Country French Garlic Soup 🥖🧄🍲

 Country French Garlic Soup 🥖🧄🍲

This comforting, aromatic French soup is rich in garlic flavor yet mild and creamy, perfect for a cozy night in. Serve it with toasted baguette for an authentic French touch.

Ingredients:

2 whole heads of garlic, peeled 🧄

1 medium onion, chopped 🧅

2 tablespoons olive oil 🫒

4 cups chicken or vegetable broth 🥣

1 bay leaf 🍃

4-5 sprigs of fresh thyme (or 1 teaspoon dried thyme) 🌿

Salt and pepper, to taste 🧂

1/2 cup heavy cream or 1/2 cup whole milk 🥛

1 egg yolk (optional for extra richness)

Grated Parmesan or Gruyère cheese for topping 🧀

Slices of baguette for serving 🥖

Instructions:

Prepare the Garlic: Bring a small pot of water to a boil. Blanch the garlic cloves by boiling them for about 2 minutes, then drain. (This mellows the garlic flavor.)

Sauté the Aromatics: In a large pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and blanched garlic, cooking for about 5 minutes until they’re softened and fragrant.

Add Broth and Herbs: Pour in the chicken or vegetable broth, add the bay leaf and thyme, and bring to a gentle boil. Lower the heat and let it simmer for 20 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld.

Blend the Soup: Remove the bay leaf and thyme sprigs. Use an immersion blender to blend the soup until smooth (or carefully transfer to a blender).

Add Cream and Seasoning: Stir in the heavy cream or milk. If using an egg yolk, temper it by whisking it with a little hot soup, then adding it back to the pot. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Serve: Ladle the soup into bowls. Top with grated cheese and a toasted baguette slice for dipping. 🧀🥖

Enjoy this Country French Garlic Soup—a rustic, flavorful dish perfect for cooler days! 🌿🍲