4.6 from 15 votes
Alpine Bread Soup
This is a great way to use stale bread, rye if you happen to have some. Whatever bread you use, it should be a good, hearty loaf.
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Total Time
33 mins
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 678 kcal
Course:
Main Course , Appetizer , Soup , Lunch
Cuisine:
German , Italian
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 1/4 pound diced bacon (or guanciale or pancetta)
- 1 yellow onion, minced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 cups stale bread, cubed
- 1 quart stock (chicken, beef, vegetable)
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup grated gruyere cheese
- 2 tablespoons chopped parsley
- Black pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a Dutch oven or other large pot, heat the butter over medium heat and add the diced bacon, pancetta, etc. This seems like a lot of fat, but the bread absorbs it. Cook until the meat is crispy, then remove it with a slotted spoon for later.
- Add the onion and cook until it turns translucent, about 4 to 6 minutes. Add the garlic and cook 1 minute. Stir in the bread, making sure to coat it all well.
- Pour in the stock and bring to a simmer. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the bread is about half broken down -- you want it to still have a little structure at the center of the cubes.
- When that happens, drop the heat to low and stir in the cheeses until well combined. Turn off the heat and serve with the parsley and bacon bits and pepper on top.
Cup of Yum
Notes
- You can use bacon, guanciale, pancetta or anything similar here. If you want to reduce the fat, skip the butter.
- If you can't get gruyere, just use more parmesan, or pecorino. If you can find it, the ideal cheese would be montasio, but it's tough to find in the United States.
- I use grouse or venison stock, but use what you have handy -- just nothing too dark.
Nutrition Information
Calories
678kcal
(34%)
Carbohydrates
81g
(27%)
Protein
29g
(58%)
Fat
27g
(42%)
Saturated Fat
11g
(55%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
4g
Monounsaturated Fat
8g
Trans Fat
0.3g
Cholesterol
47mg
(16%)
Sodium
1190mg
(50%)
Potassium
464mg
(13%)
Fiber
7g
(28%)
Sugar
10g
(20%)
Vitamin A
474IU
(9%)
Vitamin C
4mg
(4%)
Calcium
401mg
(40%)
Iron
6mg
(33%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 6servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 678
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 678kcal | 34% |
| Carbohydrates | 81g | 27% |
| Protein | 29g | 58% |
| Fat | 27g | 42% |
| Saturated Fat | 11g | 55% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 4g | 24% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 8g | 40% |
| Trans Fat | 0.3g | 15% |
| Cholesterol | 47mg | 16% |
| Sodium | 1190mg | 50% |
| Potassium | 464mg | 10% |
| Fiber | 7g | 28% |
| Sugar | 10g | 20% |
| Vitamin A | 474IU | 9% |
| Vitamin C | 4mg | 4% |
| Calcium | 401mg | 40% |
| Iron | 6mg | 33% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.