Best French Onion Soup Recipe

5 from 9 votes

Best French Onion Soup Recipe

Best French Onion Soup Recipe: There is nothing cozier than a warm bowl of soup! Make this rich and classic, flavorful French onion soup topped with cheese and crunchy bread slices or croutons. This soup makes a hearty meal in itself.

Prep Time10

Cook Time50

Total Time1

Course: Dinner, Lunch, Soup

Cuisine: French

Diet: Vegetarian

Servings:

Calories: 275kcal

Author: Kushi

Equipment

Soup bowls

Ingredients

2 tablespoon Olive Oil
4 tablespoon Butter
2 Garlic cloves chopped
5 Large onions about 2 pounds (yellow sweet onions)
5 Spring onions or Scallions
Salt and pepper to taste
5 cups Vegetable stock (any stock of your choice)
2 to 3 tablespoon Dry white wine or dry sherry optional skip for non-alcoholic version
1 teaspoon Dried thyme
½ teaspoon Cayenne powder optional
4 to 6 Bread slices
½ to 1 cup Cheese of your choice parmesan, swiss, mozzarella, provolone or gruyere

Instructions

Peel and thinly slice the onions. Keep this aside.
5 Large onions

How to caramelize onions?

Add oil, butter, and garlic cloves in a large non-stick pot and saute for a minute.
2 tablespoon Olive Oil, 4 tablespoon Butter, 2 Garlic cloves chopped
To this, add the onions, spring onions, and a pinch of salt. Cover it with the lid and cook it on a medium flame for about 20 to 25 minutes, stirring it occasionally to not stick to the bottom. Cooking the onions slowly is the key here. This is what will bring out the amazing sweetness of onions and intense flavor. So, if you are in a hurry, then this soup is not for you :-) The timing mainly depends on the size of your pan and the heat level.
5 Spring onions or Scallions, Salt and pepper to taste
Now open the lid and cook for another 10 minutes until moisture evaporates and the onions look golden and silky.

Add remaining ingredients

Add vegetable stock, wine, thyme, pepper powder, and cayenne powder, bring it to a boil on medium-high heat, and simmer for around 20 minutes or until the stock gets reduced to half.
5 cups Vegetable stock, 2 to 3 tablespoon Dry white wine or dry sherry, 1 teaspoon Dried thyme, ½ teaspoon Cayenne powder
You can taste check and adjust any seasonings now.

Baked French onion soup

Preheat the oven to maximum or broil.
Toast the bread slices in a non-stick pan with butter on both sides.
4 to 6 Bread slices
Laddle soup into ramekins or oven-safe serving bowl. Place one toasted bread slice on top of it and top it with the cheese of your choice.
½ to 1 cup Cheese of your choice
Broil it in a preheated oven until the cheese bubbles and starts turning golden brown, about 2-4 minutes.
Serve and enjoy.

Notes

French onion soup can be stored in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days without the bread slices or croutons. Before serving, bring it to a boil and then broil it with bread and cheese slices.
Similarly, you can also freeze this for up to 3 months. Defrost and reheat on the stovetop, and then add bread or croutons and broil.
Non-vegetarians can use beef broth or chicken broth.
For extra flavor, you can use brandy, Worcestershire sauce, or fresh herbs.
Spices like bay leaf and a pinch of nutmeg can also be added for a warming touch.

French onion soup secret ingredient

The secret ingredient to make classic onion soup is time. Caramelizing onions is the key here. It will take 30 minutes, and the time may vary based on the pan used, the intensity of the flame, etc. Saute onions on a medium to medium-low flame so that bold flavors develop. Every single minute spent in sauteing onions is entirely worthwhile, and I suggest you do not rush while preparing this dish.

Nutrition