Garlic soup is a healthy and flavorsome soup made with garlic as the main ingredients. The preparation can be made in a number of ways, using almost all the ingredients around. Due to the various medicinal and health benefits associated with garlic, soup made from it is not only popularly consumed as a remedy for many physical discomforts and ailments. In addition, soups made from garlic are considered one of the most refreshing appetizers.
While there are no definite facts about how the soup came into being and/or its place of origin, many people link it to France, where garlic are grown and used in abundance. There are other theories which peg China as the inventor of garlic soups, because, garlic is one of the most important ingredients in the Chinese culinary tradition. Soups made from garlic are a popular feature on menus of cafes and restaurants across the world and also a popular household preparation.
Garlic Soups: Common Ingredients Used in Preparation
When made in the traditional way, garlic soup is prepared from garlic, broth, butter, oil, water and seasonings. Based on individual tastes and the recipe being followed, more ingredient lists tend to change. Almost all vegetables and meats can be added to the soup. Onion, tomato, potato, herbs, spices, chicken, fish, pork and egg are some of the most commonly added ingredients to simple garlic soups to add richness and taste. Seasonings largely depend on individual tastes and can range from simply salt and pepper to more exotic choices.
Garlic Soup Recipe: Common Preparation Methods
When made in the traditional way, a garlic soup is slow cooked. Modern chefs, however, safe time by adopting faster means of cooking. The dish is generally categorized as an easy preparation and it takes about 15 to 20 minutes to make 2 servings (more time is taken for larger quantities and also, few ingredients take longer to cook than others). To make the soup, the vegetables and meats being used are first prepared (cleaned, slices, diced, shredded, chopped, etc.) and then mixed with the other ingredients. Once the cooking time is over and the soup has reached the desired level of doneness, it is ready to be served.
Garlic Soups: Serving and Eating
A garlic soup is generally ladled into soup bowls and served hot. The dish is served with some bread on the side and the garnishing can include coriander, cream, cilantro, etc. While mostly an appetizer, the soup can also be a part of a major lunch or dinner meal and can also be consumed as a snack.
Garlic Soup Recipe: Trivia
As garlic has a very strong flavor and odor, garlic soup is generally not preferred as a leftover and therefore, it is mostly finished in a single sitting and cooked accordingly.
