THE BEST FRENCH ONION SOUP
This bistro classic is deceptively easy to make. It just takes a little time and a few good ingredients. We found that yellow onions, also known as Spanish onions, work best for this recipe. They have a nice balance of sweetness and bitterness and caramelize perfectly. Just don't take them too dark -- a nice golden brown is perfect. Good beef broth also makes a big difference. If you can't make your own, look for a high-quality prepared variety.
Provided by Food Network Kitchen
Categories appetizer
Time 1h55m
Yield 8 servings
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Melt the butter in a very large Dutch oven or pot over medium heat. Add the onions, bay leaves, thyme, 1 teaspoon salt, and a few grinds black pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are very soft and light golden-brown, about 1 hour. (The onions will begin to stick to the bottom of the pan and turn brown after about 30 minutes; just keep scraping them up and stirring them into the rest of the onions. If they are browning to quickly, lower the heat.)
- Add the wine to the pot, bring to a simmer and cook until it has almost completely evaporated, about 4 minutes. Add the beef broth and 1 cup of water, bring to a simmer and cook until the flavors come together and the soup is rich, about 45 minutes. Remove the bay leaves. Season with 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of black pepper. Keep the soup warm on a low burner or cool completely and refrigerate to reheat later. (The soup can be refrigerated for up to 2 days or frozen for up to 1 month.)
- Preheat the broiler. Place four soup crocks on a rimmed baking sheet and fill them about 3/4 of the way with hot soup. Float a slice of baguette on top of each and cover with 1/2 cup Gruyere. Broil until the Gruyere is golden brown (don't be alarmed if some soup bubbles out), 2 to 3 minutes.
RICH AND SIMPLE FRENCH ONION SOUP
We have been trying French onion soup in restaurants for years and my family and friends agree none can compare to my recipe for taste and simplicity of preparation.
Provided by Lori Levin
Categories Soups, Stews and Chili Recipes Soup Recipes Vegetable Soup Recipes Onion Soup Recipes French Onion Soup Recipes
Time 1h5m
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Melt butter with olive oil in an 8 quart stock pot on medium heat. Add onions and continually stir until tender and translucent. Do not brown the onions.
- Add beef broth, sherry and thyme. Season with salt and pepper, and simmer for 30 minutes.
- Heat the oven broiler.
- Ladle soup into oven safe serving bowls and place one slice of bread on top of each (bread may be broken into pieces if you prefer). Layer each slice of bread with a slice of provolone, 1/2 slice diced Swiss and 1 tablespoon Parmesan cheese. Place bowls on cookie sheet and broil in the preheated oven until cheese bubbles and browns slightly.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 585.3 calories, Carbohydrate 27.9 g, Cholesterol 98 mg, Fat 43.9 g, Fiber 2.7 g, Protein 20.9 g, SaturatedFat 24.2 g, Sodium 1578.3 mg, Sugar 6 g
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
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