In the realm of culinary delights, few dishes can rival the comforting allure of French onion soup. Originating in the culinary tapestry of France, this classic soup has captivated taste buds for centuries. Its humble beginnings as a peasant dish have evolved into a sophisticated delicacy, enjoyed by gourmands and home cooks alike. This comprehensive guide will take you on a culinary journey, exploring the intricacies of French onion soup and presenting a collection of delectable recipes that showcase its timeless appeal. From the traditional beef broth-based rendition to modern vegetarian interpretations, these recipes offer a symphony of flavors that will transport you to a Parisian bistro or warm your soul on a chilly evening. So, prepare to embark on a culinary adventure as we delve into the art of crafting this iconic soup, ensuring a memorable and satisfying dining experience.
Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!
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.
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.
FRENCH ONION SOUP
For a taste of the bistro, try Tyler Florence's ultimate French Onion Soup recipe, topped with nutty Gruy�re croutons.
Provided by Tyler Florence
Categories side-dish
Time 1h10m
Yield 4 to 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Melt the stick of butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onions, garlic, bay leaves, thyme, and salt and pepper and cook until the onions are very soft and caramelized, about 25 minutes. Add the wine, bring to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer until the wine has evaporated and the onions are dry, about 5 minutes. Discard the bay leaves and thyme sprigs. Dust the onions with the flour and give them a stir. Turn the heat down to medium low so the flour doesn't burn, and cook for 10 minutes to cook out the raw flour taste. Now add the beef broth, bring the soup back to a simmer, and cook for 10 minutes. Season, to taste, with salt and pepper.
- When you're ready to eat, preheat the broiler. Arrange the baguette slices on a baking sheet in a single layer. Sprinkle the slices with the Gruyere and broil until bubbly and golden brown, 3 to 5 minutes.
- Ladle the soup in bowls and float several of the Gruyere croutons on top.
- Alternative method: Ladle the soup into bowls, top each with 2 slices of bread and top with cheese. Put the bowls into the oven to toast the bread and melt the cheese.
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!
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
Tips:
- Use a good quality beef broth. This is the backbone of the soup, so don't skimp on it. Look for a broth that is rich and flavorful, with a deep brown color.
- Caramelize the onions slowly and patiently. This is what gives the soup its characteristic sweet and savory flavor. Don't rush the process, or the onions will burn and become bitter.
- Use a variety of onions. Yellow onions are the most common, but you can also use white or red onions, or a combination of all three. Each type of onion has its own unique flavor, so using a variety will give the soup more depth.
- Don't be afraid to experiment with different cheeses. Gruyère is the classic choice, but you can also use Swiss, cheddar, or even Parmesan. Each cheese will give the soup a slightly different flavor.
- Serve the soup with a crusty baguette or crostini. This will help to soak up all of the delicious broth.
Conclusion:
French onion soup is a classic for a reason. It's flavorful, comforting, and perfect for a cold winter day. With a few simple ingredients and a little bit of patience, you can easily make this soup at home. So next time you're looking for a delicious and satisfying meal, give this recipe a try.
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