Julia Child's Garlic Soup (Aigo Bouido)

The pressure builds and you start counting down minutes until you eat. It’s kinda like waiting for a little present you made yourself, only it’s garlic soup. You remember the smell creeping in, slowly filling your kitchen with warm smells of simmered herbs and that soft garlic goodness. It’s not fancy, but it’s so comforting and real.

When that float valve pops up and you hear the gentle hiss of steam cues, you know it’s working. The broth depth coming from your pressure cooker just can’t be beat. There’s this special feeling, watching the seconds tick by as you wait for the slow release part to happen, knowing every drop of flavor is just about perfect.

And the best part is, you don’t have to babysit it. The pressure cooker does the heavy lifting so you can relax or chat with someone, or sneak a peek through the lid’s little window if you got one. You catch yourself smiling, thinking about dunking some toasted French bread right in there. Heck yeah, y’all gonna love this.

The Real Reasons You Will Love This Method

• Cuts down traditional simmer time big time without losing flavor
• Builds rich broth depth fast, way better than a regular pot
• Hands-free cooking lets you multi-task or chill in the meantime
• Steam cues make it easy to know when it’s done if you’re new
• Float valve is your pressure cooker's little helper giving you confidence
• Using egg yolk emulsion adds a silky texture that's just right
• It’s perfect for cozy dinners when you want something simple but special

Everything You Need Lined Up

• 6 cloves of garlic, left unpeeled (trust me, keeps stuff smooth)
• 2 quarts of water (this is your broth base, gotta have it right)
• 1 teaspoon salt for seasoning
• ⅛ teaspoon sage, dried works fine
• ⅛ teaspoon thyme to add herbal punch
• 1 bay leaf (don’t forget it, it’s the secret little thing)
• 2 whole cloves for that warm spice note
• 2 teaspoons olive oil to start with
• 1 egg yolk for the lovely emulsion texture
• ¼ cup olive oil to make the emulsion silky smooth
• Slices of French bread, toasted (this is how you serve it and get cozy)

How It All Comes Together Step by Step

Step one, toss those unpeeled garlic cloves in your pressure cooker with the water. You don’t gotta fuss over peeling, just let 'em be.

Next up, sprinkle in your salt, sage, thyme, bay leaf, and whole cloves. Give it a little stir so everything starts mingling.

Seal that lid and bring it up to pressure. When you see the float valve pop up and the steam cues go steady, start your timer for about 15 minutes. It’s a shorter cook because the pressure cooker’s working hard at building broth depth.

After the timer’s up, let it go through a slow release. Don’t rush this part, you want that gradual depressurizing to keep the flavors intact. Once safe, open the lid, and strain the soup through a fine sieve. Press the garlic through the sieve to get every bit of soft goodness out, then toss out the solids.

Now, beat that egg yolk in a bowl. Slowly whisk in your ¼ cup olive oil to make a smooth emulsion. This step’s gonna add that creamy feel without cream.

Finally, very gradually whisk in the hot soup to the egg yolk emulsion. Do it slow so it doesn’t curdle. Serve hot over toasted French bread slices drizzled with olive oil. Get ready to dive in!

Quick Tricks That Save Your Time

• Peel one garlic clove and roast it in advance to mix in for a mellow sweetness in your broth
• Use pre-toasted French bread or leftover baguette slices so you skip extra steps
• Mix your egg yolk and olive oil emulsion ahead and keep it in the fridge until ready to combine

When You Finally Get to Eat

You catch that first spoonful and the warm garlic hits your tongue with a gentle punch that’s just lovely. The herbs peek through softly, making it feel like you’re sitting in a garden somewhere.

The broth depth is just right, silky from that egg yolk emulsion mixing in perfectly. You feel the smoothness coat your mouth and think, heck, this is comfort in a bowl.

And that crunchy toasted French bread soaking up all that garlic soup goodness? Oh man, that’s the finish line y’all wanna cross. It’s simple, cozy, and so satisfying you can’t help but smile.

Smart Storage That Actually Works

If you got leftovers, you’re in luck because this soup stores pretty well. Pour it into an airtight container and keep it in the fridge for up to three days.

When you reheat, do it gently on low heat so you don’t scramble that egg yolk emulsion. Stir often to keep it smooth and creamy.

If you wanna keep it longer, freezing works okay but texture can change a bit. Freeze in small portions, and thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating slowly on the stove.

The FAQ Section You Actually Need

• Can I peel the garlic cloves before pressure cooking? You can try, but leaving them unpeeled helps soften the garlic without turning it bitter or mushy.
• What if I don’t have fresh herbs? Dried herbs work just fine, which is great when you gotta whip up something quick.
• How do I avoid curdling when adding the egg yolk emulsion? Whisk the hot soup into the egg yolk mixture very slowly and gradually. Temperature matters a lot here.
• Can I use vegetable broth instead of water? You could, but this garlic soup is known for its pure simple broth depth made mostly from water and herbs.
• Is toasting the bread essential? Toasting helps it hold up under the soup and adds a nice crunch, but you can skip it if you want softer bites.
• How do I know when pressure is done? Watch the float valve and steam cues. When the valve pops up and steam steadies, your cooking time starts. Then use slow release for best results.