Description
Classic French Onion Soup combines slow-caramelized yellow onions, rich beef broth, and toasted baguette slices topped with melted Gruyère cheese. This comforting, timeless dish offers a perfect blend of deep savory flavors and cozy warmth, ideal for a starter, light lunch, or comforting dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Soup Base
- 4 large yellow onions, thinly sliced
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 sprigs fresh thyme
- 1/2 cup dry white wine
- 6 cups beef broth (or vegetable stock for vegetarian option)
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Topping
- 1 French baguette, sliced
- 2 cups grated Gruyère cheese (or Emmental, Comté, or a mix of mozzarella)
Instructions
- Caramelize the Onions: Slice the yellow onions thinly and cook them slowly in unsalted butter over low heat, stirring frequently, until they turn deep golden brown and become sweet and soft. This process takes about 45 minutes to 1 hour and is the heart of the soup’s rich flavor.
- Add Garlic and Herbs: Add the minced garlic and fresh thyme sprigs to the caramelized onions and cook for about 1 minute until fragrant, allowing the aromatics to infuse the onions.
- Deglaze with Wine: Pour in dry white wine and scrape the browned bits from the pan to blend those concentrated flavors. Let the wine reduce slightly to intensify the savory-sweet balance.
- Pour in Broth and Simmer: Add the beef broth (or vegetable stock for vegetarian), bring to a gentle boil, then reduce heat and simmer for at least 20 minutes to meld the flavors beautifully. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Prepare the Bread and Cheese: While the soup simmers, toast the sliced baguette lightly. Top each slice with grated Gruyère cheese. Place under a broiler or in a hot oven until the cheese melts and bubbles into a golden crust.
- Assemble and Serve: Ladle the hot soup into oven-safe bowls, float the cheesy bread slices on top, then broil briefly to crisp the cheese edges further if desired. Garnish with a sprig of thyme or cracked black pepper before serving.
Notes
- Caramelize onions slowly to avoid bitterness and develop sweetness.
- Use high-quality beef broth or homemade stock for the best flavor.
- Gruyère cheese is preferred for its meltability and nutty richness.
- Pre-toast bread slices to prevent sogginess when added to soup.
- Simmer soup gently after adding broth to keep flavors balanced.
- Store soup base separately from bread and cheese to preserve texture.
- For a vegetarian version, substitute beef broth with vegetable stock.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl (about 1.5 cups soup with topping)
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 900mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 32g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 15g
- Cholesterol: 45mg
Keywords: French Onion Soup, Classic, Caramelized Onions, Gruyère Cheese, Comfort Food, Soup, French Cuisine, Easy Recipe
