Rustic Country French Garlic Soup Recipe
This Rustic Country French Garlic Soup is a comforting blend of roasted garlic, caramelized onions, and fresh thyme simmered in a rich broth, finished with creamy heavy cream. Perfect for a cozy meal, it pairs beautifully with crusty baguette slices and can be garnished with fresh herbs or crispy croutons for added texture and flavor.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Soup
- Method: Roasting, Simmering, Blending
- 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 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
Serving
- 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 to expose the cloves, drizzle with olive oil, wrap them tightly in foil, and roast for about 30 minutes until they are soft and golden brown.
- Sauté the Aromatics: In a large pot, heat a drizzle of olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onions and cook for 5 to 7 minutes until they become translucent and fragrant, which forms the flavor base for the soup.
- 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 fresh thyme sprigs. Stir gently and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer.
- Simmer: Allow the soup to simmer for 15 to 20 minutes to let the flavors meld together beautifully and develop a rich taste.
- Blend: Remove the thyme sprigs from the pot. Use an immersion blender to puree the soup until ultra smooth, or transfer in batches to a blender for a creamy texture without any chunks.
- Add Cream & Season: Return the pureed soup to the pot if needed, stir in the heavy cream, then season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste, enhancing the soup’s richness and depth.
- Serve: Ladle the warm soup into bowls. Garnish with fresh herbs or crunchy croutons for extra flavor and texture. Serve alongside slices of warm, crusty baguette for the perfect rustic country meal.
Notes
- Roasting the garlic softens its pungency, giving the soup a mellow, sweet garlic flavor.
- Use either vegetable or chicken broth based on dietary preferences; vegetable broth keeps it vegetarian.
- For a lighter option, substitute heavy cream with half-and-half or a plant-based cream.
- Fresh thyme is preferred, but dried thyme works well in a pinch.
- The baguette can be toasted for added crunch.
- Leftover soup can be stored refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated gently to avoid curdling.
Keywords: garlic soup, French soup, roasted garlic, creamy soup, rustic soup, easy soup recipe, vegetarian soup
