Indulge in the comforting and classic French onion soup, a culinary masterpiece known for its rich and flavorful broth, caramelized onions, and a golden-brown crouton topped with melted Swiss cheese. This timeless soup is a symphony of flavors, textures, and aromas that will warm your soul on a chilly day. Our recipe provides step-by-step instructions to guide you in creating this French bistro staple in your own kitchen. Additionally, discover a collection of variations, including a vegetarian version, a crock-pot adaptation for effortless cooking, and a delightful mini French onion soup shooter recipe for a fun and elegant party appetizer.
Here are our top 7 tried and tested recipes!
FRENCH ONION SOUP
This classic French onion soup topped with melted gruyère and parmesan is the epitome of rustic comfort food.
Provided by Jennifer Segal
Categories Soups
Yield 4 to 6
Number Of Ingredients 16
Steps:
- In a large Dutch oven or soup pot, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the oil, onions, salt, pepper, and sugar. Cook, uncovered, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon, until onions are deep golden brown and caramelized, 45 to 55 minutes. In the beginning, you will only need to stir the onions only occasionally. As they start to brown midway through cooking, you will need to stir them frequently, scraping the fond (the brown particles) from the bottom of the pan. If the onions are browning too quickly, reduce the heat slightly or add a few tablespoons of water to deglaze the pan and continue cooking.
- Add the wine and raise the heat to high. Cook, stirring with a wooden spoon to scrape any fond from the bottom of the pan, until almost all of the liquid has evaporated and the onions are jammy, 8 to 10 minutes.
- Add the flour and cook, stirring constantly, for one minute.
- Add the broth, Worcestershire sauce, thyme, and bay leaves to the pot. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat to a simmer, and cook, covered, for about 30 minutes.
- While the soup simmers, preheat the oven to 400°F and set an oven rack in the middle position. Arrange the baguette slices in a single layer on a baking sheet and bake until the bread is dry, crisp, and golden at edges, about 10 minutes. Set aside.
- When the soup is finished, remove the bay leaves and add the sherry; taste and adjust seasoning if necessary. If the soup needs a deeper flavor, try a few shakes of Worcestershire sauce. If it's not quite sweet enough, add ¼ teaspoon sugar.
- Adjust an oven rack 6 inches from broiler element and heat broiler. Set individual broiler-safe crocks on a baking sheet and divide the hot soup among the crocks (be sure the soup is very hot as it won't warm up much in the oven). Top each crock with 1 or 2 baguette slices (do not overlap slices) and sprinkle evenly with Gruyère and then Parmigianno Reggiano. Slide the crocks into the oven and broil until the cheese is melted and bubbly around edges, 3 to 5 minutes. Let the crocks cool for a few minutes before serving. (Alternatively, if using regular soup bowls: Top each toast slice with some cheese and return to broiler to melt, about 2 minutes more. Divide the soup among bowls and top each serving with two cheese toasts.)
- Make-Ahead Instructions: The soup can be made and refrigerated up to 3 days ahead (without toasts or cheese), or up to 3 months ahead and frozen. Toasts can be made (without the cheese) and kept sealed at room temperature for up to 3 days.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 642, Fat 31 g, Carbohydrate 53 g, Protein 31 g, SaturatedFat 17 g, Sugar 19 g, Fiber 4 g, Sodium 1,697 mg, Cholesterol 82 mg
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.
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
FRENCH ONION SOUP WITH CHEESE TOASTS
The whole family will enjoy this intensely flavorful soup.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Soups, Stews & Stocks Soup Recipes
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- In a large, heavy-bottom saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add flour and chopped onions; saute, stirring occasionally, until onions are soft and translucent, about 15 minutes.
- Pour chicken and beef stocks into the saucepan, and stir to combine. Bring mixture to a boil. Reduce heat to low, and simmer 15 minutes. Add salt and pepper.
- Heat broiler. Ladle soup into six 16-ounce ovenproof bowls, and float 3 slices of bread on top of each. Sprinkle the cheese over bread slices in each bowl, dividing evenly. Place bowls on a rimmed baking sheet, and broil until cheese is melted and bubbling, about 2 minutes. Let soup cool slightly before serving.
