With the arrival of winter weather — including the first snowfall of the season — also comes the arrival of soup season. With how delicious and warming they are, soups match perfectly with the colder temperatures. And what better way to use the garlic from my roasted garlic recipe than in this pureed potato roasted garlic and sage soup?

Now, I’ve slurped my fair share of liquid lunches, but let me tell you, this isn’t just a soup; it’s a creamy embrace in a bowl. You’ve got your potatoes, buttery and comforting, your garlic, roasted to sweet nuttiness, and your sage, with its aromatic depth.

It’s like the three musketeers of flavor decided to have a pool party and you’re invited.

So grab your bowls and a ladle and dive into this witty bowl of culinary genius. Your taste buds can thank me later.

Ingredients for Garlic and Sage Soup

To get started, we’ll need to gather our ingredients. The veggies, the liquids, and the seasonings. These will fully combine together when we blend the soup, but not before we get them cooked.

Veggies

Onion, garlic, and potatoes. These hearty veggies, especially the potatoes, make up the bulk of the non-liquid ingredients used here.

The garlic is roasted beforehand. The onions are sauteed in butter with some of the seasonings. The potatoes are peeled, cubed, and cooked in the soup until soft and blendable. I recommend using a yellow onion and large Yukon gold potatoes. But feel free to substitute other varieties if they’re what you have on hand.

Liquids

It’s a bit hard to make soup without any liquid. Though I’m sure there’s some recipe out there that does, that’s not for us today. And we’ll be doing liquids in two batches – one pre- and some post-blending.

Pre-blending we’ll be using stock. A good stock is a rich, comforting base that elevates everything else. And it isn’t actually that difficult to make your own chicken stock. If you’re going the vegetarian route, though, a vegetable stock will do the trick just as well.

Post-blending is all about adding creaminess. Literally, with some heavy cream and milk. These help add a smooth, luxurious texture that’ll have your taste buds doing the tango. We add these and cook on low heat to keep them from curdling. Just enough to get things cohesive.

Seasonings

Now comes the exciting part – infusing our roasted garlic and sage soup with layers of irresistible flavor.

• Sage: First up is sage, the maestro of this herbal symphony. Its aromatic notes bring a delightful earthiness to the soup. As the sage melds with the creamy base, it creates a harmonious balance that elevates each spoonful.
• Thyme: Enter thyme, another herbal virtuoso that contributes a fragrant undertone to our soup. Its subtle presence adds complexity to the other ingredients for a nuanced flavor profile.
• Bay: Now, let’s introduce bay leaves—the unsung heroes of many savory dishes. These unassuming leaves bring a subtle yet distinct depth to the soup, enhancing its overall taste.
• Salt and Pepper: The basic seasonings that enhance the flavor of almost anything.

The Garlic and Sage of it All

Let’s face it, there’s nothing quite like the aroma of roasted garlic wafting through the kitchen. A good soup is like a warm hug – especially in the winter. And when you pair that with sage leaves sizzling in butter, you’re in for a treat. So buckle up, because we’re about to take your senses on a culinary joyride with the dynamic duo of garlic and sage.

Roasted Garlic Flavor

This is where the recipe all started for me. I made a lot of roasted garlic when preparing my roasted garlic recipe. Roasting garlic changes it from pungent to sweet, sharp to mellow. It helps to coax out their deepest, richest essences.

Raw, it’s bold, assertive, and a little bit punchy, but give it some time in the oven and it softens

So, don’t rush this step. Let those cloves roast until they’re golden, caramelized, and tender so you can spread them like butter. Make the roasted garlic before making this recipe. It takes a little bit of time, but not a ton of effort on your own part – most of it is sitting in the oven.

Sage Leaves in Butter

Adding in the buttery sage comes from another recipe on the site – one of the most popular. My brown butter sage sauce inspired this addition. I highly recommend trying out that simple recipe if you haven’t before.

But back to this roasted garlic and sage soup, make sure to use fresh sage leaves.

I envisioned creating a brown butter sage sauce as the base, but it turned out a little different since I also included the onion when sauteeing the sage and it added enough moisture that it didn’t really brown the same way. But still added a ton of flavor.

