Roast Garlic Soup With Vegan Alternative

Hello there! I’m excited to share with you this delicious recipe for roasted garlic soup. This soup is perfect for those cold winter days when you need something warm and comforting to fill you up.

One of the best things about this recipe is that it’s incredibly versatile. The original recipe calls for heavy cream, but you can easily make it vegan by swapping in coconut milk instead. That way, everyone can enjoy this tasty soup!

Roasting the garlic before adding it to the soup gives it a lovely, rich flavor that’s hard to replicate any other way. Along with the garlic, we’ve included onions, celery and carrots, which are all simmered together in a flavorful broth. Once everything is nice and tender, we puree the soup until it’s smooth, and then add the cream or coconut milk. Finally, we season it with salt and pepper to taste, and garnish it with fresh herbs if desired.

The final result is a comforting, flavorful and creamy soup that is perfect for a cold winter day. And don’t forget, you can add some bread in the bottom of the bowl and pour the soup over it. It’s a simple yet delicious addition to the soup.

So, what are you waiting for? Give this recipe a try and let me know how it turns out!

Why Roast Garlic When Making Soup?

This recipe calls for the garlic to be roasted and you may be wondering why and whether this is a step to skip. However, resist the temptation to add raw garlic as roasting garlic before adding it to the soup enhances its natural sweetness and gives it a deeper, richer flavor. When garlic is raw, it can have a sharp and pungent taste, but roasting it mellows out those flavors and brings out the natural sweetness of the garlic. Roasting also causes the cloves to caramelize, which adds a subtle nutty flavor to the soup.

Additionally, roasting garlic also makes it much easier to remove the cloves from their skins, which can be a tedious task when working with raw garlic. When the garlic is roasted, the cloves become soft and pliable, making it easy to squeeze the garlic out of its skin and into the soup.

Overall, roasting the garlic before adding it to the soup not only improves the flavor, but also makes the preparation process easier. It’s a simple step that can take your soup to the next level.

Why Don’t We Peel Garlic for Roasting?

When garlic is roasted with its skin on, the garlic cloves become much milder in flavor and sweeter in taste. The roasting process causes the natural sugars in the garlic to caramelize, giving it a nutty and slightly sweet flavor. It also causes the cloves to become soft and spreadable, which makes it easy to squeeze the cloves out of the skin.

Peeling the garlic before roasting it can also be difficult and time-consuming. Roasting garlic in the skin helps to hold the cloves together, making them easy to handle and remove from the head once they are roasted.

Additionally, Roasting garlic with its skin on also helps to preserve its nutritional value. The skin of garlic contains important antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds, which are beneficial for health.

Roast Garlic Soup Ingredients and Instructions

Here’s a recipe for roasted garlic soup that includes both metric and imperial measurements:

Ingredients:

• 1 head of garlic
• 1 tbsp olive oil (15ml)
• 1 onion, diced
• 2 celery stalks, diced
• 2 carrots, diced
• 2 cups chicken or vegetable broth (475ml)
• 1 cup heavy cream or whole milk (240ml)
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• Fresh herbs (optional)

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 400F (200C). Cut off the top of the head of garlic to expose the cloves, and drizzle with 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Wrap the garlic in foil and roast in the oven for 30-40 minutes, or until it is golden brown and tender.
2. In a large pot or Dutch oven, sauté the onion, celery, and carrots in a little bit of butter or oil until they are softened.
3. Squeeze the roasted garlic cloves out of their skins and into the pot, and stir to combine.
4. Add the broth and bring to a simmer. Let the soup simmer for 15-20 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender.
5. Remove the pot from the heat and use an immersion blender or transfer the soup to a blender to puree until smooth.
6. Stir in the cream or milk and season with salt and pepper to taste.
7. Serve the soup hot, garnished with fresh herbs if desired.
8. As a serving idea you can add a piece of bread to the bottom of the bowl and pour the soup over it.

Vegan Garlic Soup Alternative

Here’s a vegan recipe for roasted garlic soup that includes both metric and imperial measurements:

Ingredients:

• 1 head of garlic
• 1 tbsp olive oil (15ml)
• 1 onion, diced
• 2 celery stalks, diced
• 2 carrots, diced
• 2 cups vegetable broth (475ml)
• 1 cup coconut milk (240ml)
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• Fresh herbs (optional)
• 1 tbsp of nutritional yeast (optional)

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 400F (200C). Cut off the top of the head of garlic to expose the cloves, and drizzle with 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Wrap the garlic in foil and roast in the oven for 30-40 minutes, or until it is golden brown and tender.
2. In a large pot or Dutch oven, sauté the onion, celery, and carrots in a little bit of vegetable oil until they are softened.
3. Squeeze the roasted garlic cloves out of their skins and into the pot, and stir to combine.
4. Add the broth and bring to a simmer. Let the soup simmer for 15-20 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender.
5. Remove the pot from the heat and use an immersion blender or transfer the soup to a blender to puree until smooth.
6. Stir in the coconut milk and season with salt and pepper to taste.
7. If desired, add 1 tablespoon of nutritional yeast for a cheesy flavor.
8. Serve the soup hot, garnished with fresh herbs if desired.
9. As a serving idea you can add a piece of bread to the bottom of the bowl and pour the soup over it.

