Rustic Country French Garlic Soup Recipe
Rustic Country French Garlic Soup is a creamy, aromatic soup featuring roasted garlic, sautéed onions, and fresh thyme. This comforting dish blends the rich flavors of roasted garlic and heavy cream, served with crusty bread or baguette for a delightful, hearty meal perfect for cozy evenings.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 55 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Soup
- Method: Roasting and Stovetop
- Cuisine: French
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 10 garlic cloves (about 50 g), whole and unpeeled
- 1 large yellow onion (about 150 g), chopped
- 4 cups (960 ml) vegetable or chicken broth
- 1 cup (240 ml) heavy cream
- 1 tbsp (15 ml) olive oil
- 4–5 sprigs fresh thyme (or 1 tsp dried thyme)
- 1 small baguette or 4 slices crusty bread (about 150 g), for serving
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- Fresh herbs or croutons, for garnish
Instructions
- Roast the Garlic: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Slice the tops off the garlic bulbs, drizzle them with olive oil, wrap them tightly in foil, and roast in the oven for 30 minutes or until the garlic is golden and soft.
- Sauté the Aromatics: Heat a drizzle of olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the chopped onions and cook for 5–7 minutes until they become translucent and fragrant, developing a sweet aroma.
- Add Broth and Herbs: Squeeze the roasted garlic cloves out of their skins directly into the pot. Pour in the vegetable or chicken broth and add the thyme sprigs. Stir well and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer.
- Simmer: Let the soup simmer gently for 15–20 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld and intensify.
- Blend: Remove the thyme sprigs from the soup. Using an immersion blender, puree the soup until smooth. Alternatively, carefully transfer the soup in batches to a regular blender and blend until creamy.
- Add Cream & Season: Return the blended soup to the pot if needed. Stir in the heavy cream to give it a luscious texture. Season generously with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
- Serve: Ladle the soup into bowls and garnish with fresh herbs or crunchy croutons. Serve warm alongside slices of toasted baguette or crusty bread for a satisfying meal.
Notes
- Roasting the garlic enhances its natural sweetness and mellows out its pungency, creating a richer soup flavor.
- You can use either vegetable or chicken broth depending on your preference or dietary needs.
- For a vegan version, substitute the heavy cream with coconut cream or a plant-based cream alternative.
- Fresh thyme offers more aromatic complexity than dried, but dried thyme is a convenient substitute if needed.
- To add extra texture, top the soup with homemade garlic croutons or a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese.
Keywords: garlic soup, French soup, roasted garlic, creamy soup, comfort food, autumn soup
