Açorda à Alentejana is the latest recipe in the section “Around the World in 80 Dishes – Part 5”.
It is a typical soup from Alentejo, originally designed for the “Sport Lisboa e Benfica” soccer team.
The recipe for açorda is not universal, it changes from region to region and even from family to family.
The basic composition always includes: garlic, salt, olive oil, boiling water, and sliced bread; to this mixture, aromatic herbs like coriander or pennyroyal mint are added, and it can be served with fresh fish (boiled or fried), cod or egg (poached or hard-boiled).
According to tradition, the origin of açorda dates back to the time of the Arab occupation: a simple dish obtained by breaking bread in a flavored broth to which oil had been added.
The classic form found in Arabic literature is tharīd or tharīda, which means “crumbled bread and stew”.
The Portuguese term “açorda” derives, instead, from the dialect form of Andalusian Arabic, spoken in the Iberian Peninsula, thurda/çurda or thorda/cord.
On the blog, you will find another typical recipe from Alentejo:
- Difficulty: Easy
- Preparation time: 5 Minutes
- Portions: 4
- Cooking methods: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Portuguese
- Seasonality: All seasons
Ingredients
- 14 oz bread (type loaf, hard, sliced)
- 3 cloves garlic
- to taste olive oil
- to taste coarse salt
- 4 eggs
- 6.3 cups water
- to taste coriander (and/or pennyroyal mint)
Steps
Poach the eggs (do not discard the water).
Crush the garlic, coriander, and coarse salt in a mortar.
Pour into a deep bowl, add olive oil, drench with some of the egg cooking water, still boiling, add the slices of bread and finally the eggs.
If necessary, add more cooking water.
FAQ (Questions and Answers)
What is the most suitable bread?
The pão alentejano, which is a traditional bread of the region.
It is made with wheat flour (without the use of blends and especially without the use of durum wheat), leaven (leavened bread dough or “acrescento”), salt, and water; it is then baked in a wood-fired oven.Where does pennyroyal mint grow?
Pennyroyal mint is widespread in all countries around the Mediterranean basin.
In North America, it is mainly distributed in the western coastal states.
Its natural habitat includes humid areas such as the banks of rivers and ponds. It grows at altitudes between 0 and 1,200 meters.
