Castilian Garlic Soup (Sopa De Ajo)

Name: Castilian Garlic Soup (Sopa De Ajo)
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 40 min
Yield: 4 serving(s)
Ingredients: 5 -6 whole heads of garlic, the cloves separated and peeled (about 1 cup or 1/2 pound of peeled garlic cloves); 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil; 1 tablespoon dried red pepper; 6 cups chicken stock; 1/2 cup sherry wine; 1 pinch ground cumin; 1 pinch saffron thread; sea salt; 4 half-inch-thick slices crusty bread; 1 garlic clove; 4 eggs (optional); freshly grated manchego cheese (optional)

Submitted by lazy gourmet

"Garlic soup was a staple during hard times in Spain. Since then it has become a favorite dish in the finest restaurants. I love garlic so the more the better! You can actually let this soup simmer for hours if you want to."

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Ready In:: 40mins
Ingredients:: 12
Serves:: 4

ingredients

5 -6 whole heads of garlic, the cloves separated and peeled (about 1 cup or 1/2 pound of peeled garlic cloves)
¹⁄₄ cup extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon dried red pepper
6 cups chicken stock
¹⁄₂ cup sherry wine
1 pinch ground cumin
1 pinch saffron thread
sea salt
To serve
4 half-inch-thick slices crusty bread
1 garlic clove
4 eggs (optional)
freshly grated manchego cheese (optional)

directions

In a heavy soup kettle or a 2-quart saucepan , gently cook the garlic in the olive oil over low heat until the cloves are thoroughly softened, about 10 to 15 minutes. Do not let the cloves get brown. Remove them with a slotted spoon and set aside.
Stir the red chili pepper into the hot oil in the pan, then add the stock and sherry. Bring to a simmer while you stir in the cumin and saffron.
Use a fork to crush the tender garlic cloves to a paste into the soup. Taste and add salt if necessary. Cover the soup and leave to simmer very gently for about 15 minutes.
While the soup cooks, toast the bread slices. Cut the garlic clove in half and rub over the toasted slices.
If you wish, add the eggs by breaking each egg in turn into a ladle and lowering it into the soup. Stir ladle to break up the eggs. Serve immediately with a sprinkle of cheese and a slice of the bread.

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Reviews

With one exception ~ I used vegetable instead of chicken stock ~ I followed the recipe right on down, even using the manchego cheese which my son found in a specialty cheese shop! And, since he & his wife shared this . . . ! VERY, VERY SATISFYING for the 4 of us (all garlic lovers) & it gave me the opportunity to use some of my preciously-hoarded saffron! Thanks for the recipe! [Tagged, made & reviewed while touring Spain with ZWT5]

Sydney Mike

Tweaks

With one exception ~ I used vegetable instead of chicken stock ~ I followed the recipe right on down, even using the manchego cheese which my son found in a specialty cheese shop! And, since he & his wife shared this . . . ! VERY, VERY SATISFYING for the 4 of us (all garlic lovers) & it gave me the opportunity to use some of my preciously-hoarded saffron! Thanks for the recipe! [Tagged, made & reviewed while touring Spain with ZWT5]

Sydney Mike

RECIPE SUBMITTED BY

lazy gourmet

Hey all! I am a weekend cook....hence the lazy gourmet title. I'm a veterinary technician with an animal shelter in Chicago.  I take care of approximately 150 cats and 20 dogs on any one day in the rehabilitation unit.  It's a good feeling job. I've been married to a keeper who I just celebrated my 13th anniversary with. We have our furry children - right now seven cats, two rabbits and two guinea pigs, along with my current foster dog who is recovering from a stint at a puppy mill (BOO HISS PUPPY MILLS). So enjoy my recipes! lazy <a href=http://i424.photobucket.com/albums/pp330/LadyBlueNose/Cookbook%20Swap%20Designs/AZPCookbook2a-1.jpg target=_blank>http://i424.photobucket.com/albums/pp330/LadyBlueNose/Cookbook%20Swap%20Designs/AZPCookbook2a-1.jpg</a><a href=http://i424.photobucket.com/albums/pp330/LadyBlueNose/Cookbook%20Swap%20Designs/AZPCookbook2a-1.jpg> </a>   <img src=http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b399/susied214/calendar%20clips/spices2.jpg alt= width=262 height=186 /> <a href=http://s224.photobucket.com/albums/dd235/MidwestMaven/?action=view&current=spoiledpetswap09partbanner.jpg target=_blank><img src=http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd235/MidwestMaven/spoiledpetswap09partbanner.jpg border=0 alt=Photobucket /> <img src=http://i490.photobucket.com/albums/rr266/Acadia/Banners/WineSwapBanner2009-1.jpg alt= /> <img src=http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b399/susied214/permanent%20collection/cookbookZWT.jpg border=0 alt=I am alw /> <img src=http://home.insightbb.com/~webdesign5/Logo1a.jpeg alt= /> <img src=http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r271/copperhorse58/Birthday%20and%20Celebration%20Images/spicesswap_amtag1.jpg border=0 alt=Photobucket /> <img src=http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a132/tgifford/Game%20Room%20Banners/AM%20Banners/KBparticipation.jpg border=0 alt=Photobucket /> <img src=http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg271/MrsTeny/CookbookParticipation2.jpg alt= /></a> <img src=http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j166/ZaarNicksMom/Animation6.gif alt= /> <img src=http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j166/ZaarNicksMom/PACsticker-Adopted.jpg alt= />

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