If you're in the mood for something smooth and flavorful this creamy garlic soup is a delicious pick. Garlic soup is a straightforward and tasty dish that demonstrates how easy and enjoyable cooking can be.
This basic recipe highlights the fantastic flavor of garlic, creating a hearty and satisfying soup that might just be the best garlic soup you'll ever make. Besides being tasty, garlic soup is also be good for your health. It's a simple and healthy recipe that anyone can try in their kitchen.
In this article, I'll outline the essential ingredients required to prepare cream of garlic soup. Additionally, I'll guide you through a step-by-step cooking process and provide some handy tips to transform ordinary garlic into a gourmet delight.
If you're still craving more soup recipes, consider trying French Onion Soup, Creamy Mushroom Soup, or Instant Pot Potato Soup with Bacon.
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Ingredients
To make your own garlic soup at home, gather these ingredients:
- Garlic: The main flavor contributor, giving the soup a yummy umami taste.
- Onion: Adds a sweet and aromatic element, complementing the richness of garlic.
- Olive Oil and Butter: Enhances the soup's texture and contributes to a velvety, indulgent mouthfeel.
- Heavy Cream: Introduces a creamy consistency, providing a luscious touch to the overall dish.
- Chicken Stock or Broth: Serves as the liquid base, offering a savory foundation for the garlic and other ingredients.
- Salt and Black Pepper: Essential for balancing and seasoning, enhancing the overall taste.
- Parsley, Thyme, and Bay Leaf (Bouquet Garni): A traditional French cooking technique, this herb bundle imparts a fragrant and nuanced aroma, elevating the soup's appeal with a mix of complementary flavors.
How to Make Garlic Soup
Making a classic garlic soup is easy to follow.
Here's a breakdown of the step-by-step process for preparing a classic garlic soup:
1. Sauté Onion and Garlic:
Start by sautéing finely chopped onion and garlic in a mix of olive oil and butter until they smell really good and develop umami flavors.
- Heat olive oil and butter in a pot on low-medium heat.
- Add finely chopped onion and garlic.
- Cover and cook, stirring often, until they smell good and turn golden, about 40 minutes.
2. Add Chicken Broth and Simmer with Bouquet Garni:
Add chicken broth and let it simmer with a bouquet garni (a bunch of parsley, and thyme tied together plus bay leaf) until all the flavors blend together nicely.
- Introduce the bouquet garni (a bunch of parsley and thyme tied together plus bay leaf).
- Pour in chicken broth and let the soup simmer, allowing the flavors to blend together for about 15 minutes.
3. Puree until Smooth, Add Cream and Season:
Puree the soup, add cream, and sprinkle in some salt and pepper to taste, and there you have it - a quick and straightforward garlic soup with robust flavors that's both tasty and satisfying.
- Once the soup is well-seasoned and the flavors have melded, remove the bouquet garni.
- Puree the soup using an immersion blender or regular blender.
- Add heavy cream and simmer for a few minutes for the flavor to combine.
- Sprinkle in salt and pepper to taste.
- Adjust seasoning as needed to enhance the robust flavors.
Top Tip
For a clear broth, you may strain the garlic soup before serving. This step is not necessary and is solely for presentation purposes.
Variations and Substitutions
Here are some refined variations and substitutions for your instructions.
- Cream Option:
- For a lower fat content, substitute with half-and-half or whole milk.
- Vegan Alternative:
- Replace chicken broth with vegetable broth.
- Substitute heavy cream with a vegan cream alternative, such as coconut cream..
- Thyme Variation:
- Instead of fresh thyme, feel free to substitute with dried thyme. Additionally, you can experiment with other herbs like oregano and basil, although keep in mind that it might alter the final taste profile of this garlic soup.
Recipe Tips
Here are some tips for cooking garlic soup:
1. Prep Ingredients in Advance: Finely chop onions and sliced garlic before starting to make the cooking process smoother.
2. Low and Slow Sautéing: Cook onions and garlic on low heat for a longer time to bring out their flavors without burning them.
3. Frequent Stirring: Stir often while sautéing to ensure even cooking and prevent sticking.
4. Use Quality Chicken Broth: Opt for a good-quality chicken broth for a rich and savory base.
5. Bouquet Garni Placement: Tie herbs in a bouquet garni for easy removal, ensuring that their flavors infuse without bits in the final soup.
6. Simmer for Flavor Fusion: Allow the soup to simmer with the bouquet garni to let the flavors meld together.
7. Careful Pureeing: If using a standard blender, fill it between ⅓ and ½ full, and blend the ingredients in batches to prevent splatters. Alternatively, for added convenience, use an immersion blender.
