PAPPA AL KIMCHI POMODORO, KIMCHI TOMATO BREAD SOUP

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 heaping cup cubed, day-old bread
• extra virgin olive oil to coat
• 28 oz (800 grams) canned peeled plum tomato
• 1 1/2 cup (315 grams) kimchi
• 1 tbsp bacon fat, or chicken fat, or extra virgin olive oil
• 1 tbsp toasted sesame oil, plus more to drizzle
• 3 small shallots, minced
• 4 cloves garlics, minced
• 1 1/2 tsp grated ginger
• 3 tbsp gochujang/Korean chili paste
• 2 fresh bay leaves
• 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
• red wine vinegar to taste
• fish sauce to taste
• light brown sugar to taste

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven on top-broiler on high. Scatter the cubed breads on a baking sheet, and drizzle with extra virgin olive oil to lightly coat. Place the baking sheet on the mid-upper level and toast the breads, turning a couple times, until crispy and browned on the edges. Set aside.
2. With a blender or immersion blender, blend the tomatoes and kimchi together until coarsely pureed.
3. In a soup pot over medium-high heat, cook bacon fat, toasted sesame oil, shallots, garlics and ginger until they start to brown slightly on the edges. Add the gochujang paste and cook for another min, until slightly caramelized. Add the tomato-kimchi mixture, fresh bay leaves and black pepper, and once it comes back to a simmer, partially cover the pot (it splatters) and cook for 10 minutes, stirring once in between. Keep in mind that we need the liquid to soak up the breads, so do not reduce it down too much. I cooked my tomato mixture for 20 min and as you can see it's bit too chunky. Season with red wine vinegar, fish sauce and light brown sugar to taste. This will largely depend on the kimchi you used. I added about 2 tsp vinegar, 1 tsp fish sauce and 1/2 tsp sugar. If you want to serve it hot, you can prepare the dish up to this step, then finish the following steps before serving. If you want to serve cold, keep going.
4. Now add the toasted cubed bread and cook for a couple minutes, until the breads are softened but not yet mushy. Reseason again with red wine vinegar, fish sauce and light brown sugar if needed. Serve hot, or chill in the fridge for at least 6 hours until cold. Drizzle with more toasted sesame oil to serve.