FRENCH ONION TOASTS
Make and share this French Onion Toasts recipe from Food.com.
Provided by _Pixie_
Categories Cheese
Time 35m
Yield 12 appetizers
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Melt one tablespoon butter in a nonstick frying pan over low heat.
- Add the onion and cook stirring occasionally (do not burn) until tender and a golden brown (approx 15-20 minutes).
- Stir rosemary, salt and pepper into the onions and remove from heat.
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
- Lightly butter one side of each slice of french bread.
- Place the bread, butter side down, on a baking sheet.
- Divide the onion evenly over the top of the french bread, coving as most of the surface as possible.
- Top the bread as evenly as possible with the grated cheese.
- Bake for about 10 minutes until cheese is well melted.
CREAMY SWISS ONION SOUP
It was a cool spring day when I came up with this sweet and creamy variation of traditional baked French onion soup. I top individual bowls with toasty buttered croutons and a sprinkling of Swiss cheese, then pop them under the broiler. The rich results are delightful! - I. MacKay Starr, North Saanich, British Columbia
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Lunch
Time 45m
Yield 4 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Melt 3 tablespoons of butter; toss with bread cubes. Place on a lightly greased baking sheet. Bake at 350° for 7 minutes; turn and bake 7 minutes longer or until toasted. , Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, saute onions in remaining butter until lightly browned, about 12 minutes. Stir in water and bouillon; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 15 minutes. , Combine flour and 1/2 cup milk until smooth; gradually stir into onion mixture. Stir in remaining milk. Bring to a boil; boil for 2 minutes, stirring until thickened. Reduce heat to low; stir in 3/4 cup Swiss cheese and pepper. , Ladle into four ovenproof bowls; sprinkle with reserved croutons and remaining cheese. Broil 4 in. from the heat until cheese is melted and bubbly. Garnish with chives.
Nutrition Facts :
FRENCH ONION SOUP I
The best onion soup you will ever have!!!!!
Provided by chefbuzz
Categories Soups, Stews and Chili Recipes Soup Recipes Vegetable Soup Recipes Onion Soup Recipes French Onion Soup Recipes
Time 1h
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Melt butter or margarine in a 4 quart saucepan. Stir in sugar. Cook onions over medium heat for 10 minutes, or until golden brown.
- Stir in flour until well blended with the onions and pan juices. Add water, wine, and beef broth; heat to boiling. Reduce heat to low. Cover soup, and simmer for 10 minutes.
- Cut four 1 inch thick slices of bread from the loaf. Toast the bread slices at 325 degrees F (165 degrees C) just until browned, about 10 minutes. Reserve the remaining bread to serve with the soup.
- Ladle soup into four 12 ounce, oven-safe bowls. Place 1 slice toasted bread on top of the soup in each bowl. Fold Swiss cheese slices, and fit onto toasted bread slices. Place soup bowls on a cookie sheet for easier handling.
- Bake at 425 degrees F (220 degrees C) for 10 minutes, or just until cheese is melted
Nutrition Facts : Calories 732 calories, Carbohydrate 79.3 g, Cholesterol 88.6 mg, Fat 29.4 g, Fiber 4.2 g, Protein 33.4 g, SaturatedFat 18 g, Sodium 2004.2 mg, Sugar 8.4 g
Tips:
- Use a good quality beef broth as the base of your soup. A homemade broth is ideal, but a good store-bought broth will also work.
- Caramelize the onions slowly and patiently. This will develop their flavor and give the soup a rich, deep color.
- Don't be afraid to use a variety of cheeses in your soup. A combination of Gruyère, Swiss, and Parmesan will give you a complex and flavorful soup.
- If you don't have any stale bread, you can toast fresh bread in the oven until it is golden brown and crispy.
- Serve the soup immediately, topped with melted cheese and toasted bread. This will ensure that the cheese is melted and gooey and the bread is crispy.
Conclusion:
French onion soup is a classic French dish that is perfect for a cold winter night. It is rich, flavorful, and comforting, and it is sure to please everyone at your table. With a few simple tips, you can make a delicious French onion soup that will impress your friends and family. So next time you are looking for a hearty and satisfying soup, give this recipe a try.
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