French Garlic Soup Recipe
French Garlic Soup is a comforting and flavorful dish that highlights the mellow sweetness of slow-simmered garlic blended into a rich chicken stock base, finished with a creamy garlic-infused emulsion. This elegant yet simple soup combines fresh sage, Dijon mustard, and olive oil to create a velvety texture and robust flavor, perfect for cozy dinners or entertaining guests.
- Author: Grace
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: French
Soup Base
- 64 ounces chicken stock
- Small bunch fresh sage
- 1 large head of garlic
Emulsion
- 2/3 cup olive oil (or your preferred vegetable oil)
- 1 large egg, separated
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- Pinch of salt
- Simmer the Stock: Heat the chicken stock and fresh sage together in a large Dutch oven over medium heat until it reaches a gentle simmer, infusing the soup with herbaceous flavors.
- Prepare the Garlic: Peel and halve each clove from the large head of garlic, taking care to remove the green shoots in the center which can impart bitterness.
- Soften the Garlic: Boil the garlic halves in a small saucepan of water for 3 to 4 minutes to mellow the garlic’s sharpness, then drain thoroughly.
- Mash and Add Garlic: Mash the softened garlic cloves into a smooth paste and stir this into the simmering stock, continuing to simmer gently for 10 minutes to meld the flavors.
- Make the Emulsion: In a small jar, combine the egg yolk, Dijon mustard, salt, and olive oil. Using an immersion blender, blend the mixture until it emulsifies into a creamy mayonnaise-like texture.
- Strain the Soup (Optional): For a smoother texture, strain the soup through a fine sieve to remove solids before adding the emulsion.
- Temper the Emulsion: Slowly add a ladle of the hot soup into the mayonnaise mixture while whisking constantly to gently warm it and prevent curdling.
- Combine and Warm: Stir the tempered mayonnaise into the pot of soup and warm gently over low heat without bringing it to a boil, ensuring a silky, creamy consistency.
- Serve: Ladle the soup into bowls and garnish with croutons, a drizzle of olive oil, a sprinkle of smoked paprika, and fresh herbs for an aromatic finish.
Notes
- Removing the garlic shoots helps reduce bitterness in the soup.
- Tempering the egg-based emulsion is crucial to avoid curdling.
- You can substitute chicken stock with vegetable stock for a vegetarian variation, but the egg and chicken stock together exclude vegan classification.
- Serve immediately after warming to maintain the silky texture.
- This soup pairs wonderfully with crusty bread.
Keywords: French garlic soup, creamy garlic soup, sage soup, Dijon mustard soup, chicken stock soup, autumn soup, comforting soup, homemade garlic soup