French Onion Soup is a classic and comforting dish known for its rich, caramelized onions and flavorful broth, topped with melted cheese and toasted bread. A step-by-step guide on how to make French Onion Soup:
Ingredients:
For the Soup:
- 4-5 large onions, thinly sliced
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon sugar (optional, for caramelization)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup white wine (optional)
- 8 cups beef or vegetable broth
- 2 bay leaves
- Salt and black pepper to taste
For the Toasted Bread and Cheese Topping:
- Baguette or French bread, sliced
- Gruyère, Swiss, or mozzarella cheese, grated
- Butter (optional, for buttering the bread slices)
Instructions:
1. Caramelize the Onions:
- In a large, heavy-bottomed soup pot, melt the butter and olive oil over medium-low heat.
- Add the thinly sliced onions and stir to coat them with the butter and oil.
- Cook the onions slowly, stirring occasionally, for about 45 minutes to 1 hour until they become deeply caramelized and brown. You can add a teaspoon of sugar to help with the caramelization, but it's optional.
2. Add Garlic and Wine (Optional):
- Once the onions are caramelized, add the minced garlic and cook for an additional 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
- If you're using white wine, pour it into the pot, and let it simmer for a few minutes until the alcohol cooks off and the wine reduces slightly.
3. Simmer with Broth:
- Pour in the beef or vegetable broth and add the bay leaves.
- Season the soup with salt and black pepper to taste.
- Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat and let it simmer for 15-20 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.
4. Prepare the Bread and Cheese Topping:
- While the soup simmers, preheat your broiler in the oven.
- Slice the baguette or French bread into individual portions. You can lightly butter the bread slices if desired.
- Place the bread slices on a baking sheet and toast them under the broiler until they become lightly browned. Keep a close eye on them to prevent burning.
- Once the bread slices are toasted, remove them from the oven.
5. Serve French Onion Soup:
- Remove the bay leaves from the soup.
- Ladle the hot soup into oven-safe bowls.
- Place a slice of toasted bread on top of each bowl of soup.
- Sprinkle a generous amount of grated cheese over the bread slices.
6.Broil the Cheese:
- Place the bowls of soup with bread and cheese under the broiler.
- Broil for 1-2 minutes or until the cheese is bubbling and turns golden brown. Keep a close eye on it to prevent burning.
7. Serve Hot:
- Carefully remove the bowls from the broiler, as they will be hot.
- Allow the soup to cool slightly before serving, as it will be very hot.
- Garnish with fresh herbs like parsley if desired.
Enjoy your homemade French Onion Soup with its rich and flavorful combination of caramelized onions, toasted bread, and melted cheese!