Wild Garlic Soup

This simple, delicious, and nutritious Wild Garlic Soup has a gentle garlicky flavor.

It is made with freshly foraged pungent wild garlic leaves (a.k.a ramps or ramson), potatoes, onions, and Homemade Vegetable Stock.

Wild garlic has a distinct flavor that adds depth and character to any dish, and when turned into a soup, it becomes a comforting and satisfying meal.

Spring is the perfect time for wild garlic and you can find them in wet woodland areas or beside rivers and streams.

Wild Garlic Soup is a fabulous way of making the most of the short season.

If you still have some wild garlic leaves left, you can turn them into a delicious Ramp Pesto (Wild Garlic Pesto).

What is Wild Garlic?

Wild garlic, also known as ramps or ramsons, is a leafy green herb that grows in the wild during the spring season.

It has a pungent and distinct garlic-like flavor and aroma, which makes it a popular ingredient in various dishes.

The plant is native to Europe and Asia, but can now be found in many parts of the world including Canada and the United States.

It also has numerous health benefits, as it is rich in vitamins and antioxidants.

Wild garlic is a versatile ingredient and you can use it in many ways, including in salads, as a garnish, and in soups.

How to Forage Wild Garlic?

Foraging for wild garlic is a fun and rewarding experience.

They usually are found under the shade of trees, often on the damp ground during the spring months, typically from March to May, so look in a shaded woodland.

Wild garlic leaves resemble the lily of the valley but with a distinct garlic scent.

Look for clumps of broad green leaves with white star-like flowers.

When foraging, it's important to identify the plant correctly and make sure it's not growing in an area that has been treated with pesticides or herbicides.

Be respectful of the environment and only take what you need, leaving plenty for the plant to regenerate.

You can find out more about foraging guidelines on the Woodladtrust page.

Other Ways to Use Wild Garlic

You can use wild garlic in a variety of culinary applications, such as in sauces (Ramp Pesto - Wild Garlic Pesto), dressings, and marinades.

Wild garlic is also great to use as a garnish for dishes, or as a flavoring in baked goods like bread or scones.

Additionally, you can pickle, preserve, freeze, or ferment wild garlic for longer-term storage and use.

Why This Recipe Works?

• You can easily replace the mascarpone cheese with 100 ml of coconut cream to turn it into a vegan soup.

• You only need a handful of ingredients to make this delicious and healthy Wild Garlic Soup.

• The main ingredient is the wild garlic leaves, the potato is used as a thickening ingredient and can be replaced with rice or red lentils.

• This Wild Garlic Soup freezes beautifully. You can make a big batch and keep it in the freezer for up to 6 months!

Ingredients You'll Need

Please scroll down to the recipe card below for the full ingredients list with measurements, complete recipe method, recipe notes, and nutritional information.

• Wild Garlic (Ramson) leaves - You can forage wild garlic in the UK between March and early summer. However, if you don't have the opportunity to do so, you can buy them from the farmers' market or use the veg box scheme that provides them.

• Potatoes - It gives the soup a creamy texture and helps it to thicken. You can substitute it with rice.

• Vegetable stock or Easy Chicken Stock (Bone Broth) - For the best results, always try and use homemade or a good quality stock for your soups and stews. If using store-bought stock, check the seasoning before adding salt to your dish.

• Mascarpone - It adds creaminess to the soup. You can substitute it with double cream or use coconut cream to make this soup vegan.

• Onion - Peel and roughly chop a medium-sized brown, yellow, or white onion.

• Olive oil - I try and use good quality olive oil for my cooking. You can substitute it with butter.

• Celery stick - I love the aroma it adds to the soup but you can omit it if you prefer.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Making this healthy, smooth, and creamy Wild Garlic Soup is very easy.

However, to achieve the best results, you need to follow a few simple steps:

Carefully wash the wild garlic leaves, making sure to remove any soil or dirt. Dry them using a salad spinner. 

Heat a saucepan on medium heat and sauté the onions and celery with olive oil until soft.

Add the potatoes and sauté for another minute.

Stir in the stock, salt, and freshly ground black pepper and cook it on medium heat until the potatoes are softened, for about 20 to 25 minutes.

Add the mascarpone cheese, give it a good stir, and then add the wild garlic leaves.

Bring it back to a boil and cook it for another five minutes.

Remove the pan from the heat and blitz it using a hand blender or food processor.

Drizzle on cream or creme fraiche before serving.

Top Tips From the Chef

• Never pick leaves next to busy roads or lanes, or low down, where dogs are regularly walked.

• If you want to forage wild garlic for the first time, check it from a pocket guidebook before picking anything. The biggest clue is the smell. It may look similar to wild garlic. Don't eat it if it doesn’t smell like garlic.

• Use fresh and young wild garlic leaves for a milder flavor.

• Carefully wash the wild garlic leaves, making sure to remove any soil or dirt.

• Use a blender or food processor to puree the soup for a smooth and creamy texture.

• The secret to having a beautiful and bright green color soup is to add the wild garlic leaves at the very last minute and only cook them for a few minutes. Once you've added them in, make sure you blend your soup straight after. 

Serving Suggestions

You can serve this creamy and pungent soup with a drizzle of cream, olive oil, or Wild Garlic Pesto.

You can add some croutons or pumpkin seeds for a bit of crunch or you can serve it with some bread such as Bazlama (Turkish Flatbread), Black Pepper Sourdough Focaccia, Mexican Cornbread, Bolillo, Crusty Mexican Bread Rolls, Chicken Parmesan Sandwich, and Turkish Pide Bread (Ramazan Pidesi).

Try this delicious soup with a slice of Lox Bagel - Smoked Salmon Bagel with Cream Cheese for an indulgent lunch!

Recipe FAQs

Related Recipes

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Did you make this recipe? Please let me know how it turned out! Leave a comment below and tag @cookingorgeous on Instagram and hashtag it #cookingorgeous.

I hope you enjoy the process of making this delicious Wild Garlic Soup as much as you enjoy eating it! 🙂 

Bon appétit! / Afiyet olsun!

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