Garlic and Herb Soup (Printable)

Aromatic soup with mellow garlic and fresh herbs. Vegetarian, gluten-free, and ready in just 40 minutes.

# What You'll Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 1 large onion, finely chopped
02 - 1 large leek, white and light green parts only, sliced
03 - 10 large garlic cloves, peeled and sliced
04 - 2 medium potatoes, peeled and diced

→ Liquids

05 - 4 cups vegetable broth
06 - 1 cup whole milk or unsweetened plant-based milk

→ Herbs

07 - 2 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves, chopped
08 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
09 - 1 tablespoon fresh chives, chopped

→ Fats & Seasoning

10 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
11 - Salt and pepper to taste

→ Optional Garnish

12 - 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
13 - Croutons or toasted bread for serving

# How-To Steps:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and leek; sauté for 4 to 5 minutes until softened but not browned.
02 - Add the sliced garlic and cook gently for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring often to prevent burning.
03 - Stir in the potatoes, thyme, and a generous pinch of salt and pepper. Sauté for 2 minutes.
04 - Pour in the vegetable broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 20 minutes until potatoes are tender.
05 - Remove from heat. Stir in the milk and most of the parsley and chives, reserving a small amount for garnish.
06 - Use an immersion blender to purée the soup until smooth, or leave slightly chunky if preferred. Adjust seasoning to taste.
07 - Ladle into bowls. Garnish with remaining herbs and, if desired, grated Parmesan and croutons.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The garlic mellows into something almost buttery and sweet after simmering, losing all its sharpness.
  • It comes together in under an hour with pantry staples and whatever fresh herbs you have on hand.
  • The soup feels fancy enough for company but requires almost no skill to pull off perfectly.
02 -
  • If the garlic starts to brown even a little, it will turn bitter and dominate the whole soup in an unpleasant way.
  • Blending while the soup is still piping hot can cause it to splatter, let it cool for a minute or two before you start.
03 -
  • Use a mix of garlic sizes, smaller cloves tend to be sharper and larger ones are milder and sweeter.
  • If you dont have an immersion blender, let the soup cool completely before transferring to a countertop blender and blend in batches with the lid vented.
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