Description
Rustic Country French Garlic Soup invites comfort with its soul-warming blend of rich broth and mellow roasted garlic. Hearty ingredients and simple peasant techniques create a delicious culinary experience you’ll savor down to the last spoonful.
Ingredients
Scale
Produce:
- 2 heads of garlic (about 20–25 cloves)
- 1 medium onion
- 1 leek, white and light green parts only
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley
Liquids and Fats:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 cups (946 milliliters) chicken or vegetable broth
- 1/2 cup (118 milliliters) heavy cream
Dry Ingredients and Seasonings:
- 1 cup (150 grams) day-old bread, cubed (baguette or rustic loaf)
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 bay leaf
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the aromatic garlic by preheating the oven to 375°F (190°C). Envelop peeled garlic cloves in aluminum foil with a drizzle of olive oil, creating a sealed packet for roasting. Bake until the cloves transform into golden, tender morsels, approximately 25–30 minutes.
- Select a spacious cooking vessel and warm the remaining olive oil over medium heat. Gently sauté the onion and leek until they become translucent and tender, releasing their delicate flavors.
- Introduce the roasted garlic into the pot, along with fragrant thyme, a single bay leaf, and a whisper of nutmeg. Pour in the broth, allowing the ingredients to meld together as the liquid reaches a gentle simmer.
- Incorporate cubed bread into the simmering liquid, permitting the bread to absorb the rich flavors. Stir periodically, ensuring even saturation and a consistent texture.
- Extract the bay leaf to prevent any bitter undertones. Transform the soup into a velvety consistency using an immersion blender, or carefully transfer to a standard blender in manageable batches.
- For those desiring enhanced richness, fold in heavy cream, creating a luxurious texture. Season judiciously with salt and pepper, adjusting to personal taste preferences.
- Elegantly present the soup in individual serving bowls. Garnish with freshly chopped parsley and accompany with complementary bread or crisp croutons for added textural contrast.
Notes
- Roast garlic slowly to enhance its natural sweetness and mellow its sharp bite, creating a deeper, more complex flavor profile.
- Choose high-quality bread like day-old French baguette or rustic sourdough to achieve the best texture and absorb maximum flavor in the soup.
- Swap heavy cream with coconut milk or cashew cream for a dairy-free version that maintains the soup’s creamy consistency and rich taste.
- Use vegetable broth instead of chicken stock to transform this recipe into a completely vegetarian dish without compromising depth of flavor.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Roasting
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 20mg