Pappa al pomodoro is a classic Tuscan tomato soup which uses up stale bread. Frugal, tasty peasant food at its very best. Adding some Grana Padano & Prosciutto di San Daniele makes it a dish worthy of a dinner party.
There is something supremely comforting about good honest peasant food, and a bowl of pappa al pomodoro is no exception. By and large peasant food may be frugal and ordinary, but it is rarely light on taste.
Pappa al pomodoro is a classic Tuscan dish, a simple tomato soup that is thickened and flavoured with a couple of slices of rustic bread. Like all these things there are innumerable variations that have developed over the years, handed down over the generations from cook to cook in the family. My first bowl of pappa al pomodoro was on a trip to Tuscany several years ago, when we stayed on a remote Tuscan farm, and were cooked for by the Nonna, or grandmother of the family.
I came home having learnt lots about Italian food and cooking with a new mantra “of quality ingredients, simply cooked” to apply in my own kitchen. This version of pappa al pomodoro uses canned tomatoes, others use fresh. I suspect that the recipe has rarely been written down, but instead passed by one generation to the younger, learnt by children watching the family meal being cooked.
To make this classic dish a little more special, I’ve garnished with slithers of Grana Padano & Prosciutto di San Daniele, quality artisan products that enhance and lift the original dish to another level. Both products proudly carry a PDO showing they are made to carefully set out rules guaranteeing the quality and origin. You can learn about the production process of both Prosciutto di San Daniele & Grana Padano here.
Like all Italian food this will be better if you use quality ingredients, pick a good brand of tomatoes, and use good bread – sourdough would be ideal. Leftover soup can be frozen and used as a pasta sauce, or even stirred into a risotto, but unless you set out to make a double batch it is highly unlikely you will have leftovers.
If you love these types of tomato based dishes you may also like my tomato savoury overnight oats, garnished with prosciutto and a Grana type cheese.
Pappa al pomodoro is a classic Tuscan tomato soup which uses up stale bread. Frugal, tasty peasant food at its very best. Adding some Grana Padano & Prosciutto di San Daniele makes it a dish worthy of a dinner party.
- 1 onion (peeled and quartered)
- 2 carrots (peeled and chopped lengthwise)
- 2 celery sticks
- 1 litre water
- 1 tbs olive oil
- 1/2 onion (finely chopped)
- 1 celery stick (finely chopped)
- 1/2 carrot (finely chopped)
- 2 basil leaves
- 1 clove garlic (peeled and sliced)
- 500 ml passata or chopped canned tomatoes
- 4 slices 2 day old bread
- 40 g Grana Padano
- 2 slices Proscuitto di San Daniele
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Place all the ingredients into a pan and simmer for 30 minutes until the vegetables are soft.
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Make a soffritto by frying the onion, celery and carrot in the oil until they are soft. Add the basil and garlic and cook for a few more seconds.
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Turn down the heat and add the bread and the passata or canned tomatoes. Allow the bread to absorb the tomatoes.
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Strain and then add the broth, a ladle at a time, heat to a simmer, let it cook for 10 minutes, stir to break down the bread, then allow to cool. If you want blitz the cooked carrots in a mini food processor and add to the soup (discard the onion and celery used to make the broth).
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Reheat and let the soup cool twice more, stir once more. Blitz with a blender if you prefer a smoother texture.
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Serve garnished with shards of Grana Padano and slithers of Proscuitto di San Daniele.
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To learn more visit the Proscuitto di San Daniele and Grana Padano sites.
Recipe post commissioned by Grana Padano & Prosciutto di San Daniele. All opinions our own.
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Love canned tomatoes? Find lots of fuss free easy recipes using tinned tomatoes here …
Meeta
One of my favorite soups! Look at all those wheels of Grana Padano and ham – what a lovely experience that must have been. I adore Tuscan food!
Helen
such a good and easy soup!
Anna
This soup looks perfect for cold days like today, bookmarked it, will attempt to make it as it looks so yummy. x
Helen
so quick, easy and comforting.
Corina
Oh wow! It looks really thick and delicious and I love your blue soup bowls – perfect match for this soup!
Helen
I love those bowls, the handle is exactly the right shape to tuck into the crook of your thumb!
Bintu - Recipes From A Pantry
What a lovely soup. Tomatoes are so good for you and that Prosciutto looks delicious
Helen
It is a lovely wholesome dish.
Sarah
The flavors in this sound absolutely wonderful! Perfect bowl to enjoy on a snowy day, like I’m going to have tomorrow!
Helen
Ideal for a cold day!
Deborah Nicholas
oh wow that looks delicious! Definitely on my to make list!
Helen
Thanks Deborah, so easy too!
Talya
I feel like I’ve been transported to rustic Italy just looking at this – this looks utterly delicious and a perfect winter warmer.
Helen
It is nice to take a taste of Italy in to your own kitchen.
Diana
The soup looks absolutely delicious! I love such soups that are filling and keep you warm during the winter days.
Helen
Perfect for a warming and filling winter meal.
Newcastle Family Life
I have never heard of this before, it looks delicious. Sometimes you just can’t beat comfort food like this, sourdough bread is my favourite with soups x
Helen
It is a really delicious dish.
Ana De- Jesus
I make a veggie version and its quite delicious, this Tuscan dish packs a lot of flavour and you have a great recipe xx
Helen
A veggie version would be just as tasty, there are some wonderful flavours.
Paighton Millington - The Lazy Mamma
This looks super yummy! Especially for cold, gloomy days. Definitely saving, plenty of gloomy days here!
Helen
It is so warming and comforting as well as frugal.
Lauretta at Home and Horizon
This looks like a great winter warmer. My husband loves cooking so I think I’ll be showing him your site for some great ideas – thanks!
Helen
Thank you Lauretta, hope there are some inspiring ideas for your husband to enjoy.
clairejustine
This looks delicious, the flavours sound amazing. Beautiful pictures.
Helen
It really is a flavoursome dish.
Kara
What a delicious looking recipe, sounds amazing and bet it smells great too
Helen
The aroma was wonderful Kara.
Zena's Suitcase
As soon as I saw this recipe, I knew I would love it. It sounds right up my street. I love a bit of peasant food :)
Helen
Peasant food is the best. Big on flavour and easy on the budget.