Indulge in the classic French delicacy of onion soup, a culinary masterpiece that exudes warmth and comfort. This soup has captured the hearts of food enthusiasts worldwide with its caramelized onions, rich beef broth, and a cheesy, golden-brown crouton topping. As you embark on this culinary journey, discover two exceptional recipes that showcase the versatility of this timeless dish. The first recipe presents a traditional approach, utilizing simple yet flavorful ingredients to create an authentic French onion soup. Alternatively, the second recipe offers a modern twist, incorporating the essence of French onion soup into a convenient and portable ramekin format. Both recipes promise an unforgettable sensory experience that will leave you craving more.
Here are our top 9 tried and tested recipes!
THE BEST FRENCH ONION SOUP
This bistro classic is deceptively easy to make. It just takes a little time and a few good ingredients. We found that yellow onions, also known as Spanish onions, work best for this recipe. They have a nice balance of sweetness and bitterness and caramelize perfectly. Just don't take them too dark -- a nice golden brown is perfect. Good beef broth also makes a big difference. If you can't make your own, look for a high-quality prepared variety.
Provided by Food Network Kitchen
Categories appetizer
Time 1h55m
Yield 8 servings
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Melt the butter in a very large Dutch oven or pot over medium heat. Add the onions, bay leaves, thyme, 1 teaspoon salt, and a few grinds black pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are very soft and light golden-brown, about 1 hour. (The onions will begin to stick to the bottom of the pan and turn brown after about 30 minutes; just keep scraping them up and stirring them into the rest of the onions. If they are browning to quickly, lower the heat.)
- Add the wine to the pot, bring to a simmer and cook until it has almost completely evaporated, about 4 minutes. Add the beef broth and 1 cup of water, bring to a simmer and cook until the flavors come together and the soup is rich, about 45 minutes. Remove the bay leaves. Season with 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of black pepper. Keep the soup warm on a low burner or cool completely and refrigerate to reheat later. (The soup can be refrigerated for up to 2 days or frozen for up to 1 month.)
- Preheat the broiler. Place four soup crocks on a rimmed baking sheet and fill them about 3/4 of the way with hot soup. Float a slice of baguette on top of each and cover with 1/2 cup Gruyere. Broil until the Gruyere is golden brown (don't be alarmed if some soup bubbles out), 2 to 3 minutes.
EASY FRENCH ONION SOUP
Steps:
- Gather the ingredients.
- In a large non-stick skillet or sauté pan over medium-low heat, melt the butter. Sauté the sliced onions for about 30 to 45 minutes, or until very soft and golden brown in color. Stir them frequently. If they are browning too quickly or scorching, turn the heat to low. It takes time to get that sweet caramelization, so don't try to rush it.
- In a medium saucepan or Dutch oven, combine the beef broth and water with the cooked onion and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and cover the pan. Simmer for 25 to 30 minutes.
- Meanwhile, position a rack 4 inches from the broiler. Heat the broiler and place the bread on a foil-lined baking sheet. Toast until golden, 30 to 45 seconds.
- Remove from the oven, flip the bread, and divide the cheese between the slices. Return to the oven and broil until the cheese is melted, 20 to 30 seconds.
- To serve, pour the onion soup into four individual soup bowls. Float a slice of toasted French bread, cheese side up, in each bowl and sprinkle with extra cheese. Garnish with chives, if using.
- Serve and enjoy!
Nutrition Facts : Calories 433 kcal, Carbohydrate 57 g, Cholesterol 38 mg, Fiber 3 g, Protein 17 g, SaturatedFat 9 g, Sodium 1211 mg, Sugar 9 g, Fat 16 g, ServingSize 4 servings, UnsaturatedFat 0 g
FRENCH ONION SOUP
Provided by Ina Garten
Time 1h10m
Yield 4 to 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- In a large stockpot on medium-high heat, saute the onions with the butter and bay leaf for 20 minutes, until the onions turn a rich golden brown color. Deglaze the pan with the sherry and brandy and simmer uncovered for 5 minutes. Add the white wine and simmer uncovered for 15 more minutes.
- Add the beef and veal stocks plus salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, then simmer uncovered for 20 minutes. Remove the bay leaf, taste for salt and pepper, and serve hot with grated Parmesan.
EASY FRENCH ONION SOUP
This soup is simple to make after work. My husband thinks it is as good if not better than any we've ever had in a restaurant.
