French Onion soup
Preparation Time: 15 minutes
Cooking Time: 1 hour
Serves: 4
Ingredients:
- 5 large onions, thinly sliced
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup dry white wine (optional)
- 8 cups beef broth
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Baguette slices, toasted
- Gruyere or Swiss cheese, grated
Instructions:
Caramelize the Onions:
- In a large pot or Dutch oven, melt butter and olive oil over medium heat.
- Add the sliced onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until they become golden brown and caramelized. This may take about 30-40 minutes.
- Sprinkle sugar over the onions to help with the caramelization process.
Add Garlic and Wine:
- Add minced garlic to the caramelized onions and cook for an additional 2 minutes.
- Pour in the white wine to deglaze the pot, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom. Allow the wine to simmer for a few minutes.
Simmer with Broth and Herbs:
- Add beef broth, bay leaf, dried thyme, salt, and black pepper to the pot.
- Bring the soup to a simmer and let it cook for an additional 20-30 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld.
Toast the Baguette:
- While the soup simmers, preheat your oven broiler.
- Arrange baguette slices on a baking sheet and toast them under the broiler until they are golden brown.Serve:
- Remove the bay leaf from the soup.
- Ladle the soup into oven-safe bowls.
- Place a few toasted baguette slices on top of the soup.
- Sprinkle a generous amount of grated Gruyere or Swiss cheese over the bread.
Broil Until Bubbly:
- Place the bowls under the broiler until the cheese is melted and bubbly, usually 2-3 minutes. Keep a close eye to avoid burning.
Enjoy:
- Carefully remove the bowls from the oven.
- Allow the French Onion Soup to cool for a few minutes before serving.
- Enjoy your warm and cheesy French Onion Soup!
Note: Make sure your bowls are oven-safe before placing them under the broiler.
This French Onion Soup is a classic comfort dish with rich, caramelized onions and gooey melted cheese—a perfect indulgence for a cozy meal.
