French Onion Soup is like a warm, delicious hug in a bowl. It's a classic dish that captures the essence of French cooking. Imagine sweet, caramelized onions in a savory broth, topped with melty Gruyère cheese and crusty bread. The onions take their time to become golden and flavorful, making this soup a real labor of love. Whether you have it as a cozy appetizer or a hearty meal, French Onion Soup is the perfect way to warm up on a cold day. So, grab your spoon and enjoy this timeless favorite that feels like a comforting embrace in a bowl.
The best onions for French Onion Soup are typically yellow onions. They have a balanced flavor and natural sweetness that caramelizes beautifully during the slow-cooking process, giving the soup its characteristic rich and sweet depth of flavor. Yellow onions also have a nice texture that holds up well in the soup. While yellow onions are the most common choice, you can also experiment with a mix of yellow and red onions for added complexity, but yellow onions are a classic and reliable choice for this classic dish.
Ingredients
50g Butter
1 tablespoon Oil
750g Onions, a mix of yellow and red, very thinly sliced
1/2 teaspoon Salt
1/4 teaspoon Black pepper
1/2 teaspoon Brown sugar
3 Garlic cloves, finely chopped
3 tablespons Plain flour
2 litres Beef stock
250ml Dry white wine
2 Bay leaves
1 Rosemary sprig (can also use thyme)
1 Baguette, sliced
150g Gruyere, finely grated
Method
In a heavy-based saucepan, melt a combination of butter and oil over low heat. Once melted, add the sliced onions, a pinch of salt, pepper, and a touch of sugar. Cook them gently for 45-60 minutes, stirring occasionally. Your goal is to achieve a deep golden brown color and the beginnings of caramelization, so low heat is essential to let the onions slowly develop their flavor.
After the onions have reached the desired color and sweetness, add minced garlic and sauté for an additional minute or two.
Pour in your stock, a splash of wine, and add bay leaves and rosemary to the mix. Season the broth with a pinch of salt and pepper for depth of flavor.
Cover the saucepan with a lid and let the soup simmer gently for 30-40 minutes. This will allow the flavors to meld and intensify.
After simmering, remove the bay leaves and rosemary. Taste the soup and adjust the seasoning if necessary.
While the soup is simmering, toast your slices of baguette until they're lightly golden brown.
Ladle the hot soup into serving bowls. Top each bowl with a toasted slice of baguette, and generously sprinkle grated cheese over the bread. Place the bowls under a preheated grill and cook until the cheese turns a light golden brown.
Enjoy your delicious homemade French Onion Soup!
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