Feeling Like A Peasant? Try Pancotta

With all the bad (and getting worse) economic news I thought I might post some "peasant food" as the recipe for today. It may be peasant food but it is also wonderfully warm and pleasing while also being pretty "cheap eats". It is also a great way to use up stale bread though not the "Wonder" type bread. It needs to be a good French boule or Italian style loaf.
You will find many different recipes for this as everybody has their own little twist and you can feel free to improvise as well. Remember no rules. I've seen it with white beans and I've seen it broiled before serving . You can make it drier or wetter. Whatever blows your hair back.

Pancotta

This make 4 nice servings but you can halve it or even quarter it for one if you want.

3 TBsp extra virgin olive oil
3 cloves of garlic, minced
1/4 cup chopped fresh Italian parsley
dried hot red pepper flakes to taste but I would start with a half Tsp
4 thick slices of Italian bread, cut into 1 inch cubes
5 cups of stock, you can use beef, chicken or vegetable
salt and pepper to taste
Freshly grated Pecorino Romano or Parmeseano-Reggiano cheese to taste (This will not be very nice if you use the floor sweepings that come in the green cardboard can. If you have to skimp on the cheese and use a domestic Parmesan then at least grate it yourself.)

Put the oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the garlic, parsley, and chile and cook for a minute or so or until you can smell it. Add the cubed bread and cook, stirring occasionally until the bread is a nice golden brown. This should take about 5 or 6 minutes. Once the bread is browned add all of the stock and simmer for about 30 minutes. It will be pretty thick. Season with salt and pepper to taste and serve with the grated cheese. This is good hot but it works at room temperature as well. This needs a nice red wine especially if you used beef broth.

This tastes so good you will forget you're a peasant for awhile.

I've said this before but if you aren't making your own stocks then you can't beat the Swanson Organic stocks in the box. Low sodium and they actually taste like homemade.