Best Onion Soup 101 Recipes

CLASSIC FRENCH ONION SOUP

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.

RICH AND SIMPLE FRENCH ONION SOUP

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.

ONION SOUP

Steps:

• In a large soup pot or Dutch oven, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the onions, stir to combine with the butter, cover, and cook for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove the cover; increase the heat to medium-high and cook, until the onions are brown and caramelized, about 30 minutes. (Stir the onions frequently toward the end of this stage in the cooking, so they do not scorch or burn.) Add the thyme and garlic, saute for 2 to 3 minutes more. Pour in the wine and scrape up the browned bits from the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon; simmer until the wine is reduced by about half. Stir in the broth and salt and bring to a gentle simmer. Cover, and cook for 30 minutes. Add the Cognac, if using, and season with pepper to taste. (The soup can be made to this point a day ahead and refrigerated.) When ready to serve preheat the broiler. Heat the soup and divide it evenly among 6 heatproof crocks or bowls. Top each soup with a slice of the bread and about 1/2 cup of the cheese. Place the bowls on a sheet pan and broil until the cheese is bubbly and brown. Carefully transfer each crock to an under-lining plate. Serve immediately.

HOMEMADE FRENCH ONION SOUP

Steps:

• Melt butter and olive oil in a large Dutch oven or heavy pot over medium heat. Add onions. Spread them out in as thin a layer as possible. Sprinkle with sugar, and cook, stirring as needed to keep onions from sticking, until they are melting and soft, golden brown, and beginning to caramelize, about 1 hour.
• Sprinkle flour over onions, and stir to coat. Add sherry, stock, and thyme, and bring to a simmer. Cook, partially covered, for about 30 minutes, to allow the flavors to combine. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Meanwhile, preheat broiler. Arrange bread on a rimmed baking sheet and broil until deep-golden brown on both sides, about 1 to 2 minutes per side; set aside.
• Ladle 1 cup hot soup into four 13-ounce ramekins or ovenproof bowls. Arrange the bowls on a rimmed baked sheet. Place 2 slices of toasted bread over each bowl of soup to cover the surface of the soup completely. Sprinkle 3 ounces grated cheese over bread in each bowl, and place under broiler until cheese is melted and crusty brown around the edges. Watch carefully that bread doesn't burn. Serve immediately.

ONION SOUP 101

Steps:

• In a large heavy pot over medium heat, saute bacon until fat is rendered and bacon is crispy, 5 to 6 minutes. Transfer bacon to a paper towel to drain. Set aside.
• Saute onions and thyme in remaining bacon fat in pan until onions are well caramelized, stirring occasionally, 25 to 30 minutes. Deglaze with vermouth, and cook about 1 minute. Add stock, salt, and pepper to taste. Bring to a boil; reduce heat, and simmer for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, make croutons by toasting bread slices under broiler or in toaster, until golden.
• Preheat broiler. Add 1/2 teaspoon sherry and one crouton to each soup bowl. Sprinkle each crouton with 2 tablespoons reserved bacon. Ladle soup into bowls, top with Gruyere, and place on a baking pan. Transfer to oven, and broil until cheese is melted and bubbly, 2 to 3 minutes. Garnish with thyme sprigs, and serve immediately.