Description
Garlic bread delight soup combines classic comfort with Italian culinary traditions. Creamy, rich flavors and crispy croutons make this recipe a perfect winter companion you’ll crave on chilly evenings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 cups (1.9 L) chicken broth, reduced-sodium
- 14 oz (397 g) day-old French bread, cubed
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- ½ cup (120 mL) heavy whipping cream
- ½ cup (50 g) grated parmesan
- 2 cups (473 mL) French bread, cut into 1″ cubes
- 3 tbsps butter, melted
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 tsp thyme
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp basil
- 1 tbsp minced garlic
- ½ tsp salt
- 2 tsps olive oil
- Dash of pepper
Instructions
- Crouton Preparation: Create uniform bread cubes and infuse with garlic-butter mixture, seasoning with dried basil and kosher salt. Arrange on a baking sheet and roast at 175°C for 15 minutes, rotating midway to achieve golden, crisp texture.
- Soup Base Creation: In a large pot, sauté onions with thyme, bay leaves, salt, and pepper over medium heat until caramelized. Add minced garlic and cook briefly to release aromatic essence.
- Liquid Integration: Pour chicken broth into the pot, bringing to a boil, then simmer for 15 minutes. Remove bay leaves and incorporate cubed French bread with heavy whipping cream, allowing bread to absorb liquid for 5 minutes.
- Texture Refinement: Use an immersion blender to transform the mixture into a smooth, velvety consistency. Whisk in Parmesan cheese until completely melted and integrated.
- Serving Finale: Ladle the creamy soup into warm bowls and crown with the freshly prepared crispy croutons, creating a luxurious and comforting culinary experience.
Notes
- Bread Selection Matters: Choose day-old French bread for maximum absorption and richer soup texture, preventing soggy or mushy results.
- Garlic Infusion Technique: Sauté garlic briefly to release aromatic oils without burning, ensuring a smooth, mellow flavor profile.
- Crouton Spacing Secret: Spread bread cubes in a single layer during roasting to achieve maximum crispiness and even golden browning.
- Blending Precision: Use an immersion blender carefully to maintain a silky smooth consistency without over-processing, preserving subtle soup textures.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer.
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 295
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 651 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 31 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 9 g
- Cholesterol: 39 mg