Newly Wed Soup

The lore behind this newlywed soup from the Dordogne region in Southern France varies depending on who tells it, but goes something like this….

After the wedding party and meal, the young couple would go to a nearby relative’s house to sleep. Later that night, or early in the morning, as the case might be, those wedding guests in their late teens and twenties would search for the newlyweds and rouse them from their, er, slumber to serve them this rich soup in bed. Cooked especially for the couple, it’s intended to help them recover from their wedding night.

I’m not certain if newlyweds are still hunted down on their wedding night, but the soup lives on. The Restaurant de l’Abbaye in Cadouin is well- known for their version, served from a large tureen table side rather than bedside. No need to be a newlywed. This is just one version of newly wed soup like all newly weds they can differ. 

3 tablespoons goose fat (acceptable, if inauthentic, stand-ins include duck fat and olive oil)
2 large onions, chopped
8 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
8 cups homemade chicken stock or canned chicken broth
1/2 cup dried white beans, soaked overnight and drained
1 cup heavy cream or crème fraîche
Coarse salt and white pepperChopped fresh herbs, (such as parsley, chives, and/or thyme)
1 tablespoon white vinegar
1 day-old baguette, sliced 2 inches thick (optional)

In a stock pot over medium heat, melt the goose fat. Add the onions and garlic and cook until tender but not browned, about 10 minutes.
Stir in the flour until it forms a smooth paste. Still stirring constantly, slowly add half of the stock. Continue stirring until the mixture begins to thicken. Stir in the remaining stock and the beans. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer for 45 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes.
Working in batches, pour the soup into a blender and process until smooth. Return the soup to the stock pot and place over medium-low heat. Add the cream and season with salt, white pepper, and the herbs. Adjust the heat until the soup is just simmering and then slowly stir in the vinegar. Ladle the soup into a tureen or bowls. Float large pieces of the bread on top, if using, and serve right away. And if you are bringing the soup to newlyweds, don’t forget to knock!