Garlic lovers are you ready?  I have the tastiest roasted garlic soup recipe for you. It is perfect for having in a bread bowl.

Inspired by a visit to Vienna, this Austrian Garlic Bread Bowl Soup is one you have to try out. Yes it has over 100 cloves of garlic but it is so indulgent and comforting.

Aka as Knoblauchcremesuppe this creamy garlic soup is simple to make and has a combination of roasted and raw garlic.

What makes this extra special is how you serve it. In a crusty roll, with some grilled cheese. 

This recipe is for 6-8 people. It is a staple starter on the table at Christmas.

Ingredients for roasted garlic soup

• 10 garlic bulbs
• 2 medium potatoes 
• 1/2 leek
• 2 shallots
• 2 tablespoons of butter 
• 1 tablespoon of olive oil plus more for baking garlic 
• 2 tablespoons plain flour 
• Thyme
• Vegetable stock (2 litres of knorr works well) 
• 100 ml Double cream
• Seasoning ( salt & pepper)

How to make roasted garlic soup

1. Cut the tops of 8 of the garlic bulbs. Place foil on a baking tray, then the garlic bulbs, with a generous drizzle of olive oil and a sprinkling of salt. You want the oil to cover the open ends of the garlic bulbs. Wrap them with foil and bake in the oven for 1 hour at 200 degrees Celsius.
2. While the garlic is roasting, peel and grate your potatoes, slice the leek and shallots.
3. Heat a large pan on low- medium heat then add in the butter and oil. Adding the oil just stops the butter from burning so quick.
4. As soon as the butter melts add in the shallots and leeks. Cook until transparent then add in grated potatoes.
5. Cook for about 15 minutes, then add in the flour and cloves of two remaining garlic bulbs
6. Mix and let this cook for about 10 minutes. It may start to stick so ensure you keep stirring. 
7. Now add in the stock and thyme and let this simmer for about 30 minutes.  
8. Once your roasted garlics have cooked, let them cool and squeeze the bulbs out. Place these in the soup. 
9. Blitz the soup together to combine all the ingredients and make it smooth.
10. If you are not ready to serve, you can keep the cooled soup in the fridge overnight. I generally do this.
11. The next day, warm the soup up and add in about 100 ml of double cream. More if you want it creamier.
12. Let it come to a boil then serve.

How to serve Bread Bowl Soup

1. To serve the soup in a bread bowl, take a slice off the top of a crusty roll. Press the inside so it forms a bowl. 
2. Add in the soup and serve.
3. Garnish with grilled cheese, crispy onions or on its own. 

If you love indulgent creamy soups you have to try this Broccoli Stilton Cheese Soup.

Broccoli Stilton Soup

Neha