Print

Country French Garlic Soup Recipe

Country French Garlic Soup Recipe
Print Recipe

★★★★★

5.1 from 19 reviews

Country French Garlic Soup is a comforting and elegant traditional recipe that highlights the natural sweetness of slowly cooked garlic, combined with onions, butter, and fresh herbs. Finished with a luxurious liaison of egg yolks and Parmesan cheese, this velvety soup offers a rich, custard-like texture without the heaviness of cream. Served with crusty bread and garnished with fresh parsley, it is a perfect, restorative dish rooted in French culinary heritage.

Ingredients

Scale

Main Ingredients

  • 2 whole heads of garlic, peeled
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 6 cups chicken or vegetable broth
  • 2 sprigs fresh thyme
  • 2 bay leaves
  • Salt and pepper, to taste

Finishing Ingredients

  • 4 egg yolks
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • Crusty bread, for serving
  • Fresh parsley (optional for garnish)

Instructions

  1. Heat fats and sauté onion: In a large pot over medium heat, heat the olive oil and butter together until melted and warm. Add the chopped onion and sauté for about 5 minutes, or until the onion is softened and translucent, which helps build a flavorful base.
  2. Add garlic and cook gently: Add the peeled garlic cloves to the pot and cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring frequently to prevent the garlic from burning while allowing it to soften and release its aroma.
  3. Add broth and herbs, then simmer: Pour in the chicken or vegetable broth, add the fresh thyme sprigs and bay leaves, and bring the mixture to a boil. Once boiling, reduce heat and let it simmer gently for about 30 minutes to infuse flavors and tenderize the garlic.
  4. Remove herbs and season: After simmering, remove the thyme sprigs and bay leaves. Season the soup with salt and freshly ground pepper to taste.
  5. Prepare the liaison: In a small bowl, whisk together the egg yolks and grated Parmesan cheese until smooth and well combined.
  6. Temper the egg mixture: Slowly ladle hot soup into the egg and cheese mixture while whisking continuously to gently raise the temperature without curdling the eggs.
  7. Incorporate liaison into soup: Gradually pour the tempered egg mixture back into the pot, whisking continuously to blend and thicken the soup slightly without scrambling the eggs.
  8. Finish cooking: Simmer the soup gently for another 5 minutes, stirring constantly until it slightly thickens to a silky, custard-like texture.
  9. Serve: Ladle the hot soup into bowls, serve with crusty bread on the side, and garnish with fresh parsley if desired to add freshness and color.

Notes

  • Use fresh garlic heads for the best flavor; peeling whole heads can be facilitated by roasting or blanching if preferred.
  • Tempering the eggs is crucial to avoid scrambling and to achieve the smooth, velvety texture typical of classic French soups.
  • Vegetarian option: Use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth to keep the soup meat-free.
  • If preferred, stale or toasted bread can be added to the soup or served alongside as traditional garnish.
  • For a gluten-free diet, ensure bread served is gluten-free or omit.
  • Fresh thyme and bay leaves are key to depth of flavor, but dried herbs can be substituted if necessary.

Nutrition

Keywords: garlic soup, French soup, country soup, creamy garlic soup, comforting soup, liaison, French cuisine, hearty soup

Find it online: https://mixitwitjoe.com/country-french-garlic-soup-recipe/