Açorda Alentejana
A comforting and rustic Portuguese bread soup from the Alentejo region, featuring a fragrant garlic and cilantro base, softened bread, and perfectly poached eggs. This dish is a testament to simple ingredients transformed into a flavorful meal.
🧂 Ingredients
- 300 g Day-old crusty bread(Such as a rustic sourdough or Portuguese bread, torn or cubed into bite-sized pieces.)
- 4-6 cloves Garlic(Adjust to your preference for garlic intensity.)
- 4 Large eggs(For poaching directly into the soup.)
- 1 large bunch Fresh cilantro(About 1 cup, packed. Use both leaves and tender stems.)
- 100 ml Extra virgin olive oil(A good quality oil will enhance the flavor.)
- 1.2 L Water(For soaking the bread and creating the soup base.)
- to taste Salt
- to taste Black pepper
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Prepare the flavor base: Peel and roughly chop the garlic cloves. Wash the cilantro, reserving some leaves for garnish. In a mortar and pestle (or a food processor), combine the chopped garlic, the majority of the cilantro (leaves and tender stems), and about 2 tablespoons of the olive oil. Pound or process until a coarse paste forms. Season with a pinch of salt.
⏱️ 10 minutes - 2
Soak the bread: Place the torn or cubed bread in a large bowl. Bring the 1.2 liters of water to a boil in a pot. Once boiling, carefully pour about half of the hot water over the bread. Let it sit for about 5-10 minutes, or until the bread is softened but not completely disintegrated. Add more hot water if needed to ensure all bread is moistened.
⏱️ 10 minutes - 3
Combine and heat the soup: Add the garlic-cilantro paste to the bowl with the soaked bread. Pour in the remaining olive oil and the remaining hot water. Stir everything together well until the bread starts to break down further and forms a thick, porridge-like consistency. Transfer this mixture to a pot and place over medium-low heat. Simmer gently for about 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the soup is heated through and the flavors meld. The consistency should be like a thick soup or a very wet porridge. Adjust with a little more hot water if it becomes too thick.
⏱️ 7 minutes - 4
Poach the eggs: Season the soup with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Create four small wells in the surface of the soup. Carefully crack one egg into each well. Cover the pot and let the eggs poach gently in the simmering soup for about 3-5 minutes, or until the egg whites are set but the yolks are still runny. Alternatively, you can poach the eggs separately and add them to the bowls.
⏱️ 5 minutes - 5
Serve: Ladle the hot Açorda Alentejana into individual bowls, ensuring each serving gets an egg. Garnish generously with the reserved fresh cilantro leaves. Serve immediately.
⏱️ 3 minutes
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓This dish is traditionally made with stale bread, which absorbs the liquid beautifully.
- ✓Don't skip the fresh cilantro; it's a key aromatic component.
- ✓The consistency should be like a thick porridge or a very hearty soup. Adjust the water to achieve your desired texture.
- ✓The poached egg yolk adds a rich, creamy sauce when broken into the soup.
✨ Twist Ideas
Inspiration for your own version of this recipe
- Açorda de Marisco: Add cooked seafood like shrimp, clams, or mussels towards the end of cooking.
- Açorda de Bacalhau: Incorporate shredded, desalted codfish (bacalhau) for a classic variation.
- Vegetarian/Vegan: Omit the eggs and ensure the bread is vegan. You can add sautéed mushrooms or other vegetables for extra substance.