My friend Brad Hunter is a great “gift giver”. Over the years I have received quite a few from him and they are all among of my favorites. Some folks have that knack. Brad is one of those folks.
He recently gave me a “cookbook-for-a-cause”. “Soup for Syria” is not just another cookbook. Many well-known chefs and cookbook authors contributed recipes for soups from around the world to raise funds for food relief efforts for Syrian refugees, of which at publication, numbered 3.8 million. Many, many of them children. Buy this beautifully photographed book, make some heart warming soup. Do what you can.
This Sunday afternoon I made an adaptation of the cover recipe “Tomato Basil Soup with Bread” a recipe from contributor Martyna Monaco. It’s crazy easy to make, very delicious and comforting.
Tomato Basil Soup with Bread
Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 4-5 thick slices day old rustic bread
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano leaves
- 3 garlic cloves, smashed
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 10 fresh basil leaves
- 2 (28 oz) cans whole tomatoes in juice, cut up
- 4-5 cups chicken or vegetable stock
Directions:
- In a large stock pot layer olive oil, bread slices, salt, oregano, garlic cloves, onion, basil leaves, tomatoes and stock. Bring to a boil.
- Turn heat to simmer for 30-40 minutes. Stir a few times. The bread will break up and thicken the soup.
- Serve hot with additional basil leaves.
Serving note: I topped each serving with cubed bread croutons and a scattered a bit of freshly grated Parmesan over the top.
Original recipe from: “Soup for Syria” published in 2016 by Interlink Publishing Group, Inc. Photographed by Barbara Abdeni Massaad.
foodonfifth.com
this looks super delicious 🙂 xo
It is very delicious and just the thing for a chilly February evening. Happy Valentine’s Day.
What a wonderful cause, Teresa. The soup looks comforting and filling and perfect for a cold winter day.
Many thanks for taking the time to stop by Food on Fifth. I so appreciate it. Happy Valentine’s Day.
Perfecto!!!
Get back to Nashville….I missed you Sunday so had to console myself with soup!
Everything about this post is fabulous! We’ll be over there in a flash and will bring our own bowls! 😁
Hi Sheila, so great to hear from you and thanks for stopping by. It was a good soup…Wouter ate three bowls! Hope you are well and Happy Valentine’s Day.
No better cause. Thank you for raising awareness for this cookbook Teresa. Your soup looks hearty and delicious.
Thanks Johanne. Yes, this is a good cookbook and as it is for a good cause the soup tasted even better. Happy Valentine’s Day to you.
Tomato soup is my go to soup when I’m time poor. Especially now that I have a food processor. I’d rather fresh tomatoes than tinned and out of respect to my elderly arteries, I’d be leaving out the 1/4 cup of oil.
Ha….I do think leaving out the olive oil would be just fine or just use a bit. This is such an easy and delicious recipe for February. You could also use low sodium tomatoes as well. I plan to make this again when the homegrown tomatoes are in next summer. Thanks.
I noticed this soup when reading Soup for Syria and commented to Tonya that there was a soup version of her Tomato Basil pie! Want to try this for sure!
Wow Scott, it is like a Tomato Basil Pie in a bowl! Good for winter and you can use canned tomatoes when none of those lovely summer homegrowns are available. Happy Valentines.
I love the idea of a cook book for a cause. I just might have to buy another cookbook, The soup looks delicious.
This is just one great cookbook and read and the recipes are all easy and doable and yummy. Thanks and always great to hear from you.
it is a wonderful recipe!!! please do check my blog too
Thanks so much for stopping by Aditya. It is always great to hear from other book lovers. Reading is like breathing to me…both essential to good health! Best to you.
Very good cause and delicious i had 3 bowls last night
Yes you did have three delicious bowls and there is some waiting for you for lunch tomorrow! Happy Valentines Day.
Hi Teresa! This soup looks so good! Happy Valentine’s Day!
Big thanks Debbie.
I love this post, love the cause and looks delicious. Thank you for sharing!
Many thanks to you jessica
Got to shop for the book, what a great idea. Pappa al pomodoro is one of my favourite things to eat, even more delicious with less bread in them: Both look absolutely fabulous!
Nicole
Thanks so much for stopping by Food on Fifth. This really is a wonderful soup and one of my favorites in the book. Love Pappa al pomodoro as well.
I just ordered this book after reading your post. Thanks so much for telling us about it! I wonder, do you know how much of the sale of this book goes to the refugees? I mean the % of each book. I hope it is a lot! 🙂
Well that was a good question and I did a google search and found that all the profits go to the refugee relief fund. Thanks for inspiring me to investigate. Let me know what your favorite soups are. Thanks much.
Oh No! the book is out of stock – I will make this recipe though while I wait. c
Hello Cecilia, yes a few folks have told me the same thing! Hopefully it will be reprinted soon. It really is wonderful.
That’s cool man. It looks so beautiful and you know what I want to taste this soup.
Wow..very good cause and..I really liked the idea of using breads while making a soup. Definitely trying this. Thank you for sharing…
Just looking at these photos makes me so hungry!
Big thanks Chef Kreso.