Prepping the Potatoes

Potatoes are amazing. They’re versatile, they’re forgiving, and if you treat them just right, they can truly shine as the star of the show.

But to get them ready for showtime we’ll be peeling the potatoes. I think that leaving the peel on would lead to a grittier final soup. But if you want to give it a try, just be sure to scrub them well.

After peeling the potatoes, give them a little rinse in water.

Now start dicing the potatoes into about 1/2-inch cubes.

You don’t need to be exact but try to get similarly sized pieces. This will help them cook evenly in the next stage. So that all the pieces will be finished cooking when it comes time to blend. You’ll also be dicing up the onion before we start in on making the soup itself.

Making the Garlic and Sage Soup

With all of the ingredients prepped, it is time to finally start making the soup.

Brown Butter and Sage

Begin by melting the butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add in the sage leaves and onion to begin sauteing. Stir it consistently to make sure it cooks evenly. The onion is cooked when it is mostly translucent – probably 3 to 5 minutes.

Add in the roasted garlic cloves and dried thyme. Stir it around and cook it for another minute or two to let the thyme bloom. Then add in the chopped potatoes, chicken or vegetable stock, and bay leaves.

Simmering

Turn the heat up to medium-high to let the soup warm up, stirring occasionally. Once it begins to bubble, turn the heat down and let it simmer for about 30 minutes.

The goal of the simmering is to fully cook the potatoes and to meld and extract all of the flavors. So, keep stirring occasionally as it simmers so that nothing sticks or burns to the bottom of the pot. Then, as it gets close to the 30 minutes, start testing the potatoes with a fork to tell if they’re cooked. The fork should easily pierce the potato without much force or resistance.

Remember to try and test the largest piece you can find.

Blend Until Smooth

With the potatoes cooked, we’re ready to puree this soup to a smooth texture. Turn off the heat.

I recommend using an immersion blender, but a regular blender could be used as well. An immersion blender will make it so we can just blend it up in the pot. The regular blender will likely take batches and require a lot of transferring back and forth. So, not preferred in my book.

Blend on high until smooth. Not just no big chunks, but smooth. If you think it’s close then just sample it with a spoon and see how the texture feels. Mine took a fair bit of time blending and moving around the pot to make sure it was fully smooth. If you really wanted to, you could strain it with a very fine mesh strainer to get it as smooth as possible.

Finishing the Soup

After blending the soup, we’ll be adding in some special ingredients to make sure it’s velvety smooth.

Add Milk and Cream and Warm on Low

Gently pour in the heavy cream and milk. Stir thoroughly to make sure everything is well combined.

Suddenly everything feels a bit more luxurious.

After adding the cream and milk, we’ll warm it up a little to make sure the soup is fully cohesive. But we need to be careful because the cream could curdle if heated too hot too fast. So just heat it on low for about five minutes. It shouldn’t have lost too much heat while blending it off the heat, so this shouldn’t take too long.

Taste and Adjust

Always always always taste your food before thinking it is finished. There’s usually at least something that could be done to change or adjust and make sure it is perfect.

Have a small taste of the soup and think of both the flavor and the texture.

Does it need a little more salt or a little more cream? Maybe it is a little thick – add a little more stock or water. Once you’ve nailed it down, you’re ready to serve it up.

Serving the Soup

Let’s chat about what to pair with our herby concoction. A soup can be a side or a main dish – it all depends on how much of it you serve and what you serve on the side. Remember, it’s not just about flavor; we eat with our eyes too!

What to Serve with Garlic and Sage Soup

Soup and bread are like peas in a pod – a true match made in heaven. Use some bread to dip in the soup or sop up every last drop when you’ve finished the bowl. A crusty loaf of bread. Freshly baked sourdough, with all its tangy glory. Pure bliss.

Take the bread idea a step further and make yourself a grilled cheese to have for dipping. I know they’re typically paired with tomato soup, but trust me they work with other soups as well.

