FRENCH ONION SOUP: THE COOK'S ILLUSTRATED WAY
I used to caramelize the onions on the stove top, but now I use this fantastic method. Finally, a way to make genuine French Onion Soup without all of the stirring. While it still takes quite some time, the onions are roasted in the oven. Sweet onions, such as Vidalia or Walla Walla, will make this recipe overly sweet, so use Yellow or Red, or a combo of both. Use broiler-safe crocks and keep the rim of the bowls 4 to 5 inches from the broiler to obtain a proper melting of the cheeses. Cooks Illustrated chefs prefer using Swanson Certified Organic Free Range Chicken Broth and Pacific Beef Broth, tho others will do fine as well. There is actually more flavor and depth in chicken broth than in beef and that is why they combine it with the beef broth. Much of the cooking time is passive...and the aroma makes the kitchen smell divine! For the best flavor, make the soup a day or 2 in advance, it also freezes well in 2 gallon freezer bags. Prep time includes the soup and the croutons. Cooking time is approximate, please use your judgment. I make this every Christmas Eve along with appetizers and those that missed Christmas Eve INSIST on having a bowl on Christmas morning! LOL It truly is the best French Onion Soup I have ever tasted. For those special occasions, try this one. Hope you enjoy!
Provided by Scoutie
Time 5h35m
Yield 6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 16
Steps:
- For the soup:.
- Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position and heat oven to 400°. Generously spray inside of heavy-bottomed large (at least 7-quart) Dutch oven with nonstick cooking spray.
- Place butter in pot and add onions and 1 teaspoon salt. Cook, covered, 1 hour (onions will be moist and slightly reduced in volume).
- Remove pot from oven and stir onions, scraping bottom and sides of pot. Return pot to oven with lid slightly ajar and continue to cook until onions are very soft and golden brown, 1 1/2 to 1 3/4 hours longer, stirring onions and scraping bottom and sides of pot after 1 hour.
- Carefully remove pot from oven and place over medium-high heat.
- Using oven mitts to handle pot, cook onions, stirring frequently and scraping bottom and sides of pot, until liquid evaporates and onions brown, 15 to 20 minutes, reducing heat to medium if onions are browning too quickly.
- Continue to cook, stirring frequently, until pot bottom is coated with dark crust, 6 to 8 minutes, adjusting heat as necessary. (Scrape any fond that collects on spoon back into onions.)
- Stir in 1/4 cup water, scraping pot bottom to loosen crust, and cook until water evaporates and pot bottom has formed another dark crust, 6 to 8 minutes.
- Repeat process of deglazing 2 or 3 more times, until onions are very dark brown.
- Stir in wine and balsamic vinegar, stirring frequently, until wine evaporates, about 5 minutes.
- Stir in broths, 2 cups water, the thyme, bay leaf and parsley (tied with twine or wrapped in cheese cloth for easy removal from pot) and 1/2 teaspoon salt, scraping up any final bits of browned crust on bottom and sides of pot.
- Increase heat to high and bring to simmer.
- Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer 30 minutes. Remove and discard herbs, then season with salt and pepper to taste.
- For the croutons: While soup simmers, arrange baguette slices in single layer on baking sheet and bake in 400-degree oven until bread is dry, crisp, and golden at edges, about 10 minutes. Set aside.
- To serve: Adjust oven rack 4 to 6 inches from broiler and heat broiler.
- Set heat-safe soup bowls or crocks on rimmed baking sheet and fill each with about 1 1/2 cups soup.
- Top each bowl with two toasted baguette slices (try not to overlap) and divide Swiss cheese slices, laying them in a single layer, if possible, on bread.
- Sprinkle each serving with about 2 tablespoons grated Asiago cheese and broil until well browned and bubbly, 7 to 10 minutes.
- If using regular soup bowls, broil the toasts and the cheese only and then place the toasts on top of the soup.
- Cool 5 minutes and serve.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 727, Fat 16.1, SaturatedFat 8.7, Cholesterol 34.9, Sodium 1272.2, Carbohydrate 114.2, Fiber 6.7, Sugar 11.7, Protein 31.6
HIPQUEST'S BAKED VIDALIA ONION
Imagine the flavor of French Onion soup as an accompaniment for baked potatoes and a good steak. My favorite is to top hipQuest's Baked Potatoes Recipe #rz.119512 with a bit of butter, cheese and these onions with a nice, juicy Filet Mignon. This is so very good with so many things.Sweet onions may be substituted when Vidalias are not available. For a lighter flavor chicken or vegetable bouillon may be substituted.
Provided by hipQuest
Categories Sauces
Time 1h35m
Yield 4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 5
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 425 Fahrenheit.
- Peel and cut off just the roots of the onion, do not cut off the whole bottom "core".
- Cut the top of the onion into a pointed core, save the cut out portion.
- Set the onion into the center of a piece of foil large enough to make a fairly loose packet (shaped kind of like a Hershey's Kiss) and bring up the sides.
- Place the bouillon cube in the opening, add the butter and pour on the Worcestershire sauce, chop the saved core and add to the top.
- Bring foil together and seal well.
- Bake for 1 1/2 hours, open packet and place into a bowl, slice up and serve.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 46.2, Fat 3, SaturatedFat 1.9, Cholesterol 7.7, Sodium 196, Carbohydrate 4.8, Fiber 0.5, Sugar 2.2, Protein 0.5
CREAMY VIDALIA ONION SOUP
This is a robust and creamy onion soup. The addition of egg yolks adds a lovely creamy texture.
Provided by MARBALET
Categories Soups, Stews and Chili Recipes Soup Recipes Vegetable Soup Recipes Onion Soup Recipes
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- In a saucepan, melt butter or margarine over medium heat. Add onions: saute until golden brown, about 10 minutes.
