Description
Garlic-infused French comfort soup delivers warmth through classic Parisian culinary traditions. Rich, creamy broth and caramelized garlic invite home cooks to savor deeply comforting flavors from France.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 cups (950 ml) chicken or vegetable broth
- 1 head of garlic (10–12 cloves), peeled and minced
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- ½ cup (120 ml) heavy cream
- 2 egg yolks
- 2 tbsps (30 ml) olive oil
- 4 slices French baguette, toasted
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 tsp fresh thyme or ½ tsp dried thyme
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- Optional: ¼ cup (25 g) grated Parmesan cheese
- Fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish
Instructions
- Sauté Base: Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat, then gently cook onions until translucent, about 5-6 minutes. Add minced garlic and continue cooking until fragrant and lightly golden.
- Build Flavor Profile: Introduce fresh thyme sprigs, chicken broth, and bay leaf into the pot. Season generously with kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper, creating a rich aromatic foundation.
- Simmer and Develop Depth: Bring the liquid to a gentle boil, then reduce heat and allow the ingredients to simmer for 15-20 minutes, melding flavors and developing complexity.
- Prepare Creamy Liaison: Whisk egg yolks with heavy cream in a separate bowl until smooth. Carefully temper the mixture by slowly incorporating a ladle of hot soup while whisking continuously to prevent curdling.
- Finish and Finesse: Remove pot from heat and slowly integrate the tempered egg cream, stirring consistently to achieve a velvety texture. Discard bay leaf and thyme sprigs.
- Serve with Flair: Ladle the creamy soup into warm bowls, crown with a golden-toasted baguette slice. Optionally, garnish with freshly grated Parmesan cheese and chopped parsley for an elegant touch.
Notes
- Manage Garlic Carefully: Golden color signals perfect sautéing without burning, which can create bitter flavors.
- Temper Eggs Strategically: Slow addition of hot liquid prevents scrambling, ensuring silky smooth texture.
- Select Quality Broth: Rich, homemade or high-quality store-bought chicken broth dramatically elevates soup’s depth and complexity.
- Optimize Herb Infusion: Fresh thyme sprigs release maximum flavor during simmering, creating aromatic background notes.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Sautéing, Simmering
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 200
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 500 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 16 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg