Name: Soupe à l’Oignon (French Onion Soup)
Prep time: 40 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 1 h 10 min
Yield: 6 servings
Ingredients: 5 large yellow onions, thinly sliced; 3 tablespoons unsalted butter; 2 cloves garlic, minced; 1 teaspoon sugar (optional, helps with caramelization); 1/2 cup dry white wine (like Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc); 6 cups beef stock (you can use chicken or vegetable stock for a lighter version); 1 bay leaf; A few sprigs of fresh thyme (or 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme); Salt and pepper to taste; 1 baguette, sliced and toasted; 1 to 1 1/2 cups grated Gruyère cheese (Swiss cheese can be a substitute); 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese (optional)

CategoryFrench, Main Course, Soups & BrothsDifficultyIntermediate

Yields6 Servings

Prep Time40 minsCook Time30 minsTotal Time1 hr 10 mins

5 large yellow onions, thinly sliced

3 tablespoons unsalted butter

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 teaspoon sugar (optional, helps with caramelization)

1/2 cup dry white wine (like Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc)

6 cups beef stock (you can use chicken or vegetable stock for a lighter version)

1 bay leaf

A few sprigs of fresh thyme (or 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme)

Salt and pepper to taste

1 baguette, sliced and toasted

1 to 1 1/2 cups grated Gruyère cheese (Swiss cheese can be a substitute)

2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese (optional)

Caramelize the Onions:

In a large pot or Dutch oven, melt butter with olive oil over medium heat. Add the sliced onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until they are deeply caramelized and golden brown. This process can take 30-40 minutes. Halfway through, sprinkle sugar and a pinch of salt to help the onions caramelize.

Deglaze the Pot:

Add minced garlic to the onions and cook for another 1-2 minutes until fragrant. Pour in the white wine to deglaze the pot, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom.

Simmer the Soup:

Add the beef stock, bay leaf, thyme, salt, and pepper. Bring the mixture to a simmer, then lower the heat and let it cook for about 30 minutes. Adjust the seasoning as needed.

Prepare the Bread and Cheese:

Preheat your oven's broiler. Place the baguette slices on a baking sheet and broil until they are toasted and golden brown. Be careful to watch them closely to avoid burning.

Assemble and Broil:

Ladle the hot soup into oven-safe bowls. Place one or two toasted baguette slices on top of each bowl of soup, then sprinkle generously with Gruyère and a touch of Parmesan.
Place the bowls under the broiler and broil until the cheese is bubbly and golden brown, about 3-5 minutes.

Serve:

Carefully remove the bowls from the oven and serve hot. Be cautious as the bowls will be extremely hot.

Ingredients