Soup With Bread Under It - {Minestra Con Panno Sotto}

Aunt Santina sent me the recipe for a peasant soup her mother, Mrs. Belurgi, used to carry to the workers in the fields near Veroli, Italy. The story goes that Mrs. B. would twist a large kitchen towel around her head and tie it securely. A large bowl of the soup would be propped atop her head, and off she went to the fields, arriving just before the bells of the church tolled the Angelus. When she arrived, the workers knelt and prayed and then had their soup.

Cuisine: Italian
Courses: Soup
Serves: 10 people

Recipe Ingredients

1/4 cup	59ml	Olive oil
1 cup	62g / 2.2oz	Onion - chopped (medium)
2		Garlic cloves - chopped
8 cups	500g / 17oz	Chopped fresh or canned plum tomatoes - - (abt 5 lbs)
2 sections		Basil - (to 3)
		Salt - to taste
		Freshly-ground black pepper - to taste
1 lb	454g / 16oz	Swiss chard - leaves trimmed and
		Cut crosswise into 3 or 4 pieces
1		Loaf Italian bread - cut into 1" slices
1/4 cup	36g / 1.3oz	Grated Pecorino Romano cheese - more or less

Recipe Instructions

In a large pot, heat the olive oil. Add the onion and saute for 5 minutes. Add the garlic and saute until the garlic is soft. Add the tomatoes, basil, and salt and pepper. Stir well and let simmer, covered, for 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, bring a large saucepan of water to a boil. Add the Swiss chard and boil for 5 to 6 minutes, or until crisp-tender. Drain well.

Add the Swiss chard to the tomato mixture, stir well, and simmer for 10 minutes.

Place a layer of bread slices in a deep platter. Spread just enough of the soup over the bread to cover it. Sprinkle with some of the Pecorino Romano cheese. Make a second layer of bread, tomato sauce, and cheese and continue until all the bread and soup is used. Serve immediately.

This recipe yields 8 to 10 servings.

Source:
Ciao Italia at http://www.ciaoitalia.com

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