Bread and Garlic Soup

Did the chicken soup cure what ails you? No? Then maybe we need to pull out the big guns and get serious about Therapeutic Soup. Garlic as an antibiotic - who knew?

"Garlic is the only antibiotic that can actually kill infecting bacteria and at the same time protect the body from the poisons that are causing the infection ... Louis Pasteur acknowledged garlic to be as effective as penicillin ... Even the blood of garlic eaters can kill bacteria and it is also reported that the vapour from freshly cut garlic can kill bacteria at a distance of 20 cms"

If you follow this soup recipe that calls for 1/4 cup of chopped garlic, the vapor that you'll be producing will kill your crabgrass, the mold on your bathroom walls and your plans for the evening. You won't care, though, because you will be totally happy, filled with a satisfying soup and maybe a little healthier, too.

Bread and Garlic Soup

Put 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. When the oil is hot, add 2 cups chopped onions, 1/4 cup finely chopped garlic, 1 crushed bay leaf, and a pinch of crushed red pepper. Season with salt. Saute until slightly caramelized, about 6 to 8 minutes. Stir in 2 quarts of chicken stock. Bring the liquid up to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and simmer for 40 minutes.

Turn the heat up and whisk in 1/2 cup of heavy cream and 2 cups of diced day old French bread. Continue whisking until the bread has dissolved into the soup, about 10 minutes. With a hand-held blender, puree the soup until smooth. Whisk in 1/2 cup of grated Parmigiano-Reggiano Cheese . Season with salt and pepper. Ladle into individual soup bowls and serve. Garnish with chopped parsley.

People who are convinced about the health and healing benefits of garlic swear that the most benefit for health and healing comes from raw, crushed garlic. Cooked garlic seems to be somewhat less powerful but still efective. Following this advice, you could garnish the soup with a bit of finely chopped fresh garlic. Let me know how it works out.

Comments

[brian w]

I'm eating this right now, with a garnish of fresh garlic and tortilla chips, and it's deliciously spicy. I added an extra handful of bread for thickening as I went with low-fat milk instead of heavy cream. Worked like a charm. Thanks for the recipe!

[Andrea]

Mmm.... gaaaarlic. I made this two days ago, and I was the only person (in a house of FOUR) who would come anywhere near it. But I Don't CARE... More soup for me!
I made it with milk instead of cream as well, with no ill effects. Also, I don't have on e of those boat-motor hand blendy things, so I just used a regular blender, which worked fine.

[Marcia]

I made this receipe years ago for a vegetarian niece at a family gathering; Now it is a favorite request from family and friends. One of my son's who manages a kitchen in a sports bar by the name of DOOFER'S in Renton, Wa serves a version of this as a one of his soup specials.