Pappa Al Pomodoro / Classic Italian Tomato Soup

• 12 cup olive oil
• 2 cups chopped yellow onions or 2 chopped yellow onions
• 1 medium-diced carrot, scrubbed, unpeeled, I peel and dice
• 1 fennel bulbs, trimmed, cored and medium dice or 1 12 cups fennel bulbs
• 4 teaspoons garlic cloves, minced or 4 garlic cloves
• 3 cups ciabatta, 1-inch dice, crust removed, I do not remove the crusts
• 2 (28 ounce) canssan marzano canned tomatoes
• 4 cups chicken stock
• 12 cup dry red wine
• 1 cup fresh basil leaf, chopped, if using dried, I have used dried about 3 Tablespoons I felt the dried equivalent of 1/3 C
• 1 tablespoon kosher salt, to taste
• 1 12 teaspoons pepper, to taste
• 12 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
• 1 inch diced ciabatta, 3-5 cubes per bowl, approx. 5 slices
• 2 ounces pancetta, small dice, I brow up 4 ounces
• 12 basil leaves, can omit
• 3 tablespoons olive oil

1. Heat the oil in a large stock pot over medium heat.
2. Add the onions, carrots, fennel, and garlic.
3. Cook over medium-low heat for 10 minutes, until tender.
4. Add the ciabatta cubes and cook for 5 more minutes.
5. Place the tomatoes in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade and process until coarsely chopped.
6. Add the tomatoes to the pot along with the chicken stock, red wine, basil, 1 T salt, and 1 1/2 t pepper.
7. Bring the soup to a boil, lower the heat and allow to simmer, partially covered for 45 minutes.
8. MEANWHILE: Preheat oven to 375F.
9. TOPPING:.
10. In a large bowl, put the reserved ciabatta bread cubes, pancetta and whole basil leaves in the bowl and drizzle with olive oil.
11. Toss to coat.
12. On a lined sheet pan large enough for all ingredients, place the ingredients in a single layer, Be sure the basil leaves are flat.
13. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
14. Bake until the cubes are toasted, pancetta crispy and basil leaves turn dark & crisp.
15. This may take 15-20 minutes.
16. Check on your soup.
17. If the soup is too lumpy for you you can smash with a wooden spoon, potato masher or use a submersion blender to break up the bread cubes.
18. Alternately you can puree in batches in a food processor or blender.
19. Blend to desired consistency.
20. I prefer a more rustic presentation.
21. *Take care to only fill the blender or food processor 1/3 when you puree HOT soup.
22. Turn up the heat to rewarm if necessary.
23. At this point check for seasoning.
24. Add more salt and pepper as needed.
25. Stir in parmesan cheese, top with basil leaf, pancetta and bread cubes.
26. Freezes well.

olive oil, yellow onions, carrot, fennel bulbs, garlic, crusts, tomatoes, chicken stock, red wine, fresh basil leaf, kosher salt, pepper, parmesan cheese, bowl, pancetta, basil, olive oil

Taken from www.food.com/recipe/pappa-al-pomodoro-classic-italian-tomato-soup-450004 (may not work)