Step 1

Good-quality olive oil makes a difference here. Depending on the brand of sandwich bread that you buy, 4 ounces can range from two and a half to four slices. It's best to use weight as your guide; if you don't have a scale, defer to the volume measurement.

Step 2

Combine oil, garlic, and pepper flakes in large saucepan and cook over medium heat until garlic is lightly browned, about 4 minutes.

Step 3

Stir in tomatoes, bread, broth, basil sprig, salt, and pepper and bring to boil over high heat. Reduce heat to medium, cover, and simmer vigorously until bread has softened completely and soup has thickened slightly, about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Step 4

Off heat, discard basil sprig. Whisk soup until bread has fully broken down and soup has thickened further, about 1 minute. Sprinkle with Parmesan and chopped basil, drizzle with extra oil, and serve.