vegetable stock and bring your tomato soup to a gentle simmer. Cook on low flame for 25 minutes.

    8-10 San Marzano tomatoes, 1.5 quarts vegetable stock

  • Adjust seasonings to taste with sea salt and set aside.

The Bread

  • While the soup is simmering, cut the bread in 1 inch slices and grill it on both sides on a cast iron grill pan until nice charred grill marks form.

    1 loaf crusty bread

  • Use a large garlic clove and rub both sides of the bread. Brush with olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt.

    1 clove garlic, 1 pinch Sea salt

  • Using your hands tear the bruschetta into rustic pieces and add them to the tomato soup. Cover with a lid and allow it to sit for 10 minutes.

  • Ladle the soup into bowls and serve garnished with the fresh parsley and extra red pepper flakes.

    1/3 cup Italian parsley

Notes

  • Bread - Traditionally the soup is made with day old bread but it's so much more delicious with garlic bruschetta.
  • If you don't have any bread you could add some pasta or gnocchi instead.
  • Add some clams in the last few minutes of cooking to turn this into a Zuppa di Pesce or Cioppino.

Nutrition

Calories: 451kcal | Carbohydrates: 66g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Sodium: 1962mg | Potassium: 225mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 1425IU | Vitamin C: 10.6mg | Calcium: 75mg | Iron: 4.5mg

Course: Soup

Cuisine: Italian

Keyword: tomato soup, Tuscan soup

Servings: 4 people

Calories: 451kcal

Author: Florentina

Tuscan Tomato Soup Recipe (Pappa al Pomodoro) (2024)

FAQs

What is the meaning of Al Pomodoro? ›

Spaghetti al Pomodoro (also called spaghetti with tomato sauce) is a simple pasta dish that typically consists of spaghetti pasta, tomatoes, olive oil, garlic, basil, and salt. The ingredients are cooked together to make a simple, flavorful tomato sauce that is served over the pasta.

What can I put in tomato soup to make it better? ›

10 Simple Ingredients to Add to Tomato Soup
  1. 1) Fresh Rosemary. Kicking off the list is the simplest way to jazz up your tomato soup – fresh herbs. ...
  2. 2) Sauteed Onions. ...
  3. 3) Crispy Bacon. ...
  4. 4) Cream. ...
  5. 5) Chutney. ...
  6. 6) Melted Cheese. ...
  7. 7) Tinned Anchovies. ...
  8. 8) Toasted Pine Nuts.
Mar 21, 2022

Does heavy cream thicken tomato soup? ›

For a creamy and rich tomato soup, consider adding heavy cream or yogurt. These dairy products not only add thickness but also enhance the flavor. Stir in a splash of heavy cream or a spoonful of Greek yogurt and let it simmer for a few minutes.

Why is my tomato soup so watery? ›

Sometimes soup just needs to simmer longer to reach the perfect consistency. Check to see if the vegetables are tender, and then taste the broth. If the soup tastes a bit watery, give it more time.

Why are tomatoes called pomodoro in Italian? ›

Univerbation of pomo (“apple”) +‎ d' (“of”) +‎ oro (“gold”), literally “golden apple”. Possibly owing to the fact that the first varieties of tomatoes arriving in Europe and spreading from Spain to Italy and North Africa were yellow.

What's the difference between pomodoro and marinara? ›

In general, Pomodoro sauce is usually thicker because chefs use crushed tomatoes as the base. On the other hand, marinara usually includes oregano, red pepper flakes, garlic cloves, basil leaves, bay leaves, and tomatoes. Some variations use extra virgin olive oil and red wine, which can also make the sauce thinner.

What does baking soda do to tomato soup? ›

A small pinch of baking soda will tame any unwanted acidity in the soup.

Why doesn't my tomato soup taste good? ›

If your tomatoes are not ripe or lacking in flavor, it can result in a less vibrant soup. Store-bought brands may use tomatoes processed at their peak ripeness. Seasoning: Homemade soups often require proper seasoning with salt, pepper, and other.

Are you supposed to put milk in tomato soup? ›

To 'smooth ' the taste of tomato soup, add a pinch of sugar to lesson the acidity. Milk or a swirl of cream can also be added for a richer flavour.

How to add more flavor to tomato soup? ›

Add herbs.

This probably isn't a surprise, as basil and tomatoes are a delicious duo. But think beyond basil — rosemary and thyme can add earthiness; chives and parsley showered on top add a fresh finish; even freshly chopped mint (maybe with some feta cheese) can add a refreshing pop of flavor to every spoonful.

Can you add cream to tomato soup without curdling? ›

Temper the cream first. Add a liitle bit of tomato sauce at a time to the cream until it is warm and then add it all back into the tomato sauce. This will keep it from curdling.

Why did my cream curdle in my tomato soup? ›

If your sauce or soup contains an acidic ingredient like wine, tomatoes, or lemon juice, the milk is more likely to curdle.

Does tomato soup taste better with water or milk? ›

The standard direction for a can of condensed Tomato Soup is to put the condensed soup in a saucepan, fill the can with water, add the water to the pan, stir, and heat just to the point of simmer. BUT. It's MUCH better with Milk, which makes it a creamy tomato soup, a bit more like a tomato bisque.

Is it better to thicken soup with flour or cornstarch? ›

The most classic and surefire way to thicken a broth-based soup is with a cornstarch slurry. Whisk together equal parts cornstarch (or arrowroot) and water or broth, then whisk it into the pot of soup. A good ratio to get to a pleasant thickness without your soup tasting goopy or heavy is one tablespoon.

Why is the milk separating in my tomato soup? ›

Tomatoes are very acidic and milk or cream is added to them, curdling can occur. Curdling will be more likely to happen when the ratio of acid to cream increases or when mixing a cold and hot mixture. To thwart the curdling tendency, changing procedures will render a smooth tomato soup.

Is pomodoro Italian or French? ›

You surely know pomodoro, the delightfully effortless Italian word that trips off the tongue in a quick rat-a-tat-tat.

Does pomodoro mean golden apple? ›

The tomato, unknown to the ancient world of the Greeks, is known as the pomodoro in Italian, meaning "golden apple" (from pomo d'oro).

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