Description
Savory French Onion Soup elevates classic comfort with caramelized onions and rich beef broth. Topped with crusty bread and melted gruyère cheese, this elegant French dish promises a luxurious culinary experience you’ll crave on chilly evenings.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 4 large onions
- 2 tbsp butter
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 L beef broth
- 500 ml water
Bread and Cheese:
- 4 slices french baguette
- 2 cups gruyère cheese
- 1/2 cup parmesan cheese
Seasonings:
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsp dry white wine
Instructions
- Peel and thinly slice onions into uniform half-moon shapes, ensuring consistent thickness for even caramelization.
- Heat butter and olive oil in a large heavy-bottomed pot over medium-low heat, creating a rich cooking base.
- Add sliced onions to the pot, stirring continuously to coat with fat and prevent immediate browning.
- Slowly caramelize onions for 40-45 minutes, stirring periodically, until they transform into a deep golden-brown color with rich, sweet flavor.
- Mince garlic and add to the caramelized onions, sautéing for an additional 1-2 minutes to release aromatic oils.
- Deglaze the pot with dry white wine, scraping accumulated browned bits from the bottom to intensify flavor profile.
- Pour in beef broth and water, then introduce dried thyme, bay leaf, salt, and black pepper.
- Simmer the soup on low heat for 25-30 minutes, allowing flavors to meld and develop complexity.
- Preheat oven broiler to high temperature while soup simmers.
- Toast french baguette slices until golden and crisp around edges.
- Ladle hot soup into oven-safe ceramic bowls, floating toasted baguette on top.
- Generously sprinkle gruyère and parmesan cheese over bread, covering entire surface.
- Broil for 3-4 minutes until cheese melts completely and develops golden-brown bubbling crust.
- Remove from broiler, let cool for 2-3 minutes, and serve immediately.
Notes
- Always slice onions uniformly to ensure consistent caramelization and prevent uneven cooking.
- Use a combination of butter and olive oil for deeper flavor and prevent butter from burning during long cooking process.
- Patience is key when caramelizing onions – low and slow develops rich, sweet flavor without burning.
- Deglaze with dry white wine to enhance depth and remove delicious browned bits stuck to pot bottom.
- Select high-quality gruyère cheese for authentic, creamy melting texture that complements soup’s richness.
- Create gluten-free version by using gluten-free bread and checking broth ingredients.
- Vegetarian adaptation works by substituting beef broth with robust mushroom or vegetable stock.
- Make ahead and refrigerate soup base for up to 3 days, adding fresh cheese toast just before serving.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 70-80 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 360
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 12 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg