Best Spanish Garlic And Bread Soup Recipe

Are you ready to improve your cooking skills? Then the Spanish soup recipes await you, ready to take you from zero to hero in no time.

Among them is the Spanish garlic and bread soup, a delicious and comforting dish that will surely become a favorite in your kitchen, and your new secret weapon to impress your loved ones.

Keep reading this article to learn how to make it from scratch, with the best tips for storing, serving, and customizing the ingredients of this recipe.

You, dear reader, support this blog. If you purchase through a link, we earn a small commission. As an Amazon Affiliate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Pssst…!!?? You can’t get enough of Spanish soup recipes? Have a look at my other posts: 

• Flounder soup

• Cold bean soup

• Cocido madrileno

Background of the Dish

The Spanish garlic and bread soup can be traced back to centuries ago when resourceful cooks made use of simple, cheap, and easily available ingredients to create nourishing meals.

This one is believed to be a healing garlic soup due to the potent medicinal properties attributed to garlic, including its ability to boost the immune system, among other health-related benefits.

What is known for certain is that Spanish garlic soup recipes have been nourishing Andalusians for generations, providing soul-warming meals to be enjoyed all year round.

Pin for later!

Things You’ll Need for Spanish Garlic And Bread Soup

To make this recipe for garlic soup you will need garlic cloves, eggs, vegetable broth, olive oil, paprika, and a tomato.

The only equipment needed to make this Spanish garlic and bread soup is a large pot.

Ingredients

• 6 cups (1.5l) vegetable broth
• 6 garlic cloves
• 1 tomato
• 4 tablespoons of olive oil
• 2 teaspoons sweet paprika
• 2 teaspoons smoked paprika (optional, but adds depth)
• 1 bay leaf
• 4 slices of day-old bread (preferably rustic or country-style)
• 4 eggs (optional)
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Chopped fresh parsley for garnish

How to Make Spanish Garlic And Bread Soup – Step by Step Guide

1. To start preparing this Spanish garlic soup recipe, make a cross-shaped cut on the base of the tomato, and blanch it for 2 minutes in a saucepan with boiling water. Let it cool, drain it, and peel it. Remove the seeds from the inside and chop it. Set it aside.

2. After that, peel and mince the garlic cloves. Also, cut the slices of stale bread into cubes and set them aside to use later.

3. Now grab a large and heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and cook until fragrant, about 2 minutes, being careful not to burn it.

4. To continue with this easy garlic soup recipe, stir in the sweet and smoked paprika, bay leaf, and tomato pieces. Cook for another minute.

5. Then, pour in the vegetable broth and bring the mixture to a simmer. Let the Spanish soup simmer gently for about 15 minutes to allow the flavors to meld. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

6. After that, add the bread cubes to the pot. Stir well to ensure the bread is fully submerged in the broth. Simmer the garlic bread soup for 7 minutes, or until the bread has softened and absorbed some of the broth. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.

7. As an optional step, crack an egg into the garlic and bread soup and let it poach there for a few minutes until the whites are set but the yolks are still runny.

8. To finish this sopa de ajo recipe, pour the soup into bowls. Garnish the Spanish garlic and bread soup with chopped fresh parsley and serve warm.

Substitution of Ingredients

The Spanish garlic and bread soup only calls for a few ingredients that everyone can find at home, yet there are some modifications you can make to tailor it to your taste preferences or dietary restrictions.

Just like the Spanish bread soup, you can turn it into a gluten-free one by using your favorite kind of GF bread such as rice bread, quinoa bread, or almond flour bread.

Do you want to make this soup heartier?

Then you can copy the Spanish bean soup and add canned and cooked beans to the mix, or like the pork and potato soup and add your favorite proteins and veggies.

To enhance the protein content of this dish while remaining true to the Andalusian culinary heritage, draw inspiration from the Spanish shrimp soup by including ingredients like cooked shrimp, or seafood.

Tips on Serving Spanish Garlic And Bread Soup

This traditional Spanish soup is served hot, often garnished with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and a sprinkle of freshly chopped parsley for a vibrant finish.

This dish is commonly known as the healthy garlic soup, but you can go a different route by serving it with crispy bacon or Serrano ham bits sprinkled on top for a savory twist.

Most Spanish soups are served as a main dish, and this Spanish garlic and bread soup is no exception, though you can also enjoy it as a delicious appetizer or in a smaller serving alongside a fresh salad for a complete meal.

If you want to add a texture contrast to this dish, you can emulate the Spanish almond soup and top it with crunchy toasted almonds or croutons for an extra layer of flavor and crunch.

Also, try the white garlic soup, a great recipe from Spain that’s healing as well, or the bacon tomato soup.

Like the Spanish rice soup, feel free to serve this soup with a portion of cooked rice or pasta, in this case, on the side to make it even more satisfying and hearty.

How to Store Spanish Garlic And Bread Soup

We have some amazing news for you: the Spanish garlic and bread soup can be stored both in the fridge or freezer, depending on your needs.

In both cases, first, you have to let it cool to room temperature once you finish making this Spanish soup recipe, which can take from 30 to 60 minutes.

Then, store the Spanish garlic and bread soup in a covered airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days or in the freezer for 30 days (make sure to cover it with plastic wrap on contact with the top and a lid).

Once you are ready to enjoy it, you can reheat the soup on the stove for about 5 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it’s heated through and ready to serve.

Other easy Spanish soup recipes that you can make and store both ways are the hearty lentil soup with ham bone, the authentic orange lentil soup, and the classic Spanish white bean soup.

Recipe Card: Spanish Garlic And Bread Soup

---

---