A staple of homes in Cuba and much of the rest of the Caribbean, where tomatoes are available year-round, this soup clearly derives from the classic Mediterranean “boiled water” (see the variation), a soup based on garlic, bread, and whatever else can be found. Despite its humble origins, this is a wonderful dish for entertaining (be sure to warn your guests that the bowls are hot!).

　　

Ingredients

makes 4 servings

　　2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

　　6 garlic cloves, peeled

　　8 ripe plum tomatoes, peeled and chopped (canned are fine)

　　1 bay leaf

　　6 cups chicken or vegetable stock, preferably homemade (page 160 or 162), or water

　　Four 1-inch-thick slices French or Italian bread, at least a day old

　　4 eggs

　　Salt and black pepper to taste

　　2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley leaves

　　

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 450°F. Place a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the olive oil and garlic cloves and cook, stirring occasionally, until the garlic is softened and lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Stir in the tomatoes and bay leaf and continue stirring until the tomatoes begin to break down, about 5 minutes. Pour in the chicken stock and bring to a boil; lower the heat and simmer for 20 minutes. (You can prepare the dish up to this point and let sit for a few hours or cover and refrigerate for up to a day; reheat before proceeding.)

　　

Step 2

Meanwhile, prepare the soup bowls. Place the bread slices in the bottom of 4 individual heatproof dishes and then break an egg over each slice.

　　

Step 3

When the soup is ready, season with salt and pepper, then strain the soup into the individual bowls. Sprinkle the parsley on top of the soup and bake for 5 minutes. Serve piping hot.

　　

“Boiled Water” (Provence)

Step 4

The meager, ultra simplified version, which is still quite good. Omit the tomatoes and use water in place of stock. Omit the eggs; instead, toast the bread (better still, fry it on both sides in extra virgin olive oil). Finish with freshly grated Parmesan cheese.

　　

Lime and Garlic Soup (Mexico)

Step 5

Omit the bread and eggs. Finish the simple soup with about 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves and loads of fresh lime juice.

　　The Best Recipes in the World by Mark Bittman. © 2005 by Mark Bittman. Published by Broadway Books. All Rights Reserved.MARK BITTMAN is the author of the blockbuster The Best Recipes in the World (Broadway, 2005) and the classic bestseller How to Cook Everything, which has sold more than one million copies. He is also the coauthor, with Jean-Georges Vongerichten, of Simple to Spectacular and Jean-Georges: Cooking at Home with a Four-Star Chef. Mr. Bittman is a prolific writer, makes frequent appearances on radio and television, and is the host of The Best Recipes in the World, a 13-part series on public television. He lives in New York and Connecticut.