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Classic French Onion Soup

A close-up of a bowl of French onion soup topped with a golden-brown, melted cheese crouton and fresh thyme.
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A rich and savory French onion soup with deeply caramelized onions, beef broth, and a toasted bread and Gruyère cheese topping.

Ingredients

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  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 4 large yellow onions, thinly sliced
  • 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 cup dry white wine
  • 8 cups beef broth
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 sprig fresh thyme
  • 1 baguette, sliced 1-inch thick
  • 1 cup shredded Gruyère cheese
  • 1/2 cup shredded Swiss cheese

Instructions

  1. Melt butter and olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add sliced onions, sugar, salt, and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onions are deeply golden brown and caramelized, about 45-60 minutes.
  2. Pour in the white wine and scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot. Let the wine simmer and reduce by half.
  3. Add the beef broth, bay leaf, and thyme sprig. Bring to a simmer, then reduce heat to low, cover, and cook for at least 30 minutes to allow flavors to meld. Remove bay leaf and thyme sprig.
  4. While the soup simmers, preheat your broiler. Arrange baguette slices on a baking sheet and toast under the broiler until golden brown on both sides.
  5. Ladle the soup into oven-safe bowls. Top each bowl with a few slices of toasted baguette.
  6. In a small bowl, combine the Gruyère and Swiss cheeses. Sprinkle the cheese mixture generously over the bread in each bowl.
  7. Place the bowls on a baking sheet and broil for 2-3 minutes, or until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and lightly browned. Serve immediately.

Notes

  • For an even richer flavor, you can use a combination of beef broth and beef consommé.
  • If you don’t have oven-safe bowls, you can melt the cheese on the toasted baguette slices under the broiler and then float them on top of the soup.
  • A splash of brandy or sherry can be added with the white wine for extra depth of flavor.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://kingscook.com/french-onion-soup-caramelized-onions/