Rustic Country French Garlic Soup Recipe

Introduction

This Rustic Country French Garlic Soup is a warm, comforting dish that highlights garlic’s rich, mellow flavor when roasted to perfection. Creamy and fragrant, it’s a perfect starter or light meal served with crusty bread.

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

1. Step 1: Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Slice the tops off the garlic bulbs, drizzle them with olive oil, wrap in foil, and roast for 30 minutes until the cloves are golden and soft.
2. Step 2: 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.
3. Step 3: Squeeze the roasted garlic cloves from their skins into the pot. Add the broth and thyme sprigs, stir gently, and bring to a simmer.
4. Step 4: Let the soup simmer for 15–20 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld together.
5. Step 5: Remove the thyme sprigs. Use an immersion blender to puree the soup until smooth, or blend in batches in a regular blender.
6. Step 6: Return the pureed soup to the pot, stir in the heavy cream, and season with salt and black pepper to taste.
7. Step 7: Ladle the soup into bowls and garnish with fresh herbs or croutons. Serve warm alongside slices of crusty baguette.

Tips & Variations

• For a richer flavor, roast garlic cloves separately or add a splash of white wine before simmering.
• Substitute heavy cream with coconut cream for a dairy-free version, adjusting seasoning accordingly.
• Add a pinch of smoked paprika for a subtle smoky twist.
• Use fresh thyme if possible, but dried thyme works well in a pinch.

Storage

Store leftover soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently on the stove over low heat, stirring occasionally to prevent separation. This soup can also be frozen for up to 1 month; thaw overnight before reheating.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use unpeeled garlic in the soup?

The garlic is roasted whole with skins on to mellow the flavor. You remove the cloves from the skins after roasting before adding them to the soup.

Can I make this soup vegan?

Yes. Use vegetable broth and substitute the heavy cream with coconut cream or another plant-based cream alternative for a vegan-friendly version.

Rustic Country French Garlic Soup Recipe

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★★★★★

5 from 75 reviews

A comforting and aromatic Rustic Country French Garlic Soup made with roasted garlic, sautéed onions, fragrant herbs, and creamy broth. This velvety soup is perfect served with crusty baguette slices and garnished with fresh herbs or croutons.

• Author: Marco
• 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
• Diet: Vegetarian

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Soup 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)
• Salt and black pepper, to taste

For Serving

• 1 small baguette or 4 slices crusty bread (about 150 g)
• Fresh herbs or croutons, for garnish

Instructions

1. Roast the Garlic: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Slice the tops off the garlic bulbs to expose the cloves, drizzle them with olive oil, wrap in foil, and roast for 30 minutes until the garlic is golden and soft.
2. Sauté the Aromatics: In a large pot, heat a drizzle of olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onions and cook for 5–7 minutes until they become translucent and release a fragrant aroma.
3. Add Broth and Herbs: Squeeze the roasted garlic out of their skins directly into the pot. Add the vegetable or chicken broth along with the thyme sprigs. Stir and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer.
4. Simmer: Allow the soup to gently simmer for 15–20 minutes to develop deep, rich flavors.
5. Blend: Remove the thyme sprigs from the pot. Using an immersion blender, puree the soup until smooth. Alternatively, carefully transfer the soup in batches to a regular blender and blend until velvety.
6. Add Cream & Season: Return the pureed soup to the pot if needed. Stir in the heavy cream and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
7. Serve: Ladle the creamy soup into bowls and top with fresh herbs or croutons. Serve warm alongside slices of toasted or fresh warm baguette.

Notes

• Roasting the garlic softens its flavor, making the soup mild and sweet rather than pungent.
• An immersion blender simplifies blending the soup directly in the pot.
• Use vegetable broth to keep it vegetarian or chicken broth for added richness.
• For a richer flavor, you can brown the onions slightly more before adding liquid.
• This soup pairs perfectly with crusty breads and light salads for a comforting meal.

Keywords: garlic soup, french soup, roasted garlic soup, creamy garlic soup, rustic soup, easy soup recipe, comfort food