Provided by Elizabeth Fullerton
Categories One Dish Meal
Time 35m
Yield 4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Place onions and butter in saucepan.
- Sauté on medium heat until onions are tender.
- Add garlic and sauté 1-2 minutes (don't let garlic burn).
- Add beef broth, consomme, and Woschershire sauce.
- Bring to a boil for 1 minute.
- Take ovenproof bowls (I use over-sized coffee mugs) and place 0.125 cup of cheese in bottom of each bowl.
- Fill bowl with soup leaving room at the top.
- Place toasted French bread on top.
- Top with 0.125 cup Swiss cheese.
- Place under broiler until cheese is bubbly.
- Serve immediately.
- Caution--bowls will be hot!
RICH AND SIMPLE FRENCH ONION SOUP
We have been trying French onion soup in restaurants for years and my family and friends agree none can compare to my recipe for taste and simplicity of preparation.
Provided by Lori Levin
Categories Soups, Stews and Chili Recipes Soup Recipes Vegetable Soup Recipes Onion Soup Recipes French Onion Soup Recipes
Time 1h5m
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Melt butter with olive oil in an 8 quart stock pot on medium heat. Add onions and continually stir until tender and translucent. Do not brown the onions.
- Add beef broth, sherry and thyme. Season with salt and pepper, and simmer for 30 minutes.
- Heat the oven broiler.
- Ladle soup into oven safe serving bowls and place one slice of bread on top of each (bread may be broken into pieces if you prefer). Layer each slice of bread with a slice of provolone, 1/2 slice diced Swiss and 1 tablespoon Parmesan cheese. Place bowls on cookie sheet and broil in the preheated oven until cheese bubbles and browns slightly.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 585.3 calories, Carbohydrate 27.9 g, Cholesterol 98 mg, Fat 43.9 g, Fiber 2.7 g, Protein 20.9 g, SaturatedFat 24.2 g, Sodium 1578.3 mg, Sugar 6 g
CLASSIC FRENCH ONION SOUP
Enjoy my signature French onion soup the way my granddaughter Becky does: I make onion soup for her in a crock bowl, complete with garlic croutons and gobs of melted Swiss cheese on top. -Lou Sansevero, Ferron, Utah
Provided by Taste of Home
Time 2h15m
Yield 12 servings (2-1/4 quarts).
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- In a Dutch oven, heat 2 tablespoons oil and butter over medium heat. Add onions; cook and stir until softened, 10-13 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low; cook, stirring occasionally, until deep golden brown, 30-40 minutes. Add minced garlic; cook 2 minutes longer., Stir in wine. Bring to a boil; cook until liquid is reduced by half. Add broth, pepper and salt; return to a boil. Reduce heat. Simmer, covered, stirring occasionally, for 1 hour. , Meanwhile, preheat oven to 400°. Place baguette slices on a baking sheet; brush both sides with remaining 3 tablespoons oil. Bake until toasted, 3-5 minutes on each side. Rub toasts with halved garlic. , To serve, place twelve 8-oz. broiler-safe bowls or ramekins on baking sheets; place 2 toasts in each. Ladle with soup; top with cheese. Broil 4 in. from heat until cheese is melted.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 172 calories, Fat 9g fat (3g saturated fat), Cholesterol 10mg cholesterol, Sodium 773mg sodium, Carbohydrate 16g carbohydrate (3g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 6g protein.
FRENCH ONION SOUP
Our French onion soup is deliciously rich and easy to make at home. This savoury soup is perfect for using up a garden glut and great for dinner parties
Provided by Sara Buenfeld
Categories Lunch, Main course
Time 1h10m
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Melt the butter with the olive oil in a large heavy-based pan. Add the onions and fry with the lid on for 10 mins until soft.
- Sprinkle in the sugar and cook for 20 mins more, stirring frequently, until caramelised. The onions should be really golden, full of flavour and soft when pinched between your fingers. Take care towards the end to ensure that they don't burn.
- Add the garlic cloves for the final few minutes of the onions' cooking time, then sprinkle in the plain flour and stir well.
- Increase the heat and keep stirring as you gradually add the wine, followed by the beef stock. Cover and simmer for 15-20 mins.
- To serve, turn on the grill, and toast the bread. Ladle the soup into heatproof bowls.
