Açorda à Alentejana

Name: Açorda à Alentejana
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Portuguese
Ingredients: 8 oz stale country bread (or sourdough), thick slices; 6 cloves garlic, peeled; 1 tsp coarse sea salt; 1 cup fresh cilantro, chopped; 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil; 4 cups water; 4 large eggs

A rustic Alentejo bread soup of stale bread, garlic, coriander, and olive oil, topped with a steamed egg. It turns leftover bread into a complete supper.

30 minEasyServes 4380 cal/serving

PortugueseDinnerStovetopVegetarianNut-FreeShellfish-Free

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Ingredients

8 oz stale country bread (or sourdough), thick slices
6 cloves garlic, peeled
1 tsp coarse sea salt
1 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
4 cups water
4 large eggs

Instructions

1

Mash 6 cloves peeled garlic, 1 tsp coarse sea salt, and 1 cup chopped fresh cilantro into a paste, using a mortar or the back of a knife on a board.
2

Put 8 oz thick slices stale country bread (or sourdough) in four bowls. Bring 4 cups water to a boil, stir in the paste, and simmer 5 minutes.
3

Pour the hot liquid over the bread and drizzle with 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil. Let it soak 2 minutes, then stir into a soft porridge.
4

Crack 4 large eggs into the bowls, one egg per bowl, on the bread, cover with a plate, and cook 5 to 6 minutes, until the whites are opaque and firm and the yolks are still soft.

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Questions

What is Açorda à Alentejana?

A rustic Alentejo bread soup of stale bread, garlic, coriander, and olive oil, topped with a steamed egg. It turns leftover bread into a complete supper. This reference files it under Portuguese dinner: made on the stovetop, rated easy and about 30 minutes start to finish.

What should Açorda à Alentejana look like when it is ready?

Go by the cues in the method rather than the clock. Step 4: cook until the whites are opaque and firm and the yolks are still soft.

What can I use instead of cilantro in Açorda à Alentejana?

The entry for Açorda à Alentejana calls for 1 cup fresh cilantro, chopped. In its place: Flat-leaf parsley with a squeeze of lime, for anyone who tastes soap. The dish loses its signature note but stays fresh.

Is Açorda à Alentejana vegan?

No, though it is vegetarian. What keeps it from vegan is 4 large eggs. For fully plant-based entries, see the vegan dinner collection.

Does Açorda à Alentejana contain eggs?

Yes: 4 large eggs. The full allergen list for this entry is eggs. Packaged ingredients vary by brand, so check labels if the allergy is serious.

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