French Onion Soup: warm and comforting

There is nothing like savouring a hot French onion soup with crispy bread on a cold, deary day. Full of flavour, this palatable and best French onion soup recipe is loaded with caramelized onions with a hint of wine making it a favourite of many. Served with bread that is generously slathered with cheese, this French onion soup recipe is sure to keep your appetite and spirits high!

Origin of the dish

The classic French onion soup is native to the European country of France and is believed to have originated around the 18th century. Rich in texture and delectable in taste, this flavorful soup is traditionally served with crusty baguette slices and makes for a perfect start to any meal.

Nutrition facts

A wholesome dish, ingredients in this simple French onion soup recipe offers protein, minerals, vitamins and antioxidants mainly derived from the cheese and the onions. Onions are loaded with goodness and are known to have a positive effect on heart health as well as blood sugar levels. It has anti-inflammatory properties and is known to reduce cholesterol and triglycerides. With antibacterial properties, onions are known to be good for bone health as well as have cancer fighting properties.

How to make French onion soup

Here is the easy French onion soup recipe that is sure to be the star of any meal. So, this mesmerizing French onion soup recipe starts with heating butter and olive oil in a large pan. After that add thinly sliced onion to the pan, cook and stir at high heat. Then bring the flame to low and add sugar to caramelize the onion. Add thyme, wine, beef stock, salt and pepper. Lastly add bay leaf and cook it well. Now it’s time to serve it with bread slices coated with melted Gruyere cheese. You can even toast the bread separately. For this, preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Arrange the bread slices on the baking sheet. Bake for around 8 minutes or until the slices turned golden from the edges. A little crispier touch will make this authentic french onion soup recipe a little more tempting. Just remember to choose the best onions for the recipe as French onion soup uses the highest quality onions. So, are you ready to wow your family or guests by making this yummiest dish?

French onion soup recipe’s ingredients

• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 6 large yellow onions halved and thinly sliced
• 4 garlic cloves chopped fine
• 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup red wine
• 6 cups beef stock or broth
• 2 sprigs of fresh thyme chopped
• 1 whole bay leaf (dried or fresh)
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• Salt and pepper, to taste

For serving

• 4 slices of French bread
• 1 cup shredded Gruyere cheese

Method

Here is the step by step guide for you:

1. Heat the olive oil in a large pan and melt the butter. Once hot, add the onions and cook until soft for about 15 minutes on medium to high heat; keep stirring every five minutes.
2. Reduce the flame, add the sugar and allow the onions to caramelize. Take care not to burn.
3. Add in thyme, and it will make it aromatic. Then add the wine and beef stock followed by salt and pepper to taste.
4. Add the bay leaf, simmer and allow to cook for 15 minutes.
5. Serve with bread slices coated with melted Gruyere cheese.

Tips

• While yellow onions are the best for the recipe, you can also use red onions if the former is not available.
• Always use thinly sliced onion.
• Before serving, you can transfer the soup onto oven proof bowls and place the bread on top. Layer the bread with cheese and broil in a preheated oven until the cheese melts and turns golden brown.
• In case Gruyere cheese is not available, you can use Parmesan, Swiss or Mozzarella cheese.
• Caramelize the onions and cook them for a long. This will help in enhancing the taste.
• Use salt-free beef stock as then you can add salt according to your taste.
• If you taste it in the beginning and it turns out to be too sweet then you can add a lot of black pepper and 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar. Keep it at low flame for 5 minutes.
• If you want it to be a bit thicker, keep the soup at low flame for a longer time.

Variations in the French onion soup recipe

• You can make it a vegetarian soup by adding vegetables instead.
• If you want to add garlic then add it after you have caramelized the onions.
• You can add 1 tablespoon of vinegar at the end. Stir for a few seconds and serve the soup. It enhances the flavour.
• If you do not have red wine, use dry sherry. You can even use whiskey.
• Instead of red wine, you can use dry vermouth or dry white wine.
• Use gluten-free flour to make if you want to make it a gluten-free soup.
• If you like thinner soup broth, skip adding flour.
• You can use 2 tablespoons of brandy once the soup is ready. This will help you taste the flavours more fully.

Frequently asked questions