- Put a slice or two of toast on top of the bowls of soup, and pile on the gruyère. Grill until melted. Alternatively, you can cook the toasts under the grill, then add them to the soup to serve.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 618 calories, Fat 27 grams fat, SaturatedFat 14 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 59 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 17 grams sugar, Fiber 9 grams fiber, Protein 26 grams protein, Sodium 2.6 milligram of sodium
SLOW COOKER FRENCH ONION SOUP
This is a ridiculously easy soup, especially since it cooks in a slow cooker! When it's been simmering all day, you come home to an amazing aroma and a fabulous meal for a cold winter day.
Provided by Chandrav
Categories Soups, Stews and Chili Recipes Soup Recipes Vegetable Soup Recipes Onion Soup Recipes French Onion Soup Recipes
Time 5h5m
Yield 8
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Heat butter in a large, heavy pot over medium-high heat; cook and stir onions until they become translucent, about 10 minutes. Sprinkle onions with sugar; reduce heat to medium. Cook, stirring constantly, until onions are soft and browned, at least 30 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
- Stir sherry into onion mixture and scrape bottom of pot to dissolve small bits of browned food from the pot. Transfer onions into a slow cooker and pour in beef broth. Season to taste with sea salt; stir in thyme and bay leaf. Cover cooker, set on High, and cook 4 to 6 hours. If desired, set on Low and cook 8 to 10 hours.
- About 10 minutes before serving, set oven rack about 8 inches from the heat source and preheat the oven's broiler. Arrange bread slices on a baking sheet.
- Broil bread slices until toasted, 1 to 2 minutes per side.
- Combine Gruyere, Emmental, Parmesan, and mozzarella cheeses in a bowl, tossing lightly. Fill oven-safe soup crocks 3/4 full of onion soup and float a bread slice in each bowl. Top with about 2 tablespoons of cheese mixture per serving.
- Place filled bowls onto a baking sheet and broil until cheese topping is lightly browned and bubbling, about 2 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 249.8 calories, Carbohydrate 17.5 g, Cholesterol 37.6 mg, Fat 14.7 g, Fiber 1.5 g, Protein 11 g, SaturatedFat 8.7 g, Sodium 595.9 mg, Sugar 6 g
BEST EVER FRENCH ONION SOUP
Make and share this Best Ever French Onion Soup recipe from Food.com.
Provided by 2Bleu
Categories Clear Soup
Time 1h40m
Yield 4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- SOUP: In dutch oven, melt butter over medium heat. Add onions and salt, cover and cook until softened, stirring occasionally about 15 minutes. Uncover and cook until caramelized, about 30 minutes more.
- Stir in flour; cook 2 minutes. Stir in remaining ingredients. Simmer, partially covered about 30 minutes. Remove bay leaf. Cool and refrigerate till next day.
- CROUTON BREAD SLICES: Preheat oven to 375°F Mix olive oil with garlic powder and brush both sides of bread slices with the oil mixture. Place on baking sheet and bake 12 minutes, turning once, until bread is slightly toasted. Set aside.
- TO SERVE: Preheat broiler. On stovetop, heat soup to a simmer. Ladle soup into 4 broiler safe bowls. Top with french bread slices and cheese. Place bowls on baking sheet and broil 4" from heat until cheese is bubbly. about 2 minutes. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley.
- PASTRY PUFF VARIATION: Preheat the oven to 400°F Roll out one sheet of puff pastry and sprinkle with half the Gruyere cheese, fold into 3 and roll out again. Cut out 4 lids. Divide the soup among ovenproof soup bowls. Sprinkle the remaining cheese on top of soup and cover with the pastry lids with a little egg wash seal. Bake the soup in the oven for 15 minutes or until the cheesy puff pastry is golden in colour and well risen.
Tips:
- To caramelize the onions properly, cook them low and slow, stirring occasionally. This may take up to 45 minutes, but it's worth it for the rich, flavorful result.
- Use a good quality beef broth for the best flavor. You can also use chicken broth or vegetable broth, but beef broth will give the soup a richer, more complex flavor.
- If you don't have time to make your own croutons, you can use store-bought croutons. Just be sure to choose a good quality brand that uses real butter or olive oil.
- For a cheesy twist, add a layer of grated Gruyère cheese to the soup before baking. This will give the soup a gooey, decadent texture.
- Serve the soup immediately, topped with croutons and grated Parmesan cheese.
Conclusion:
French onion soup is a classic French dish that is perfect for a cold winter day. It's easy to make and can be tailored to your own taste preferences. With a few simple ingredients and a little bit of time, you can create a delicious and heartwarming soup that the whole family will enjoy.
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