
Garlic Soup (Aïgo Boulido)
Ingredients:
- 8 cups water
- 20 garlic cloves, coarsely chopped
- 10 fresh sage leaves
- Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
- 6 eggs
- 12 croutons, made from dense
sourdough bread and grilled (see Note) - 2 Tbs. chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
- 6 Tbs. olive oil
Directions:
Return the water to a boil, then reduce the heat so the liquid gently simmers. One at a time, break the eggs into a small bowl and slip into the simmering liquid. Cook until the whites are opaque and the yolks are soft and still liquid, about 2 minutes.
Place 2 croutons in the bottom of each of 6 wide soup bowls. Using a slotted spoon, quickly and carefully remove 1 egg at a time from the simmering soup and place 1 egg on the bread in each bowl. Top each egg with 2 ladlefuls of the soup, then sprinkle with the parsley, dividing evenly. Drizzle 1 Tbs. of the oil into each bowl and serve immediately, before the eggs cook any further. Serves 6.
Note: To grill croutons, rub bread pieces with garlic, if desired, and brush well with olive oil. Preheat a stovetop grill pan over medium-high heat, or prepare a fire in a grill. Grill the bread pieces on one side until lightly browned, about 1 minute. Rotate the pieces 45 degrees and continue grilling on the same side for about 1 minute more to create attractive grill marks. Turn and brown without rotating on the other side, about 1 minute more.