And for those who crave a bit of crunch, a side of roasted veggies wouldn’t go amiss. Think golden-brown parsnips or glazed carrots, their edges caramelized to perfection.

Or try a salad like any of the following:

• Apple Cider Fall Harvest Salad
• Sesame Soy Chopped Salad
• Apple Walnut Spring Mix Salad
• Homemade Caesar Salad

Garnish the Roasted Garlic and Sage Soup

Garnish is mostly for show. But remember that the eyes are how you first take in the food, so it can really affect how we enjoy it. To garnish the soup, ladle it into the bowls that you’ll be serving. Then try any of the following:

A drizzle – Try drizzling a small bit of olive oil or heavy cream on top of the soup. Get fancy and give it a little swirl while you drizzle. Pour them down close to the top of the soup so that there isn’t much force and it stays on the surface. The drizzle helps to break up the monotony of color that soups can sometimes suffer from.

A dollop – Top it off with a little bit of sour cream or a dollop of prepared aioli (just make sure that the flavor pairs well with the potatoes, roasted garlic, and sage). Gently place a spoonful atop the soup for a fun presentation.

A sprinkling – Finally, sprinkle some chopped or whole fresh herbs, parmesan cheese, or bacon on top. Whole herbs will be for show and removed or eaten around. Try it with sage, parsley, or chives. And everything is enhanced with parmesan and bacon so… give that a spin if you want. You could even have garlic and sage soup with croutons on top for a nice crunchy texture.

Now, remember, while it’s easy to get carried away with the garnish, keep it classy. You don’t want to overshadow the star of the show – the soup itself. I hope you enjoy the soup and let it warm your home this winter!

How did yours turn out?

I’d love to hear when you try out this roasted garlic and sage soup! Take a pic of your food and share your success with me by adding it to your Instagram stories or feed, and tagging me @doyouroux, or by using #doyouroux.

Plus, leave a rating to let me know how you liked the recipe. It helps me out a lot to know how things worked out… or didn’t.

Pureed Potato Roasted Garlic and Sage Soup

Recipe by Marc PetersonCourse: Soups, SidesDifficulty: Easy

Servings

6

servings

Prep time

15

minutes

Cooking time

45

minutes

Total time

1

hour 

Savor the velvety blend of pureed potatoes, aromatic roasted garlic, and earthy sage in this comforting soup recipe that’s perfect for any cozy winter night!

Ingredients

• 2 pounds large Yukon gold potatoes

• 3 tablespoons salted butter

• 20 sage leaves

• 1 yellow onion

• 1 teaspoon dried thyme

• 10 cloves roasted garlic

• 6 cups chicken or vegetable stock

• 2 dried bay leaves

• 1 cup heavy cream

• 1 cup milk

• 1 teaspoon kosher salt

• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

Directions

• Peel and dice the potatoes, and finely chop the onion.
• In a large pot, melt the butter over medium heat, add in the sage and chopped onion, and cook about 5 minutes until the butter takes on a golden hue, and the onion becomes translucent – stir frequently
• Stir in the thyme and roasted garlic, cooking for 2 minutes allowing their fragrances to meld with the sautéed mixture.
• Pour in the chicken stock, potatoes, and bay leaves, turning the heat to medium-high until it begins to bubble
• Cover, turn down the heat, and simmer for approximately 30 minutes until the potatoes are fork-tender, stirring occasionally to ensure even cooking
• Turn off the heat when the potatoes are cooked through
• Using a stick blender, blend the soup until smooth – alternatively, pour it into a blender and blend it in batches
• Add cream and milk to soup in the pot and return to very low heat for 5 minutes until heated through, stirring occasionally

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There’s a reason that the spice trade has dominated certain trade routes since basically the beginning of time (i.e. as early as the 10th millennium BC): flavor. Spice mixes can deliver so much punch to the food that they season. And Old Bay seasoning packs a unique flavor that has stood the test of time.

Well, I’m here to spill the secrets. While you can find Old Bay in grocery stores across the nation, there’s something deeply satisfying about creating your own blend from scratch. Not only does it allow you to tailor the flavor to your liking, but the process itself is a delightful journey into the world of spices and seasonings.

