Description
Classic French Onion Soup is a rich, comforting dish featuring caramelized onions simmered in a savory beef broth, topped with toasted baguette slices and melted Gruyère and Parmesan cheeses. Perfect for a cozy meal, this recipe yields four hearty bowls of traditional French flavor.
Ingredients
Scale
Soup Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 6 medium yellow onions, sliced
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 8 cups beef broth
- 1/4 cup dry sherry (optional)
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, or to taste
Soup Topping
- 8 slices French baguette
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 slices Gruyère cheese or provolone
- 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Caramelize onions: Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the sliced onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 7 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium-low and continue cooking, stirring every 3 to 5 minutes, until the onions are caramelized and golden brown, about 25 minutes.
- Sauté garlic: Stir in 2 tablespoons of butter and 1 tablespoon minced garlic. Cook for 2 minutes until the butter melts and the garlic is fragrant.
- Simmer soup: Pour in 8 cups beef broth and 1/4 cup dry sherry if using. Season with 1 teaspoon dried thyme, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper. Bring to a simmer, then reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 30 minutes to blend flavors.
- Toast baguette slices: Preheat broiler with rack 8 inches from heat source. Brush both sides of baguette slices with olive oil. Arrange on a baking sheet and broil for 3 minutes per side or until golden brown, watching carefully to avoid burning.
- Assemble soup bowls: Preheat the broiler again if needed. Place 4 oven-safe bowls on a baking sheet and ladle the hot soup into each. Top each bowl with 2 toasted baguette slices, 1 slice of Gruyère cheese, and 1/2 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese.
- Broil cheese topping: Place the baking sheet under the broiler and broil for 3 minutes or until the cheese is bubbly and starts to brown. Watch closely as broiler times vary.
- Serve: Serve immediately while the cheese is melted and bubbly for the best taste experience.
Notes
- Use yellow onions for a sweet, rich flavor and proper caramelization.
- If you prefer vegetarian, substitute beef broth with vegetable broth, but the flavor will differ.
- Dry sherry is optional but adds depth; you can omit it if you prefer.
- Watch the broiler carefully when toasting bread and melting cheese to prevent burning.
- Gruyère is traditional, but provolone or Swiss cheese can be good substitutes.
- For a deeper flavor, caramelize the onions longer but do not burn them.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 900 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 32 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 15 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg
