Rustic Country French Garlic Soup: A Creamy, Immune-Boosting Comfort in a Bowl Recipe
This Rustic Country French Garlic Soup is a creamy, comforting bowl packed with immune-boosting roasted garlic and fragrant herbs. Perfect for chilly days, this easy-to-make soup is rich and velvety, served with crusty bread and topped with fresh herbs or croutons for a satisfying rustic meal.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Soup
- Method: Roasting and Stovetop
- Cuisine: French
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Soup Base
- 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 tbsp (15 ml) olive oil
- 4–5 sprigs fresh thyme (or 1 tsp dried thyme)
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
To Finish
- 1 cup (240 ml) heavy cream
- 1 small baguette or 4 slices crusty bread (about 150 g), for serving
- 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 with olive oil, wrap them tightly in foil, and place in the oven to roast for 30 minutes until the garlic is golden, soft, and easily squeezable.
- Sauté the Aromatics: In a large pot over medium heat, warm a drizzle of olive oil. Add the chopped onions and cook them for 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they become translucent and fragrant, building the foundation of your soup’s flavor.
- Add Broth and Herbs: Carefully squeeze the roasted garlic cloves out of their skins into the pot with the onions. Pour in the vegetable or chicken broth, add the fresh thyme sprigs (or dried thyme), stir everything together, and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer on medium-low heat.
- Simmer: Allow the soup to simmer for 15 to 20 minutes. This simmering step helps the flavors to marry beautifully and develop a rich depth.
- Blend: Remove the thyme sprigs and discard them. Using an immersion blender, puree the soup directly in the pot until completely smooth. Alternatively, carefully transfer the soup in batches to a blender and blend until creamy and silky.
- Add Cream & Season: Return the blended soup to the pot if needed. Stir in the heavy cream to give the soup its luscious texture, then season to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
- Serve: Ladle the creamy garlic soup into bowls. Garnish with fresh herbs or crunchy croutons for added texture. Serve alongside warm slices of baguette or crusty bread for dipping and enjoying every comforting spoonful.
Notes
- Roasting the garlic softens its sharpness and brings out a sweet, mellow flavor that’s essential for this soup.
- You can use either vegetable or chicken broth depending on your preference for a vegetarian option or added richness.
- For a lighter version, substitute heavy cream with half-and-half or coconut cream.
- Make sure to remove all thyme sprigs before blending to avoid a bitter taste.
- Leftover soup keeps well refrigerated for up to 3 days or can be frozen for up to 1 month.
- Serve with crusty bread to soak up the creamy soup for a truly comforting meal.
Keywords: French garlic soup, creamy garlic soup, roasted garlic soup, rustic soup recipe, immune boosting soup, comforting soup, easy French soup
