Pappa al Pomodoro - Italian Tomato And Bread Soup

Pappa al pomodoro is an Italian soup prepared using a day old bread and fresh summer tomatoes & basil. This healthy, chuncky and thick soup is great for lunch.

Ingredients - Serves 4

• Fresh tomatoes - 6 (medium size)
• Italian bread  - 4 slices
• Chopped onion - 1 cup
• Garlic minced - 1 tblsp
• Chopped basil - 2 tblsp
• Vegetable stock / water - 2 cups
• Olive oil - 2 tblsp
• Salt and pepper to taste

Method

• Cut the bread into 1 inch cubes and keep it aside
• In large pan, boil 2 cups of water
• Add tomatoes to the boiling water, after 30 seconds remove them from the water
• Cool and peel the skin gently - chop the tomatoes
• Heat the pan with oil, add onions and saute till translucent
• Add garlic and saute for a minute 
• Add tomatoes, basil and 2 cups of vegetable stock or water
• Allow it to boil and simmer it for 10 to 15 minutes and remove it from heat
• Add required salt and pepper
• Add bread cubes and drizzle olive oil on top

Nutritional Information

• Tomatoes  are rich in mineral chromium, which helps to maintain blood sugar level under control
• Tomatoes contain a lot of vitamins A and C, mostly because of beta-carotene, and these vitamins act as an anti-oxidant
• Per serving = 165 calories approximately