Skip to main content
LoginSign Up
Marika Contaldo Seguso’s Tomato and Bread Soup

Marika Contaldo Seguso’s Tomato and Bread Soup

By Rose HattabaughApril 4, 2022

  • Makes
    4 to 6 servings
  • Cook Time
    40 minutes
  • Rating

For Marika Contaldo Seguso, event planner, cookbook author and native of Milan who now resides in Venice, pappa al pomodoro, or Italian tomato and bread soup, is a simple but satisfying meal that comes together quickly. To boot, it requires only a handful of ingredients that she typically has on hand. A crusty, rustic day-old loaf that’s cut into cubes and left out at room temperature for a day or so is best; if your bread is fresh and you need to stale it in a hurry, cut it into ½-inch cubes, then dry it on a rimmed baking sheet in a 450°F oven for 5 to 7 minutes, stirring once halfway through. Seguso says that pappa al pomodoro purists might balk at the Parmesan garnish, but the cheese is a typical Tuscan flourish for the soup.

Tip

Don’t forget to partially cover the saucepan when simmering the tomatoes. This helps soften the tomatoes more readily while preventing their juices from over-reducing.

Ingredients
  • 3

    tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more to serve

  • 2

    medium garlic cloves, smashed and peeled

  • 28

    ounce can whole peeled tomatoes, crushed by hand

  • 1

    quart low-sodium vegetable broth or chicken broth

  • ½

    cup lightly packed fresh basil, roughly chopped, plus more to serve

  • 4

    ounces day-old crusty white bread, cut into rough ½-inch cubes (about 4 cups) and staled (see headnote)

  • Kosher salt and ground black pepper

  • Finely grated Parmesan cheese, to serve

Step 1

In a large saucepan over medium, heat the oil until shimmering. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, until lightly browned, about 1 minute. Stir in the tomatoes with juices and ½ teaspoon each salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer over medium-high, then reduce to medium and simmer, partially covered and stirring occasionally, about 10 minutes.

Step 2

Stir in the broth and basil, then bring to a simmer over medium-high. Add the bread, reduce to medium and simmer, uncovered and stirring occasionally, until the bread is completely soft, about 15 minutes.

Step 3

Off heat, taste and season with salt and pepper. Remove and discard the garlic. Ladle the soup into bowls, sprinkle with Parmesan and additional basil, then drizzle with additional oil.