SOUPE A L'AIL (GARLIC SOUP)

Steps:

• Peel the garlic cloves and chop them coarsely.
• Heat the butter and oil in a saucepan or a small kettle. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, for about one minute. Do not brown the garlic. Add the water, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, cover and simmer for 15 minutes.
• Strain the garlic and reserve the cooking liquid. Put the garlic and a half cup of the reserved cooking liquid in a blender or food processor and blend to a fine puree. Put the remaining cooking liquid in a saucepan and add the puree. Bring to a boil. Add the vermicelli. Stir and cook for about four minutes. Do not overcook.
• Meanwhile, blend the egg yolks and vinegar in a bowl.
• Turn off the heat under the saucepan. Drop in the egg whites. Do not stir. They will form a cloudlike mixture. Add the egg yolk mixture and stir very slowly. Serve immediately.