Cherry Tomato and Garlic Bread Soup

Submitted by mmjj_d

"Out of the oven, this soup looked absolutely delicious... it tasted even better than it looked. * If you shy away from garlic this soup is NOT for you. (This recipe was adapted from Amy Goldman's "The Heirloom Tomato," Bloomsbury, 2008. )"

 

• Ready In: 2hrs
• Ingredients: 10
• Serves: 8

ingredients

• 226.79 g sourdough bread, cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices (10 to 12 slices)
• olive oil
• 118.29 ml thinly sliced garlic clove, plus 1 whole clove
• 946.36 ml thinly sliced yellow onions
• 2365.0 ml chicken stock
• salt & fresh ground pepper (to taste)
• 946.38 ml cherry tomatoes or 946.38 ml grape tomatoes, halved
• 113.39 g parmesan cheese, grated
• 177.44 ml coarsely chopped fresh basil, plus thinly sliced fresh basil for garnish
• chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley (for garnish)

directions

1. Heat the oven to 350°F.
2. Brush the slices of bread with olive oil on both sides, then arrange the slices on a baking sheet that has a rim. Toast in the oven, flipping the slices halfway through, until golden brown on both sides, 15 to 20 minutes. Maintain the oven temperature.
3. Cut the 1 whole clove of garlic in half. Rub the cut sides of the garlic halves over the toasted bread slices. Set the bread aside.
4. In a large skillet over medium, heat 1/4 cup olive oil. Add the onions and saute until slightly caramelized, about 15 minutes. Add the 1/2 cup of sliced garlic and saute until tender, about 3 minutes. Set aside.
5. Season the chicken stock with salt and pepper.
6. Lightly coat a 2 1/2-quart baking dish with olive oil.( I used a large lasagna baking dish since I worried it might bubble over) Layer half of the bread slices over the bottom of the baking dish. Spoon half of the onion mixture over the bread, then top with half of the tomatoes, a third of the grated Parmesan cheese and the chopped basil.
7. Layer the remaining toast over the onions and tomatoes, then top with the remaining onions and tomatoes. Sprinkle half of the remaining cheese over the dish.
8. Add 3 cups of the stock and wait 5 minutes for the bread to absorb it. Add another cup of stock and wait another few minutes.
9. Continue adding stock (up to 6 cups total) until the liquid comes to within 1/4 inch of the top of the dish. Reserve remaining stock.
10. Sprinkle the remaining Parmesan over the ingredients, then cover with foil and bake for 45 minutes.
11. Remove the foil, increase heat to 400°F and bake until the top is golden brown. Remove from the oven and cool slightly. Once cooled, cut into 8 servings and arrange each in a shallow serving bowl.
12. Heat the reserved chicken stock, then ladle some around (not over) each serving. Garnish with basil and parsley.