8. Cream Addition Timing: Add heavy cream towards the end of cooking to prevent curdling and allow it to blend seamlessly.
9. Adjust Seasoning Gradually: Season with salt and pepper gradually, tasting as you go to achieve the perfect balance.
10. Serve with Garnish: Garnish with fresh herbs or a drizzle of olive oil when serving for an extra flavor boost.
FAQ
Croutons, fresh herbs, grated cheese, or a drizzle of olive oil.
Avoid burning garlic; adjust seasoning gradually; don't overcook; don't cook too fast; and don't cook at high heat.
For making garlic soup, it's recommended to use a pot that can accommodate the quantity and cooking process effectively. A Dutch oven, particularly a 3.5 qt size, is highly recommended. The heavy and thick construction of a Dutch oven helps in even heat distribution and simmering. If you plan to double the recipe, consider using a 5.5 qt Dutch oven or a larger one to ensure ample space for the increased ingredients.
The cooking time for this garlic soup is approximately one hour.
While this garlic soup recipe uses simple ingredients and follows easy cooking steps, the most time-consuming aspects include slicing the garlic and tending to the garlic and onions with low heat while stirring. Patience during these steps contributes to the rich flavor of the soup.
While this garlic soup recipe doesn't necessitate a thickening agent, if you find the consistency thinner than desired, you can address it by simmering a bit longer for reduction. Alternatively, consider adding cornstarch or gluten-free flour for thickness according to your preference.
Some believe it has immune-boosting properties, but consult a healthcare professional for advice.
Straining garlic soup is entirely optional. Personally, I prefer not to strain it and simply remove herb pieces before serving. However, for the sake of this post, I intentionally strained the garlic soup to enhance clarity, eliminating visible signs of black pepper and thyme for presentation purposes only.
Storage
Here are simple instructions for storing garlic soup:
- Refrigerator Storage:
- Allow the garlic soup to cool to room temperature.
- Transfer the soup into an airtight container or sealable bag.
- Store in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
- Freezer Storage:
- Cool the garlic soup completely before freezing.
- Use freezer-safe containers or bags, leaving some space for expansion.
- Label with the date and store in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- Thawing:
- To thaw frozen garlic soup, transfer it to the refrigerator overnight.
- Alternatively, gently reheat directly from frozen on the stovetop, stirring often.
- Avoid Repeated Freezing and Thawing:
- While it's safe to freeze garlic soup, repeated thawing and refreezing can affect its texture and taste.
- For additional food safety guidance, please visit this website.
How to Reheat
Here are simple instructions for reheating garlic soup:
- Stovetop Method:
- Pour the desired amount of garlic soup into a saucepan.
- Heat over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally to ensure even warming.
- Continue until the soup reaches your preferred serving temperature.
- Microwave Method:
- Transfer the garlic soup to a microwave-safe container.
- Cover loosely to allow steam to escape.
- Heat in short intervals, stirring in between, until the soup is thoroughly reheated.
- Avoid Boiling:
- Be cautious not to bring the soup to a boil during reheating to maintain its flavors.
- Check Temperature:
- Before serving, check the temperature to ensure the soup is hot enough for your liking.
I hope you'll enjoy this recipe and share it with friends! If you try it and don't mind, please leave me a comment and/or give this recipe a rating. Be sure to subscribe to receive weekly recipes and follow me on Pinterest.
📖 Recipe
Creamy Garlic Soup
Equipment
- a Dutch oven (3.5 qt and above)
Ingredients
- 1 pound diced yellow onion
- 6 oz sliced garlic
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 3½ cups chicken broth or stock
- 5 thyme sprigs (about ½ teaspoon of dried thyme)
- 5 parsley stems
- 1 bay leaf
- ½ cup heavy cream
- salt and black pepper (or more to taste)
Method
- Heat olive oil and melt butter over low-medium heat. Add finely chopped onion and sliced garlic, give it a quick stir then cover the pot. Cook and stir occasionally until golden and fragrant, about 35-40 minutes.
- Pour in the chicken broth, then add parsley, thyme, and bay leaf. Bring it to a boil over medium-high heat, and then reduce the heat to medium-low, simmer, uncovered, for 15 minutes.
- Remove herbs, puree the soup using a blender, and return it to the pot.
- Add cream and simmer for a few minutes. Add salt, and black pepper to taste then serve.
Nutrition
Notes
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- Allow the garlic soup to cool to room temperature.
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- Transfer the soup into an airtight container or sealable bag.
-
- Store in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
-
- Cool the garlic soup completely before freezing.
-
- Use freezer-safe containers or bags, leaving some space for expansion.
-
- Label with the date and store in the freezer for up to 3 months.
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