Please note that this recipe is a starting point and you can adjust the ingredients and measurements to your liking, also you can add or remove ingredients as you wish.

What is a Dutch Oven & Why is it Good for Making Soup?

A Dutch oven is a type of cooking pot that is typically made of cast iron, although they can also be made of other materials such as enameled cast iron or ceramics. They have a thick, heavy bottom and high, straight sides, and often come with a tight-fitting lid. The heavy bottom and sides of a Dutch oven help to distribute heat evenly, making it ideal for slow-cooking, braising, and simmering.

A Dutch oven is a great choice for making soup because it can be used on the stovetop and in the oven. This allows you to start the soup on the stovetop, sautéing onions, garlic, and other aromatics, and then transfer it to the oven to finish cooking. This method allows the flavors to develop and meld together, resulting in a rich and flavorful soup. The tight-fitting lid also helps to trap the heat and moisture inside the pot, which can help to infuse the soup with more flavor.

Additionally, Dutch ovens are great for soups because they are made of heavy materials which retain heat well, so you can keep your soup warm for a long time after it’s done cooking. Dutch ovens are also great for one pot meals and stews, so it’s a versatile and useful kitchen tool to have.

Tips for Making Roast Garlic Soup

Here are a few tips for making roasted garlic soup, particularly for beginner cooks:

1. Use fresh garlic: Make sure to use fresh garlic for the best flavor. Avoid using pre-minced garlic or garlic powder, as they will not have the same flavor profile.
2. Roast the garlic: Roasting the garlic before adding it to the soup will bring out its sweetness and mellow its sharpness. To roast the garlic, simply cut off the top of the head of garlic to expose the cloves, drizzle with oil, wrap it in foil and roast in the oven until it is golden brown and tender.
3. Sauté the onions and other aromatics: Sautéing onions and other aromatics like celery, carrots, and leeks in a little bit of butter or oil will help to bring out their sweetness and add depth of flavor to the soup.
4. Use a good quality broth: Use a good quality broth or stock, as it will greatly impact the flavor of the soup. You can use either chicken, beef or vegetable broth.
5. Add cream or milk: Adding a small amount of cream or milk to the soup can help to balance out the flavors and make the soup creamier.
6. Season with care: Be careful when seasoning the soup, as the roasted garlic will already have a lot of flavor. Taste the soup before adding any salt or pepper, and adjust the seasoning as needed.
7. Serve with bread: To serve, you can add a piece of bread to the bottom of the bowl and pour the soup over it. This will help to soak up the flavorful broth and give the soup a more substantial texture.
8. Experiment with herbs and spices: You can experiment with different herbs and spices to add more flavor to the soup. For example, rosemary, thyme, parsley or nutmeg can be great additions.

Remember to take your time, be patient and enjoy the cooking process. With a little bit of practice, you’ll be able to make delicious roasted garlic soup in no time!

How to Serve Roast Garlic Soup

Here are a few ideas for serving roasted garlic soup:

1. Bread bowl: Serve the soup in a bread bowl for a warm and comforting meal. You can use a round sourdough loaf, cut off the top, scoop out the inside, and ladle the soup into the hollowed-out bread.
2. Croutons: Top the soup with some crispy croutons for added texture. You can make your own croutons by cutting up some stale bread, tossing it with olive oil and herbs, and then toasting it in the oven.
3. Grilled Cheese: Serve the soup with a grilled cheese sandwich made with your favorite cheese and bread.
4. Parmesan crisps: Top the soup with some parmesan crisps for added flavor and texture. You can make your own parmesan crisps by grating parmesan cheese, spooning it into small mounds on a baking sheet, and baking it in the oven until golden brown and crispy.
5. Fresh herbs: Garnish the soup with fresh herbs like parsley, thyme, or chives for added flavor and color.
6. Fried garlic: Top the soup with some fried garlic for added crunch and flavor.
7. A drizzle of olive oil: A drizzle of high-quality olive oil on top of the soup can add a nice fruity and rich flavor to the soup.
8. A dollop of sour cream: Serve a dollop of sour cream on top of the soup for a cool contrast to the warm soup.
9. A sprinkle of grated cheese: Grated cheese like parmesan, cheddar or gruyere can be added on top of the soup, they will melt and add a nice rich flavor.
10. Serve with a salad: Serve the soup with a side salad for a light and healthy meal.

These are just a few ideas, you can always get creative and come up with your own way to serve the soup, the possibilities are endless!

And that’s it for now 🙂

In conclusion, this recipe for roasted garlic soup is a delicious and comforting meal that’s perfect for cold winter days. The key to its delicious flavor is roasting the garlic first, which enhances its natural sweetness and gives it a deep, rich flavor. The vegan version of this recipe is just as delicious, as it uses coconut milk instead of heavy cream. The addition of nutritional yeast gives it a cheesy flavor.

This recipe is perfect for a beginner cook, it’s easy to make and you can adjust it to your liking. You can add different vegetables or seasonings to make it your own.

If you enjoyed this recipe and are looking for more soup ideas, be sure to check out our other soup recipes. We have a wide variety of soups to choose from, including classic favorites, hearty stews, and even a few international favorites.

Thank you for trying out this recipe and I hope you enjoyed it!