Description
Classic French onion soup celebrates layers of rich flavor from caramelized onions simmered in beef broth with crusty bread and melted Gruyère cheese. Comfort from French kitchens will warm your soul with each spoonful of this timeless culinary treasure.
Ingredients
Scale
- 5 medium onions, thinly sliced
- 1–½ cups (340 g) grated Gruyere or Swiss cheese
- 6 slices French bread, toasted
- 6 tsp Kitchen Accomplice Broth Concentrate, reconstituted with 3 cups (710 ml) hot water (beef, chicken, or vegetable)
- 2 tbsps (30 ml) unsalted butter
- 2 tbsps (30 ml) olive oil
- 1 tsp (5 ml) salt
- ½ tsp (2.5 ml) fresh ground pepper
- Pinch of dried thyme
- 2 tbsps (30 ml) sherry (or cognac)
Instructions
- Flavor Foundation: Meld unsalted butter and olive oil in a large soup pot over low heat, creating a harmonious base for caramelization.
- Onion Transformation: Introduce finely chopped onions and thyme leaves, gradually elevating heat to medium. Stir periodically, allowing onions to develop a luxurious mahogany color over 55 minutes, balancing heat and patience to achieve deep, complex flavor profiles.
- Flavor Concentration: Deglaze the pot with dry sherry, aggressively scraping browned essence from the bottom. Intensify heat to maximize flavor reduction, ensuring complete sherry evaporation.
- Broth Infusion: Pour beef broth into the caramelized foundation, bringing the mixture to a vigorous boil. Reduce to a gentle simmer, seasoning with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. Allow flavors to meld for 20 minutes.
- Cheese Gratinée: Preheat oven to 450°F. Arrange oven-safe bowls on a baking sheet, filling each with hot soup. Crown with a rustic baguette slice and lavishly blanket with grated Gruyère cheese.
- Final Transformation: Bake until cheese melts into a golden, effervescent crust. Serve immediately, presenting a classic French culinary masterpiece at its peak temperature and flavor intensity.
Notes
- Caramelize with Care: Low and slow is the secret to perfectly golden onions; rushing leads to burning, so patience transforms ordinary onions into a rich, deep mahogany masterpiece.
- Sherry Selection Matters: Choose a dry sherry to enhance flavor complexity; avoid sweet varieties that can disrupt the soup’s delicate balance.
- Cheese Crust Technique: Use freshly grated Gruyère for optimal melting and ensure complete coverage of bread for a crispy, golden cheese blanket.
- Oven-Safe Bowls Essential: Always use heat-resistant bowls to prevent cracking and allow for beautiful broiling of the cheese topping.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 12g
- Cholesterol: 40mg