This blend has become a pantry staple for chefs and home cooks alike. In this post, I’ll break down the core ingredients that define Old Bay’s signature taste and share a recipe that ensures your spice blend achieves the perfect equilibrium of flavors.

I clearly love making my own spice mixes – see my jerk seasoning, blackened seasoning, or homemade rub on pulled pork. I think it helps to better understand spices, herbs, and flavors. Learn what goes well together and find out specifically which seasonings you like most to use in the future.

Prepare to elevate your dishes to new heights with this homemade Old Bay Seasoning mix.

What is Old Bay Seasoning Spice Mix?

Originally created as ‘Delicious Brand Shrimp and Crab Seasoning’ for the Baltimore Spice Company, Gustav Brunn created the mix to sell after founding the company. This unique blend of spices was created in 1939 after he emigrated with his family from Germany to the Baltimore, Maryland area in the United States.

The mix was later renamed Old Bay after the passenger ship line Old Bay Line that traveled the Chesapeake Bay from Baltimore to Norfolk, Virginia.

The blend of spices has a unique savory saltiness that is balanced out with hints of sweetness and spicy heat.

Since it was originally branded as a shrimp and crab seasoning, Old Bay is forever connected to seafood. Crab cakes, seafood boils, steamed shrimp…

But Old Bay is a versatile seasoning that can be used in a variety of ways, as we’ll soon discover.

What is the Secret Ingredient?

What makes Old Bay so special?

Though it’s a blend of many spices and herbs (16 in our case!), there’s one main unique ingredient that binds them all together and creates the iconic flavor we know and love.

That secret ingredient is something called celery seed. Unsurprisingly, celery seed tastes a lot like celery. But a bit more concentrated and with more earthy bitterness that can sometimes be spicy feeling.

However, the real secret to making Old Bay Seasoning is in the proportions. You can’t just throw all the ingredients together and expect to get the same flavor. It’s the subtle combination and balance of the seasonings that make the difference.

Use too much or too little of any one ingredient and it can dramatically change the end result.

All the Spices in Old Bay Seasoning

So we know there’s celery seed. But what else goes into making the unique spices and seasonings of Old Bay?

Of course, we include some kosher salt in the mix. Salt really brings out the flavors of everything else and

Old Bay seasoning boasts a captivating blend of spices and herbs, each contributing distinct characteristics to its unique flavor profile. For simplicity, I’ll categorize them into several flavor groups:

Herbal and Earthy Notes: Dried bay leaves and paprika, especially the smokiness from smoked paprika, introduce a subtle woodsy freshness and a rich, earthy quality to Old Bay.

Tangy Kick: Mustard powder provides a mild, tangy kick that adds depth and complexity to the blend.

Heat and Spice: Black pepper, red pepper flakes, and white pepper collectively deliver a balanced level of spiciness, providing the subtle kick of Old Bay.

Warmth and Complexity: Cinnamon, cloves, allspice, nutmeg, and ginger combine to create a warm, complex flavor profile that infuses the seasoning with layers of sweet and spicy notes.

Light Citrusy and Floral Sweetness: Cardamom and coriander bring a delightful citrusy, slightly sweet, and floral quality to Old Bay, enhancing its aromatic characteristics.

As you can see, Old Bay seasoning is a masterful fusion of spices and herbs, each contributing a unique essence to the overall flavor profile. The precise proportions and careful blending of these ingredients are the keys to achieving the beloved, perfectly balanced taste of Old Bay.

So, there you have it – all the spices and ingredients that make up Old Bay seasoning.

Getting the Perfect Balance

When it comes to flavor, it’s all about getting the perfect balance. Think of it like a game of Jenga: the goal is to stack the pieces just right to create a beautiful and delicious tower of flavor. It’s not easy, but if you focus on the right spices and ingredients, you can make it happen.

For starters, try making the mix with the ratios as suggested in the recipe below. Then use it and taste it in a few dishes. Try to get a feel for the flavor and what you do and don’t like about it.

Think especially about the general flavor groupings I made in the section above. Also, take into account any spices you just aren’t a fan of.

