Garlic Soup Gratiné (Cream of Garlic Soup)

Submitted by littleturtle

"French cream of garlic soup topped with toasted bread and grated cheese and browned in the oven. Creamy, rich comfort food. Don't be put off by the amount of garlic. It mellows and becomes smooth tasting as it cooks."

 

• Ready In: 1hr
• Ingredients: 15
• Serves: 6

ingredients

• 177.44 ml garlic, peeled (3-3 1/2 heads of garlic)
• 1 bay leaf
• 1419.54 ml water, divided (cold)
• 2 slice bacon, coarsely chopped
• 118.29 ml onion, thinly sliced
• 1 leek, thinly sliced (white part only)
• 2.46 ml salt (or to taste)
• white pepper, to taste
• 946.0 ml chicken broth (4 cups)
• 236.59 ml half-and-half or 236.59 ml heavy cream
• 14.79 ml fresh thyme or 4.92 ml dried thyme
• 6 slice whole wheat bread (French or Italian cut diagonally 1/2-inch thick)
• 1 garlic clove, sliced in half lengthwise
• 59.14 ml swiss cheese, grated
• 4.92 ml chives, thinly sliced

directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
2. In a pot, cover garlic and bay leaves with 2 cups cold water.
3. Bring to a boil, then drain.
4. Repeat process 3 times.
5. In a large dutch oven, over medium heat, fry bacon until crisp.
6. Remove bacon from pan and set aside; discard all but 1 tablespoon grease (if there isn't a full tablespoon make up the difference with butter).
7. Add the onions and leeks and season with salt and pepper; cook, covered, over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until onions are tender (10-15 minutes).
8. Add garlic, broth, cream, bacon, and thyme to onion/leek mixture and simmer, uncovered, for 8-10 minutes.
9. On a baking sheet, bake the bread slices until crisp but not golden (6 minutes).
10. Remove bay leaves from soup; discard.
11. In a food processor or blender, purée the soup until smooth (working in batches if necessary).
12. Pour soup into serving bowls.
13. Rub each slice of toast on both sides with the cut sides of a garlic clove.
14. Top each bowl with toast and sprinkle with cheese.
15. Heat under broiler until golden brown.
16. Sprinkle with chives.
17. Serve hot.

Reviews

[Queen Dana]

This was very tasty. I cut the recipe in half. I added some red pepper flakes in hopes that this soup would clear my sinuses and it certainly helped! I divided the 3 servings into 2 ramekins and topped with homemade french wheat bread and gruyere. It made a great dinner for 2.

 

[Julie Bs Hive]

At first bite I thought the thyme was too strong but by the third bite I knew it was just fine the way it was. I didn't use the wheat bread as there was none to be had but even with the plain ol' white French baguette, this was delicious. TFS