# Roasted Garlic Soup: Your New Favorite Comfort Food!
## Introduction
Winter evenings call for a warm bowl of soup and what could be better than a savory, creamy Roasted Garlic Soup? This recipe is perfect for those chilly nights when all you want is a bit of comfort and a lot of flavor.
## Why Make This Recipe
There are a number of reasons you will love this Roasted Garlic Soup. To start with, this recipe is incredibly easy to prepare and requires just a handful of common ingredients. The most important ingredient – garlic, along with the simple process of roasting, brings out its sweet and mellow flavor which forms the soul of this soup. Lastly, the addition of cream adds a velvety richness that makes this soup absolutely irresistible.
## How to Make Roasted Garlic Soup
### Ingredients
– 3 whole garlic bulbs
– 2 tablespoons olive oil
– 1 tablespoon butter
– 1 large onion, chopped
– 4 cups vegetable or chicken broth
– 1/2 cup heavy cream
– Salt and pepper to taste
– 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
– Crusty bread for serving
### Directions
1. **Roast the Garlic:** Preheat your oven to 400°F. Slice off the tops of the garlic bulbs to expose the cloves. Drizzle them with olive oil and wrap each bulb in foil. Roast them for about 35 minutes until soft and caramelized.
2. **Prepare the Soup Base:** Melt butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and cook until translucent.
3. **Add Broth:** Squeeze the softened garlic cloves out of their skins into the pot with onions. Add the broth, salt and pepper, and let it simmer.
4. **Blend the Soup:** Use an immersion blender to puree the soup until smooth.
5. **Add Cream and Thyme:** Stir in the heavy cream and fresh thyme, allowing your soup to simmer for a further 5 minutes.
6. **Serve:** Ladle your soup into bowls and serve it with crusty bread.
## How to Serve Roasted Garlic Soup
You can serve this heartwarming Roasted Garlic Soup with pieces of crusty bread on the side for dipping. A sprinkle of fresh thyme leaves and additional roasted garlic on top adds to the flavor and the presentation.
## How to Store Roasted Garlic Soup
Store your leftover soup in an airtight container and refrigerate it. You can store it for up to four days. To reheat the soup, put it back into a pot and heat it on medium, stirring occasionally.
## Tips to Make Roasted Garlic Soup
– When roasting garlic, ensure that the cloves have browned and softened properly. This will give your soup its signature sweet and robust flavor.
– For an even creamier soup, add some cooked and blended potatoes.
– Always resort to freshly ground black pepper for a wonderful aroma.
## Variations
For vegan alternatives, substitute butter with a plant-based alternative like olive oil and replace chicken broth with vegetable broth. Use coconut milk instead of heavy cream.
## FAQs
**Can I use pre-roasted garlic for this recipe?**
Yes, you can. However, roasting garlic at home brings out the best flavors for this soup.
**Can I use dried thyme instead of fresh thyme leaves?**
Yes, you can substitute fresh thyme with dried thyme. The rule of thumb to follow here is to use 1/3 of the amount of dried herbs when replacing fresh.
**What other herbs can I add to this soup?**
You could add other herbs like rosemary or sage for a different flavor profile. However, thyme pairs particularly well with garlic.
So go ahead, whip up a batch of this wholesome Roasted Garlic soup and let it warm your soul!