Description
This French Onion Soup is the ultimate comfort dish, featuring sweet, caramelized onions in a rich, savory broth, topped with crusty bread and gooey, melted cheese. Perfect for chilly nights or as a gourmet starter for a dinner party. Easy to make with simple ingredients, it’s a timeless recipe that never goes out of style.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Soup:
- 6 large yellow onions, thinly sliced 🧅
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter 🧈
- 2 tablespoons olive oil 🫒
- 1 teaspoon sugar (optional, to aid caramelization)
- 1/2 cup dry white wine (like Sauvignon Blanc) 🍷
- 6 cups beef broth (or vegetable broth for vegetarian version)
- 2 bay leaves 🌿
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme 🌿
- Salt and pepper to taste 🧂
For the Topping:
- 1 baguette, sliced and toasted 🥖
- 2 cups grated Gruyère cheese (or Comté for a nuttier flavor) 🧀
Instructions
Caramelize the Onions:
- Heat butter and olive oil in a large pot over medium heat.
- Add sliced onions, stirring occasionally, for 45-60 minutes until deeply golden brown.
- Sprinkle with sugar halfway through to enhance caramelization.
Deglaze the Pan:
- Pour in the white wine and scrape up the browned bits from the bottom of the pot.
- Let the wine simmer for about 5 minutes to reduce slightly.
Simmer the Soup:
- Add the beef broth, bay leaves, thyme, salt, and pepper.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer for 30 minutes.
Prepare the Topping:
- While the soup simmers, toast the baguette slices until crisp.
- Grate the cheese and set aside.
Assemble and Broil:
- Preheat the broiler.
- Ladle the soup into oven-safe bowls, top with a slice of baguette and a generous handful of cheese.
- Place under the broiler for 2-3 minutes or until the cheese is bubbly and golden.
Serve and Enjoy:
- Carefully remove from the oven and let cool slightly before serving.
- Garnish with a sprig of fresh thyme if desired.
Notes
- Caramelizing onions slowly is crucial—don’t rush this step!
- For a vegetarian version, use vegetable broth and skip the cheese or opt for a vegan alternative.
- Use a dry white wine for the best flavor, but if you prefer non-alcoholic, substitute with extra broth and a splash of white wine vinegar.
- Leftovers can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 60 minutes
- Category: Soup
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 12g
- Cholesterol: 40mg