This is the best French Country Soup! From the Alsace area of France, where they know a thing or two about healthy, country cooking, this soup is soul-warming, and so easy to make. Long ago we had this in France, I’ve updated the recipe a little. I’m in Europe this week and next…so I thought you’d enjoy this post with some photos from Alsace.
Alsace, France, is a beautiful area, it shares a border with Germany, and like most of the small countries in Europe, the borders have changed back and forth between neighbors over the centuries.
This area is “Germanic” in feel, with the same charming houses and landscape as you will find in Germany. It is everything charming, picturesque and exactly what we want France to be.
The one thing that surprises me again and again, no matter how many times I go to Europe, is how OLD everything is here. Old, ruined castles dot the landscape, as well as homes and buildings that have the most interesting architectural details.
Fall is the best time to shop the farmer’s markets in France, and everywhere else. {I wish I could take all this bounty home with me..unfortunately, no vegetables or fruits are allowed back into California.}
I’ve shared this recipe before, but it’s such a great recipe to have in your “go to list” of things to make, that I’m sharing it again for my new readers.
Since the table was already set up for my FALL HOME TOUR, I decided to invite some friends over for a simple dinner before we left for our trip.
I used an antique French fish steamer to fill with pumpkins and hydrangeas from the garden, I added in a few fall “faux” picks for extra interest.
We are huge soup eaters at FrenchGardenHouse, and I love nothing more than serving this to family, friends, or just the two of us at home. {ps. for those of you who have waited, I’ve restocked the Napoleonic Linen Napkins in the store}
A bowl of this FrenchGardenHouse soup has old world taste. It tastes like it cooked all day, but doesn’t take that long. It uses the freshest ingredients, and is actually better the next day, if you want to plan ahead!
Alsace wine is famous worldwide, their Rieslings and Gewurtztraminer wines are perfection.
Round out this fall meal with crispy bread, either a loaf you warm in the oven, or little baguettes that you can bake at home.
Country French Vegetable Soup Alsace
Serves 4 ~ 6
Ingredients:
4-5 tablespoons butter
1 onion, chopped
shallot, chopped
1 carrot, chopped
1 cup sliced celery
½ lb. mushrooms, sliced
1 medium potato, peeled and diced
2 medium turnips, peeled and diced
28 oz. chicken stock
1/8 teaspoon marjoram leaves
2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/3 cup half and half or milk
Sea salt
Freshly ground pepper
Chopped fresh parsley or chives
Make It:
1. Melt the butter in a 3 quart pan placed over medium heat. Add the onion, shallot, carrot, celery, and mushrooms and sauté until onion is tender. Remove half the mushrooms with a slotted spoon; set aside.
2. Add the potato, turnip, stock, and marjoram. Bring to a boil. Cover and reduce heat, simmering about 20 minutes, or until turnip and potatoes are tender.
3. Add lemon juice, reserved mushrooms, and the half and half or milk. Season with salt & pepper to taste. Garnish with chives or parsley.
Enjoy!
What is your favorite soup for Fall?
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It’s so hard to choose! I love pistou. And zucchini/cheese soup. And pumpkin soup. And carrot soup. And so many more, some typically French and some more international.
A great place for ideas is marmiton.org, a kind of epicurious in french.
I agree, there are so many delicious soups! Thanks for the French soup recipe finding tip!
Oh, my word! I must make this over the weekend.
You know when I look at these photos, It makes me want to change my trip next year from Italy to France, I travel almost every year to Italy and never been to France, but obviously its a beautiful place. The soup look amazing.
Maria
Nothing says comfort like a good soup and this one sounds delicious. The best part this recipe calls for fresh and ingredients I have on hand. I also enjoyed your photos and table setting.
The French countryside is definitely on my bucket list. Thanks for sharing this virtual beauty and the yummy soup. Perfect for a fall dinner.
My favorite soups for fall aren’t French, but they are delicious none the less! They are homemade minestrone, and homemade split pea with good ham (bone in, if possible; I use Honey Baked Ham bones). But I am looking forward to trying your French country soup. And, I’m going to France in June 2017, for the first time!! A river cruise on the Seine, Paris to Normandy and back. Very excited!
Elizabeth, how exciting! You will have an amazing time, I’m sure of it!
French Country Soup! all I need now are turnips, shopping tomorrow and will cook right up with a baguette and herbed butter. Husband is my taste tester and he loves soup anytime. He loves Chicken noodle Vegetable, Beef Barley, Italian Soup, Creamy chicken and wild rice and in the winter good ole Matzo Ball Soup. I make a soup at least twice a week so am always looking for a new recipe and this sound great! Thanks for sharing……love your photo’s, Carmel
Carmel, thank you! You sound like a soup lover, just like me. Thanks so much for stopping by…love all those soups you mentioned too!
I have heard over the years that my grandparents and my mother and her siblings came to America from Alsace. I have heard it and Lorraine are French German areas. My mother’s maiden name was spelled Schmitt. Was this the French spelling of Schmidt? I have always wondered if I am French or German. Does anyone out there have any suggestions?
Thanks so much for your comment. The Alsace region have been French and German at different times in history. I’m not sure how you could find out, Rose Marie, unless you didv a genealogy research, like with ancestry . com
Hello Lidy, soups are a favorite of mine. i love trying all different soups, especially this fall season. I adore French recipes. We spent two weeks there years ago and we hope to go back one day. We went on a week’s long barge trip with the most delicious food. I shall be trying this recipe out soon. Have a lovely weekend.
This soup sounds incredible! Love your photos so much ?
Yum Yum sounds so delicious
Not only do I love eating soup, I love making soup! So easy and you always have extras to eat later. Can’t wait to make this one!
Love it Peggy! Thanks so much for stopping by, and I agree, it’s actually even better the next day! xo
So simple and delicious! Will make this often, thanks so much!