- Stir in flour and salt, and mix thoroughly. Gradually add chicken broth, stirring constantly. Cover, and simmer over low heat for about 10 minutes.
- When onions are very tender, stir in milk and cream. Heat through. Remove 1/2 cup soup, and mix in egg yolks. Slowly stir egg yolk mixture into soup in pan. Heat through, but do not allow soup to boil. Stir in paprika, black pepper, and red hot pepper sauce. Serve hot, and garnish with chopped parsley.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 363.9 calories, Carbohydrate 28 g, Cholesterol 199.3 mg, Fat 24.5 g, Fiber 4.3 g, Protein 10 g, SaturatedFat 10.5 g, Sodium 820.9 mg, Sugar 13.1 g
SLOW ROASTED VIDALIA ONION SOUP
Since I have 20 pounds of Vidalia onions to use I thought I'd look up more recipes on the internet. Recipe by Chef/Owner Michael Tuohy, Woodfire Grill, Atlanta, GA
Provided by Charlotte J
Categories Onions
Time 2h35m
Yield 12 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Wrap each onion separately in aluminum foil and place in a 300 degree oven (or in the coals of a fireplace or grill pit) until onions feel tender all the way through, about 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
- Heat oil in a large pot.
- Add leek and celery cooking until softened but not browned.
- Remove onions from foil, quarter and add to pot.
- Add chicken stock and sherry.
- Simmer about 45 minutes.
- Stir in cream and thyme and remove from heat.
- In batches, puree mixture in a blender until smooth.
- Add salt and pepper to taste.
- Garnish each serving with chives.
- . Serve immediately.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 264.3, Fat 14.9, SaturatedFat 5.6, Cholesterol 27.2, Sodium 74.3, Carbohydrate 22.5, Fiber 7.9, Sugar 8.3, Protein 13.1
CLASSIC ONION SOUP
Provided by Food Network
Categories main-dish
Time 45m
Yield 4 to 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 275 degrees F.
- Melt butter in a large saucepan over low heat, add onions and cook slowly, stirring occasionally, until onions are golden and tender, about 20 minutes. Add vegetable stock, salt and pepper to taste, and simmer for about 15 minutes. Stir in dry sherry or cognac.
- Rub garlic clove on each piece sliced bread and toast on a baking sheet until both sides are golden.
- Place bread in a casserole or in 6 individual ovenproof, bowls and ladle onion soup over top. Top with a mixture of Gruyere and Parmesan and place casserole or individual bowls under the broiler and to melt cheese and slightly brown top.
BAKED VIDALIA ONIONS
Make and share this Baked Vidalia Onions recipe from Food.com.
Provided by Judith N.
Categories Onions
Time 50m
Yield 6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 4
Steps:
- Get the biggest Vidalias you can find. Peel and cut a thin slice off the top and bottom of the onion so that it sits flat in a casserole dish. Take out a little of the core and cut a bit X in the top of the onion. Place each onion on a large square of aluminum foil.
- Top with pat of butter, salt, pepper and Worcestershire sauce, to taste. Place in dish and bake at 400 degrees for 45 minutes to an hour, or until tender (check on these; you don't want it overcooked and too soft).
- Variation: Prepare onions as above, but instead of Worcestershire sauce, pour on about 2 Tablespoons of Kahlua before baking. It makes them nice and sweet. You can also put these on a gas grill or nestle them right down into the charcoal (use heavy-duty aluminum foil).
Nutrition Facts : Calories 148, Fat 11.6, SaturatedFat 7.3, Cholesterol 30.5, Sodium 85.1, Carbohydrate 11.1, Fiber 1.5, Sugar 4.7, Protein 1.1
ONION SOUP
Provided by Food Network Kitchen
Categories appetizer
Time 2h
Yield 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- In a large soup pot or Dutch oven, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the onions, stir to combine with the butter, cover, and cook for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove the cover; increase the heat to medium-high and cook, until the onions are brown and caramelized, about 30 minutes. (Stir the onions frequently toward the end of this stage in the cooking, so they do not scorch or burn.) Add the thyme and garlic, saute for 2 to 3 minutes more. Pour in the wine and scrape up the browned bits from the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon; simmer until the wine is reduced by about half. Stir in the broth and salt and bring to a gentle simmer. Cover, and cook for 30 minutes. Add the Cognac, if using, and season with pepper to taste. (The soup can be made to this point a day ahead and refrigerated.) When ready to serve preheat the broiler. Heat the soup and divide it evenly among 6 heatproof crocks or bowls. Top each soup with a slice of the bread and about 1/2 cup of the cheese. Place the bowls on a sheet pan and broil until the cheese is bubbly and brown. Carefully transfer each crock to an under-lining plate. Serve immediately.
HONEY ROASTED VIDALIA ONIONS
The owner of the company I used to work at sent everyone a 5 lb box of Vidalia onions every year. This was included on a recipe brochure one year from the farm. I was surprised at how much I liked them, and they are healthy too.
Provided by karen
Categories Onions
Time 1h10m
Yield 4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Peel onions and cut in half crosswise.
- Place onions, cut sides down, in an 8 inch square baking dish, drizzle with water. Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes.
- Combine honey and remaining ingredients.
- Turn onions over. Brush half of the honey mixture over the onions.
- Bake, uncovered, an additional 30 minutes or until tender, basting with remaining honey mixture after 15 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 122.3, Fat 3.1, SaturatedFat 1.9, Cholesterol 7.6, Sodium 320.5, Carbohydrate 24.9, Fiber 1.6, Sugar 20.6, Protein 1
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