Is there anything cozier than a steaming bowl of French onion soup on a crisp autumn day? This classic recipe unites rich, caramelized onions with savory beef stock, a touch of dry white wine, and a generous layer of bubbling Gruyère cheese. It’s a comforting, soul-warming dish that’s surprisingly easy to make. So, let’s get cooking!
Ingredients You’ll Need:
Yield: 4 to 6 servings
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 3 to 4 large red or yellow onions (about 3 pounds), peeled and thinly sliced
- ¾ teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste
- 2 quarts beef stock (8 cups)
- 1 cup dry white wine
- 1-2 tablespoons dry sherry
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon black pepper, plus more to taste
- 8 to 12 (½-inch) slices French bread (from 1 loaf)
- 1½ cups grated Gruyère cheese
Let’s Get Cooking:
Step 1: Caramelize the Onions Melt the butter in a heavy Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the thinly sliced onions and ½ teaspoon of salt. Stir to coat the onions with butter, then cover the pot and let the onions soften for about 5 minutes. After removing the lid, let the onions caramelize until they turn a beautiful golden brown. This process might take around 45 to 60 minutes, so be patient. Stir occasionally, and adjust the heat if they’re browning too quickly.
Step 2: Warm the Broth While the onions are caramelizing, warm the beef stock in a separate saucepan over low heat.
Step 3: Add Wine and Sherry Once the onions are gorgeously caramelized, add the white wine and sherry to the pot. Let the mixture come to a boil, and then stir in the flour. Allow it to thicken for a minute or two.
Step 4: Incorporate the Broth Slowly add the warm beef broth, ¼ teaspoon of salt, and the black pepper to the onion mixture. Bring everything to a boil, uncovered, for about 10 minutes. Adjust the seasoning with more salt and pepper to taste.
Step 5: Broil and Serve Preheat your broiler. You have two delectable options for serving your French onion soup:
Option 1: Bread Bowl
You can choose to serve your French onion soup in bread bowls. Slice off the tops of round bread loaves and carefully hollow them out, creating edible bowls. Ladle the hot soup into these cozy bread bowls and generously crown them with slices of French bread and a sprinkle of Gruyère cheese. Place them under the broiler for a minute or two until the cheese melts and achieves that perfect golden hue.
Option 2 : Individual Dish
Arrange individual ovenproof casseroles on a baking sheet. Ladle the hot soup into the casseroles, filling them up generously. Cover the top with slices of French bread and sprinkle each casserole generously with the grated Gruyère cheese. Pop them under the broiler for a minute or two, but watch carefully. You want the cheese to melt and turn beautifully golden brown.
Now, your delightful French onion soup is ready to be served! Enjoy every spoonful of this classic favorite!
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