Then it’s time to make your own adjustments as you see fit. Don’t like the heat? Take out some of the red pepper flakes. Not a fan of the smokiness? Pull back on the smoked paprika. Cutting back on sodium? Lose some of the salt.

Make it your own, that’s one of the best parts of making homemade spice mixes.

Blending or Grinding the Spice Mix

The goal is a cohesive mix of spices. Not just a jumbled hodge-podge of loosely layered powders.

So it is time to take all of our ingredients to a blender or spice grinder.

I use a small nutribullet blender when mixing together my spice mixes because it is what I have on hand. I’ve been interested in but never pulled the trigger on buying a spice grinder so I can’t really speak to their effectiveness. Let me know if you’ve used one before and if it produces much different results than a blender.

When blending the spice mix, it’s important to remember that you don’t want to overmix it. The idea is to combine the spices without crushing them too much. Overmixing can cause the flavors to become muted.

The best way to accomplish this is with short bursts or pulsing of the blender/grinder. Pulse the seasoning mix 5 to 8 times until everything has combined into a homogenous mix. The main thing to look out for is the bay leaves to make sure they have fully broken down with everything else.

Once it’s mixed together, store it in an airtight container. You may want to label it with the name of the mix as well as the date it was made.

Using the Old Bay Seasoning Spice Mix

With the Old Bay seasoning mixed together, it’s time to start putting it to use.

As noted above, it has historically been used with seafood. But seafood is just the beginning – especially if you ask anyone from the Chesapeake Bay area.

Try it with any of the following:

• Grilled Old Bay Chicken
• Topping any steamed seafood
• Simple Crab Cakes
• Popcorn topping
• Fries and potato wedge topping
• Old Bay Aioli for dipping

Old Bay seasoning is a great way to add a little bit of something extra to your meals. It can take a dish from ordinary to extraordinary. And the best part? You can use this seasoning on almost anything! So go ahead and add some Old Bay seasoning to your food and enjoy its delicious flavor.

How did yours turn out?

I’d love to hear when you try making homemade old bay seasoning! Take a pic of your food and share your success with me by adding it to your Instagram stories or feed, and tagging me @doyouroux, or by using #doyouroux.

Plus, leave a rating to let me know how you liked the recipe. It helps me out a lot to know how things worked out… or didn’t.

Old Bay Seasoning Spice Mix

Recipe by Marc PetersonCourse: Spices, Sauces and Condiments, SeasoningsDifficulty: Easy

Servings

20

servings

Prep time

5

minutes

Cooking timeminutes

Total time

5

minutes

Discover the perfectly blended spice mix for your culinary creations – learn the secret to homemade Old Bay seasoning!

Ingredients

• 8 dried bay leaves

• 2 tablespoons kosher salt

• 1 and 1/2 tablespoons celery seed

• 1 tablespoon smoked paprika

• 1 and 1/2 teaspoons mustard powder

• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper

• 1 teaspoon paprika

• 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes

• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

• 1/2 teaspoon ground white pepper

• 1/4 teaspoon ground coriander

• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

• 1/8 teaspoon ground allspice

• 1/8 teaspoon ground cardamom

Directions

• Combine all of the ingredients in a small blender or spice grinder and pulse 5 to 8 times until well combined and the bay leaves are broken down
• Put your spice mix into an airtight container and keep it in a cool, dry place

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The post The Secret to Perfectly Balanced Old Bay Seasoning Spice Mix appeared first on Do You Roux?.

Throw a bunch of ingredients in a big pot with some water and let it simmer for a while. Now you have chicken stock.

It is almost that easy. A little prep work and some small effort once it has finished simmering is all it really takes. The magic mostly happens by letting the pot sit there undisturbed, doing its own thing for at least a couple of hours. As it simmers it will spread a mouth-watering aroma through the house.

Thousands of recipes use chicken stock. And you can definitely use store-bought stock to make delicious meals. But the extra effort of making your own stock gives you more depth of flavor for your final dish and more control of exactly how it will taste. It is especially important to make your own stock when it is a featured ingredient – like for broth-based soups. A simple chicken noodle soup is elevated to the next level when using homemade stock.

I tend to make stock whenever I have made a recipe that leaves me with bones from the meat. And when I make it, I make a huge vat of it. Then I will keep some of that in the fridge for use in the next week, and freeze the rest for use over the next few months whenever I want to bust out the reserves.

Chicken Stock or Broth?

Some people like to get into the nitty-gritty differences of chicken stock vs chicken broth. But that’s not what I’m all about.

In my opinion, you can use stock and broth interchangeably. Boiling meat, fish, or vegetables with some aromatics and seasonings is the same method for both. Generally, stock is made with more bones and cartilage while broth includes more meat. Broth is also typically cooked for a shorter period of time.

Eh, whatever. They’re the same. I typically include whatever leftover bones and meat I have on hand and cook for as long as my time will allow. In my opinion, longer tends to be better as you give more time for flavors to develop and for collagen to seep from the bones. But if I don’t have time for that, then a much shorter stay in the pot still gets the job done.

What Goes Into Stock?

Don’t take this recipe as set in stone. It is more of a jumping-off point for whatever you want to include in your stock. Mix and match what seems best to you, while making sure to think of what will work with the flavors of your planned final dish. You want everything to be working together.

Do not add salt to the stock. Since this is not a final dish, you don’t want to salt it yet. Save that for once you have cooked everything and then add salt to taste. You won’t risk having too much salt if you wait to add it.

• Chicken – Use bones, skin, meat, and drippings from chicken as the base flavor for the stock. My go-to is using the picked-over carcass from two Costco rotisserie chickens. For a deeper and richer flavor, throw it all on a baking sheet in the oven and roast it at 350°F (175°C) until golden-brown.
• Aromatics – These are vegetables, herbs, and spices that add aroma and flavor to your dish.
  • Vegetables – Most stocks call for garlic, onions, carrots, and celery. But feel free to experiment and try other options. Leeks, asparagus, mushrooms, peas, bell peppers, spinach, tomatoes.
  • Herbs – I generally like to use sage, rosemary, parsley, and thyme because they tend to be fairly neutral and can pair well with a whole lot of dishes. You can try adding any other herbs, just don’t go overboard because using too much in relation to the other ingredients can lend bitterness to stock.
  • Spices – Typically, I add bay leaves and peppercorn (pepper before being ground up) to stock. Ginger, cardamom, and coriander could be fun to experiment with. And you could consider using dried chiles if you are wanting a dish with some spiciness to it.
• Water – Good old plain water, nothing complicated here.

How to Make Chicken Stock

Recipe by Marc PetersonCourse: SoupsDifficulty: Easy

Servings

15

servings

Prep time

15

minutes

Cooking time

2

hours 

Total time

2

hours 

15

minutes

Long-simmered chicken stock for full flavored soups and sauces

Ingredients

• 4 to 5 pounds chicken bones, meat, and skin (2 rotisserie chicken carcasses)

• 4 large carrots

• 5 celery stalks

• 1 large onion

• 10 peppercorns

• 4 sprigs thyme

• 2 sprigs sage

• 4 sprigs parsley

• 2 sprigs rosemary

• 2 bay leaves

• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

• 20 to 30 cups water

Directions

• Cut the ends off of the onion and then cut it into quarters
• Slice the carrots and celery into 3 to 4 inch pieces
• Add all ingredients except water to a very large stock pot
• Add enough water to cover everything
• Place the stock pot on high heat until you see bubbles starting to form and immediately turn the heat to low
• Cover with a lid and simmer on low for 2 to 8 hours (the longer you can, the better)
• Remove and discard the bones and vegetables using a slotted spoon or tongs
• Line a mesh strainer with cheesecloth and strain the stock to remove anything remaining in the liquid
• Use the stock or cool it down in an ice-water bath and store it in the fridge or freezer

Notes

• Tie up your herbs with kitchen twine so that it is easier to remove at the end before straining
• Store extra broth in quart-sized plastic deli containers in either the fridge for about a week or in the freezer for up to 4 months

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