Go Back Email Link
+ servings

French Onion Soup

The caramelized onions in Cozy French Onion Soup come alive with the addition of beef broth, creating a deeply savory and aromatic base. Homemade beef broth lends a rich, velvety flavor to this comforting classic, perfectly complementing the cheesy crouton topping.
Save Pin Recipe Print Recipe
Overhead shot of the french onion soup.
Prep Time:15 minutes
Cook Time:1 hour 15 minutes
Course
Main Course
|
Soup
Cuisine
European
|
French

Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoon butter
  • 8 yellow onions sliced thinly into half moons
  • 2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup wine
  • 8 cups beef broth
  • 4 sprigs thyme
  • 2 Bay leaves
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 baguette cut into slices
  • 3 cups Gruyere cheese

Instructions

  • Melt the butter in a Dutch oven or large soup pot over medium-high heat. Add the onions and the salt. Cook uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the onions turn golden brown and caramelized, about 45 minutes.
  • Sprinkle the flour over the onions and mix with a wooden spoon until no traces of flour remain.
  • Add the wine to the onions and continue stirring with the wooden spoon, scraping up all the fond from the bottom of the pan. Cook until the alcohol evaporates and the mixture reaches a jam-like consistency.
  • Pour in the beef stock, then add the thyme and bay leaves. Bring the soup to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer covered for 10 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.
  • Preheat the oven to the broil setting. Ladle the soup into heat-safe, shallow bowls and place them on a rimmed baking sheet. Top each bowl with 2 slices of bread and sprinkle with ½ cup of cheese.
  • Broil the soups until the cheese is bubbly and golden brown. Garnish with fresh thyme and serve immediately on a plate.

Notes

Step-by-Step Photos: My blog post includes helpful step-by-step photos to help guide you through making this recipe.
  • The amount of onions may seem excessive at first, but don’t worry—they’ll shrink down significantly as they cook and release moisture.
  • Slice the onions crosswise. You don’t want them to hold their structure; instead, they should become soft and limp, allowing the onions to melt better and give the soup a silky texture.
  • Keep the heat on the lower side. You want the onions to release their moisture and soften before they start browning.
  • Stir occasionally to ensure even heat distribution. This will help the onions cook uniformly and prevent them from sticking to the bottom.
  • If you’re not using wine for de glazing, mix half a cup of broth, stock, or water with a splash of Worcestershire sauce or balsamic vinegar, and use that as your de glazing liquid. At this stage, you want to introduce all the bold flavors.
  • If you want to speed up the caramelization, you can add a tablespoon of sugar when the onions are cooking. Personally, I prefer to let the onions’ natural sugars do the work, so I skip the added sugar.
  • Flour can be used as a thickening agent, but the bread added to the soup also thickens it. My family prefers the soup without added flour, so I make extra croutons, some with melted cheese and some without, and serve them alongside the soup.
Calories: 411kcal | Carbohydrates: 26g | Protein: 23g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 69mg | Sodium: 2139mg | Potassium: 402mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 658IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 608mg | Iron: 2mg

The provided nutritional information is an estimate per serving and is not guaranteed for accuracy.

Servings: 8
Calories: 411kcal
Tried this recipe?Mention @osharak.cafe or tag #osharak.cafe!
QR Code linking back to recipe