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Basque Garlic Soup

Author Marti Buckley

Ingredients

  • 4 oz. high-quality baguette
  • 1/2 cup olive oil, divided
  • 1 garlic head (about 12 cloves), peeled and finely chopped
  • 1 heaping tbsp. Pimentón de la Vera (smoked Spanish paprika)
  • 8 cups homemade or low-sodium chicken broth
  • 2 tsp. kosher salt, plus more to taste
  • 2 tbsp.  sherry vinegar
  • 3 large eggs, beaten

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 450°F. Place baguette on a baking sheet, and toast in preheated oven until very browned and almost burnt, 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from oven, and let cool. Break or slice bread into 2-inch pieces.
  • Heat 7 tablespoons oil in a large pot over medium-high. Add bread pieces, and reduce heat to medium. Cook, turning often to allow bread to toast and soak up oil, until golden brown, about 2 minutes. Remove bread, and set aside. Wipe the pot clean.
  • Add garlic and the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil to the pot. Cook over medium-high, stirring constantly, until garlic is golden brown, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Stir in paprika. Add broth and salt; bring to a boil.
  • Add bread to the pot. Reduce heat to medium-low, and maintain at a simmer. Add vinegar. Cook, stirring occasionally to break up bread, until flavors meld, about 25 minutes. Taste and add more salt, if needed.
  • When ready to serve, bring soup to a simmer over medium-high. Stirring constantly, slowly pour beaten eggs into hot soup. If any large pieces of bread remain, cut them with kitchen scissors, or break them apart with a spoon. Serve hot.
Soup can be prepared through step 4 up to 2 days in advance. Bring to a simmer, and add beaten eggs just before serving.
Suggested pairing: Lightly sparkling, appley Txakoli.
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