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Provençal Garlic Soup (Aïgo Boulido)

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Provençal Garlic Soup (Aïgo Boulido) is a rustic French soup from Provence made by simmering garlic, herbs, and olive oil into a fragrant broth, then enriching it with silky egg ribbons and topping it with toasted bread and melted Gruyère cheese. It’s simple, soothing, and deeply aromatic.

Ingredients

2 garlic heads (about 20 cloves), peeled

4–6 fresh sage leaves

2 bay leaves

1 tbsp (15 ml) extra virgin olive oil

2 egg whites (or whole eggs)

1/2 tbsp salt

1/2 tbsp freshly ground black pepper

2 slices rustic bread (Pain de Campagne or sourdough)

1/4 cup (25 g) grated Gruyère cheese

4 cups (1 L) water or vegetable/chicken stock

Instructions

  1. Peel all the garlic cloves and leave them whole.
  2. Bring 4 cups (1 L) of water or broth to a boil in a medium saucepan.
  3. Add garlic cloves, sage leaves, and bay leaves, then reduce heat to low.
  4. Simmer gently for 30–35 minutes until garlic is tender and the broth is aromatic.
  5. Remove the sage and bay leaves, then lightly mash the garlic in the pot to release more flavor.
  6. Season with salt, black pepper, and olive oil, stirring to combine.
  7. In a small bowl, beat the eggs lightly. Slowly pour them into the hot soup while whisking gently to form silky ribbons.
  8. Toast the bread slices until golden and crisp.
  9. Ladle the soup into bowls, top each with a slice of toasted bread, and sprinkle with Gruyère cheese.
  10. Let the cheese melt slightly before serving.

Notes

Simmer the garlic gently to keep its flavor sweet and mellow.

Whisk continuously while adding eggs to prevent scrambling.

Use broth instead of water for a richer flavor.

For a vegan version, omit the eggs and cheese, and add nutritional yeast for umami flavor.

Serve immediately for best texture—bread and cheese should be added just before serving.

Do not freeze due to the eggs, but the broth can be made ahead and stored in the fridge for 3 days.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://justsosavory.com/provencal-garlic-soup-aigo-boulido/