Soups French

Classic French Onion

This classic recipe for an easy homemade French onion soup is great for dinner parties or relaxing in front of a fire.

Classic French Onion
Prep
20 min
Cook
1 hr 10 min
Total
1 hr 30 min
Servings
5 bowls
(double it if teenagers are involved)
Difficulty
moderate
Nut-Free
Diet
Nut-Free
Away Mission
90 min walk
(Spock could calculate this more efficiently, but where's the fun in that)
#classic #cookbook-original #dinner-party

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter
  • 4 large Spanish onions, sliced
  • 1 to 2 large garlic cloves, thinly sliced
  • 1 sprig thyme, chopped
  • 1 tbsp basil, chopped
  • 1/2 cup dry white wine (Chardonnay)
  • 1 tsp sea salt
  • 6 to 8 cups beef consommé or beef bone broth
  • 4 to 6 thick baguette slices
  • 4 to 6 large slices Gruyère cheese

Steps

  1. Melt the butter in a large saucepan over low heat. Add the onions and 1 tsp salt, then cook, stirring, for 30 minutes or until caramelised.
  2. Add the garlic and thyme, then cook, stirring, for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the wine, increase heat to medium, and cook for 3 to 4 minutes until evaporated. Add the consommé and bring to a low simmer; cook, uncovered, for 30 minutes or until the liquid has slightly reduced.
  3. Preheat the oven to 325°F. Place the bread on a baking tray and toast on one side. Flip, sprinkle with cheese, and bake for 2 minutes or until the cheese is bubbling and golden.
  4. Season the soup if necessary, then ladle into bowls. Top each with a cheese baguette and garnish with extra thyme.

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Notes

From Sarah's original "Dinner by the Minute" cookbook, Soups/Stews/Chowders & Bisques volume. Also known as soup à l'oignon.

Nutrition Facts
Per 1 bowl
Calories 410
Burning this off: a brisk argument with a Costco parking lot.
% Daily Value*
Fat 20.0 g 27%
Saturated + Trans 12 g 60%
Cholesterol 60 mg
Sodium 1900 mg 83%**
Carbohydrate 36.0 g
Fibre 3.0 g 11%
Sugars 7.0 g 7%
Protein 17.0 g
Potassium 580 mg 12%
Calcium 410 mg 32%
Iron 2.6 mg 14%
*5% or less is a little, 15% or more is a lot. Sodium levels calculated in a country with universal healthcare — and it's free, so don't worry about it too much.
**This dish means well. Some numbers above are having a bit of a moment. Delicious? Absolutely. A daily habit? Let's not. Eat it, enjoy it, then maybe take the stairs.

Substitutions

You can use a gluten-free alternative in place of the baguette.