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Garlic and Cilantro Soup with Chickpeas (Açorda Alentejana)
This soup, with its fragrant, bright green broth, is our take on Portuguese açorda alentejana. Soft-cooked eggs are a perfect garnish that also turn the soup into a complete meal. To soft-cook eggs, bring 2 cups water to a simmer in a large saucepan fitted with a steamer basket. Add the eggs, cover and steam over medium for 7 minutes. Immediately transfer to ice water to stop the cooking.
4
Servings
Tip
Don't skimp on the olive oil in this soup. The croutons absorb oil as they toast and the broth takes on a rich, creamy texture when the pesto is stirred in.
20 minutes
Ingredients
-
2
cups lightly packed fresh cilantro leaves and tender stems, roughly chopped
-
½
ounce Parmesan cheese, finely grated (¼ cup), plus more to serve
Directions
-
01In a food processor, combine the cilantro, Parmesan, jalapeño, lemon zest and juice, ½ teaspoon of the paprika, and ½ teaspoon each salt and pepper. Process until finely chopped, about 20 seconds, scraping the sides as needed. With the machine running, add ½ cup of the oil and process to a pesto-like consistency, 30 to 45 seconds. Set aside.
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August 1, 2023
Super tasty!
Great balance and flavor. I'm not sure I would use more than a quart of chicken stock for this. The cilantro/jalapeno pesto was awesome. I was going to serve with naan bread but ended up making croutons with it and it added a lot of flavor. The egg added the richness needed for the dish. Totally quick and easy weeknight meal. A total keeper.
January 17, 2023
AMAZING!
Seriously one of the best soups I have ever had! I held off on putting the bread in it and had a piece of toasted gf flatbread on the side. It would be an easy recipe to make gf and dairy free.
January 13, 2023
Delicious!
The idea of wet cilantro isn't necessarily appealing on its face, but good lord, was this ever good. Turned out to be a couple more servings for us, so I think I'll make six eggs next time. There will definitely be a next time!
October 5, 2022
Wow!
The broth was a taste delight. We made the recipe as directed and loved it. One could probably use chicken pieces, fish, shrimp, or even tofu if desired. The smoked paprika-enhanced croutons are essential. :)
October 4, 2022
Absolutely delicious!
If you like cilantro, garlic and chick peas, this is for you. Absolutely delicious and filling! The smoked paprika croutons, yum!
I have made this recipe twice, and it has been a hit each time. It’s a quick recipe, but don’t let that trick you into thinking it will lack depth or flavor. This soup is balanced, rustic, filling, and a delight on a cold winter day. The first time I made this, I used fresh store-bought baguette, which worked nicely in a pinch. The second time, I used homemade two day-old sourdough, and it made the soup much more rustic, especially the crispy edge bits. I did not discard any jalapeño seeds and found the soup to be appropriate in its spiciness (light-medium). If you are especially intolerant of capsaicin, removing the seeds will help, but do not skip the jalapeño.
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Just made this last night, and it was DELICIOUS. One serving fills you up too, nice and hearty. Recipe is perfect.