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Italian Bread and Cabbage Soup with Sage Butter

Recipe Excerpted from JAMIE AT HOME by Jamie Oliver. Copyright (c) 2008. Published in the U.S. by Hyperion. All rights reserved. www.jamieoliver.com

Show: Jamie at HomeEpisode: Winter Vegetables

Rated: 5 stars out of 5Rate itRead users' reviews (10)

  • Cook Time:

    50 min

  • Level:

    Intermediate

  • Yield:

    8 servings

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Times:

Prep
20 min
Inactive Prep
--
Cook
50 min
Total:
1 hr 10 min
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Ingredients

  • 3 quarts good-quality chicken or vegetable stock
  • 1 Savoy cabbage, stalks removed, outer leaves separated, washed and roughly chopped
  • 2 big handfuls cavolo nero and/or kale, stalks removed, leaves washed
  • and roughly chopped
  • About 16 slices stale country-style or sourdough bread
  • 1 clove garlic, unpeeled, cut in 1/2
  • Olive oil
  • 12 to 14 slices pancetta or bacon
  • 1 (4-ounce) can anchovy fillets, in oil
  • 3 sprigs fresh rosemary, leaves picked
  • 7 ounces fontina cheese, grated
  • 5 ounces freshly grated Parmesan, plus a little for serving
  • Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • Couple large knobs butter
  • Small bunch fresh sage, leaves picked

Directions

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.

Bring the stock to the boil in a large saucepan and add the cabbage, cavolo nero and/or kale. Cook for a few minutes until softened (you may have to do this in 2 batches). Remove the cabbage to a large bowl, leaving the stock in the pan.

Toast all but 5 of the bread slices on a hot griddle pan or in a toaster, then rub them on 1 side with the garlic halves, and set aside.

Next, heat a large 4-inch-deep ovenproof casserole-type pan on the stove top, pour in a couple of glugs of olive oil and add your pancetta and anchovies. When the pancetta is golden brown and sizzling, add the rosemary and cooked cabbage and toss to coat the greens in all the lovely flavors. Put the mixture and all the juices back into the large bowl.

Place 4 of the toasted slices in the casserole-type pan, in 1 layer. Spread over 1/3 of the cabbage leaves, sprinkle over a 1/4 of the grated fontina and Parmesan and add a drizzle of olive oil. Repeat this twice, but don't stress if your pan's only big enough to take layers - that's fine. Just pour in all the juices remaining in the bowl and end with a layer of untoasted bread on top. Push down on the layers with your hands.

Pour the stock gently over the top until it just comes up to the top layer. Push down again and sprinkle over the remaining fontina and Parmesan. Add a good pinch of salt and pepper and drizzle over some good-quality olive oil. Bake in the preheated oven for around 30 minutes, or until crispy and golden on top.

When the soup is ready, divide it between your bowls. Melt the butter in a frying pan and quickly fry the sage leaves until they're just crisp and the butter is lightly golden (not burned!). Spoon a bit of the flavored butter and sage leaves over the soup and add another grating of Parmesan. Such a great combo!

"Our agreement with the producers of "Jamie at Home" only permit us to make 2 recipes per episode available online. Food Network regrets the inconvenience to our viewers and foodnetwork.com users"

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Read more Comments & Reviews (10)

Comments & Reviews

  • recipe Italian Bread and Cabbage Soup with Sage Butter
    Maria Plymouth, MA 01-03-2009

    Flag

    Must be eaten the same day

    Rated: 4 stars out of 5
    I tried to make only half of this recipe but it was still too much for two people. You really can't have too much of it so I... think that if I make it again, I would serve for a larger group as a small first dish. Too much of it is not great on the tummy. Good taste just too strong and very heavy with the cheese and the bread.Read more
  • recipe Italian Bread and Cabbage Soup with Sage Butter
    Rhonda Ashland, OR 12-30-2008

    Flag

    FABulous!

    Rated: 5 stars out of 5
    Loved it, loved it, loved it. Followed it to the letter. My only suggestion is I would add more kale. The color and flavor of... the green cabbage was lovely and gave this soup a heartiness and zest that made this winter dish even better. The savoy cabbage was nice, too. I added a sliced yellow onion sauteed along with the cabbages. The anchovies are delicious, but a favorite of mine so I never shirk from using them. Try them, try them. Good cooks know they are not the salty little devils most people don't like when they are cooked right. Although, I like the salty little devils, too. I also sprinkled some balsamic vinegar on top of the dish just before serving and it added a special piquancy to the flavor of the kale that put the whole dish over the top. Bravo, Jamie!Read more
  • recipe Italian Bread and Cabbage Soup with Sage Butter
    Vonne Brighton, MI 12-08-2008

    Flag

    The BEST soup I have ever made and/or eaten!!

    Rated: 5 stars out of 5
    I was amazed how easy it was to make this recipe. I did leave out the Anchovies, but I still think it was fabulous! I would... recommend this to anyone who loves cold winter days and hot soup, what a great way to end the day, thank you Jamie!!Read more
  • recipe Italian Bread and Cabbage Soup with Sage Butter
    Jennifer Sunnyside, NY 11-10-2008

    Flag

    Rich, buttery, perfect!

    Rated: 5 stars out of 5
    I served this as a started at a dinner party tonight and ABSOLUTELY loved it -- I could have done three courses of this soup!... The contrast of texture of the bread and the kale and cabbage was amazing, and the cheese added such a special note. The soup was rich without being heavy; I can't wait to eat it again! Read more
  • recipe Italian Bread and Cabbage Soup with Sage Butter
    Anonymous 04-06-2008

    Flag

    I love this soup!

    Rated: 5 stars out of 5
    This is a great soup! The bread adds density. The cabbage pairs well with the pork (bacon adds a nice smoke) and the cheese... binds it into a luscious hearty soup. This is real food!Read more
  • recipe Italian Bread and Cabbage Soup with Sage Butter
    Concetta Spokane, WA 03-09-2008

    Flag

    Wonderful & Comforting

    Rated: 5 stars out of 5
    Ahhh, this was just lovely! I watched Jamie at Home and thought the recipe looked yummy. Thanks to TIVO, was able to watch... again as I wrote the recipe down. I'm so glad I did! Easy, very flavorful and reminiscent of the many hearty Tuscan soups I've had during my travels. I happened to have a dense, homemade,whole wheat bread on hand, and it was perfect for this soup. Both my husband and I loved it and even now, the leftovers at gently reheating in the oven. Perfect for a chilly winter evening.Read more
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