Country French Garlic Soup Recipe
This rustic Country French Garlic Soup features whole garlic cloves simmered in a flavorful broth, enhanced with fresh herbs and finished with a creamy Parmesan and egg yolk mixture. It’s a comforting, aromatic soup perfect for garlic lovers, served with crusty bread and optionally garnished with fresh parsley.
- Author: Caleb
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: French
- Diet: Low Fat
Main Ingredients
- 2 whole heads of garlic, peeled
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 6 cups chicken or vegetable broth
- 2 sprigs fresh thyme
- 2 bay leaves
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Finishing Ingredients
- 4 egg yolks
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Crusty bread, for serving
- Fresh parsley (optional for garnish)
- Sauté Onions: Heat olive oil and butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and sauté until softened and translucent, about 5 minutes.
- Cook Garlic: Add the peeled garlic cloves to the pot and cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring frequently to prevent burning and to soften the garlic.
- Add Broth and Herbs: Pour in the chicken or vegetable broth. Add the fresh thyme sprigs and bay leaves. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer gently for 30 minutes to develop flavor.
- Season Soup: Remove the thyme sprigs and bay leaves from the pot. Season the soup with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
- Prepare Egg Mixture: In a small bowl, whisk together the egg yolks and grated Parmesan cheese until smooth.
- Temper Eggs: Slowly ladle a small amount of the hot soup into the egg and cheese mixture, whisking continuously to prevent curdling. Gradually add this tempered mixture back into the soup pot while stirring.
- Thicken Soup: Simmer the soup for an additional 5 minutes over low heat, stirring continuously until the soup thickens slightly and is creamy.
- Serve: Ladle the soup into bowls. Serve hot with crusty bread on the side and garnish with fresh parsley if desired.
Notes
- Shrink the simmer time slightly if you prefer a less intense garlic flavor.
- Use vegetable broth for a vegetarian version, ensuring the broth matches your diet preferences.
- Tempering the egg yolks slowly with hot soup is key to preventing scrambled eggs in the final dish.
- Crusty bread complements the soup texture and helps soak up the flavorful broth.
- Fresh parsley garnish adds a bright, fresh note but is optional.
Keywords: Country French Garlic Soup, Garlic Soup, French Soup, Comfortable Soup, Garlic Lovers, Creamy Soup, Parmesan Soup