Tomato Soup with fried bread (serves 4)
2 garlic cloves, finely minced
½ shallot, finely chopped
2 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
1- 28 oz can whole plum tomatoes
1 quart chicken broth (or vegetable broth)
salt/pepper
4 slices baguettes ¼”slices
¼ cup canola oil
4 basil leaves for garnish
4 parmesan slices
- in stock pot sauté garlic and shallots with olive oil over med-low heat about 3 minutes
- remove tomatoes from can, squeeze each tomato to break it up and add to stock pot, reserve tomato juice…cook over medium-low heat for about 5 minutes
- add broth, cook for about 30 minutes, add salt and pepper to taste…reserved tomato juice may be added for more color or if thinner consistency is desired
- while soup is cooking, prepare bread…heat canola oil in a sauce pan that is deep enough to completely deep fry the bread, oil should be hot enough to fry bread quickly on both sides, remove from pan and drain on paper towel
- place fried bread in soup bowl, ladle cooked soup, garnish with basil leaf and parmesan slice, finish with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil
Sautéed Greens (serves 4)
4 cups fresh greens (escarole, broccoli rabe, spinach, kale)
4 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
salt/pepper to taste
2 Tbsp. pine nuts
2 Tbsp. golden raisins (optional)
- bring water to boil in a deep pot and blanch greens for 30 seconds. Drain and run under cold water till cool. Squeeze out excess water and set aside.
- over medium flame, heat olive oil in a wide skillet. (Do not let oil smoke) Sautee garlic till slightly golden in color, take care not to let it brown. Remove garlic with slotted spoon and set aside.
- coarsely chop greens and place in skillet. Sautee for about 1-2 minutes, turning frequently with wooden spoon. Add salt and pepper to taste and sauté for another minute or two. If desired add the pine nuts and raisins at this point.
- remove from heat, drizzle with additional extra virgin olive oil and parmesan shavings.
An Italian Classic
that speaks of love, desire, pasta and tomato sauce
“The Tomato”
A thin strand of pasta returns from exile
and tomato sauce laughs happily…
garlic, onion and even the saucepan
all go into rapture.
The tomato sauce cries with joy
because she has been alone for so long.
She says,”Come here, my beauty,
my husband, come here and comfort me.”
And with an embrace the party began,
everyone attacked half a kilo of pasta apiece !
“Italo-Neapolitan Verses”
Silvio Gargiulo, 1922
and tomato sauce laughs happily…
garlic, onion and even the saucepan
all go into rapture.
The tomato sauce cries with joy
because she has been alone for so long.
She says,”Come here, my beauty,
my husband, come here and comfort me.”
And with an embrace the party began,
everyone attacked half a kilo of pasta apiece !
“Italo-Neapolitan Verses”
Silvio Gargiulo, 1922
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