Recipe - Zuppa Di Funghi

1 One half ounce Dried Porcini mushrooms
3 ounce Prosciutto
15 Sprigs Italian parsley,
leaves only
1 Mediumsized garlic clove,
peeled
One fourth cup Olive oil
Salt, to taste
Freshly ground black pepper,
to taste

PLUS
2 qt Chicken broth, preferably
home made, defatted
1 Three fourths pound Allpurpose potatoes,
peeled, cut in 2" cubes
To serve:
16 Heaping TBS croutons
2 cup Vegetable oil (1/2
sunflower,One half corn)
1 Very large garlic clove,
peeled
Salt, to taste
Freshly ground black pepper,
to taste
8 lg Basil leaves
8 Sprigs Italian parsley,
leaves only

Soak the mushrooms in a bowl containing 1 quart of lukewarm water for 1/2
hour. Meanwhile, finely grind prosciutto and finely chop parsley and garlic
together on board.

Place a mediumsized stockpot with the broth over medium heat and when the
broth reaches a boil, add the potatoes and simmer for about 15 minutes. By
that time the potatoes should be almost dissolved. Pass the contents of the
stockpot through a food mill, using the disk with smallest holes, into a
crockery or glass bowl and let rest until needed.

Drain the mushrooms and carefully clean them, removing all the sand
attached to the stems. Strain the soaking water by passing it several times
through a strainer lined with paper towels.

Heat the One fourth cup olive oil in a mediumsized stockpot over low heat. When
the oil is warm, add the ground prosciutto and the chopped ingredients and
saut‚ for 5 minutes, stirring every so often with a wooden spoon.
Meanwhile, coarsely chop the mushrooms. Add the mushrooms to the pot. stir
very well and season with salt and pepper. Cook for 2 minutes, then add the
mushroom water, a little at a time, and cook for 15 minutes more. Put in
all the broth containing the passed potatoes. Bring to a boil and simmer
for 20 minutes, stirring every so often with a wooden spoon and seasoning
with salt and pepper.

Meanwhile, prepare the croutons. Heat the vegetable oil in a skillet over
medium heat and line a serving platter with paper towels. Add the whole
clove of garlic and saut‚ for 20 seconds. Put in the croutons and fry until
golden. Transfer them to the lined serving platter to absorb excess fat and
sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste. Discard the clove of garlic.

When the broth becomes smooth and rather thick, immediately ladle it into
the individual soup bowls. Put some of the croutons on top of each portion,
then some parsley and basil leaves, and serve immediately.

This soup may be prepared in advance and reheated at the very last moment.

September 8, 1996

Recipe by: =A9 Giuliano Bugialli 1994

Posted to MCRecipe Digest V1 #491 by Frank Cavalier fcaval@idt.net on
Mar 02, 1997.